As
most of you may know, the long awaited, highly anticipated, already sold out,
and most recent installment of the Star Wars films is scheduled to premiere
Thursday December 17th, with an official box office release on
Friday, December 18th. Sure to break sales records, Star Wars: The
Force Awakens, will blow viewer’s minds, and satisfy every fan’s much needed
film fix. Under the new direction of J.J Abrams and funded by a hefty Disney
budget, this film is sure to be the only thing people will talk about for
weeks!! In today’s post we would like to talk about our own experiences with
Star Wars; what it means to us and how excited we are for the upcoming film.
And
since our dear friend Pete has become a more regular contributor, we have decided
to give him his own section based on his astrological sign, Cancer. Represented
by a silly sideways walking crustacean, it’s only fitting that his section is
to be called;
Crab’s Corner
By Pete Belleville
A
long time ago in a galaxy far way…
The music
jars you and what the hell, a movie with no opening credits, writing that
floats in outer space. (There was no “Episode IV: A NEW HOPE” in the original
release, it was added later, don’t get me started.) Watching the original in a
real movie theater that opening weekend in May of 1977, is something few of us
can say we did. I was in High School in 1977 and it wasn’t like today where
everyone talks about movies online. There were television ads, but no You-Tube,
email, texting or even cell phones, fuck that was, A long time ago…
I
saw the movie with my Father on the Saturday of that first weekend it was
released. My parents were divorced and my Dad picked me up for the weekend. We
drove by a theater, (now replaced with a mini-mall) on Ventura Blvd in Woodland
Hills; he asked if I wanted to see a movie, “your choice” he said. Star Wars it
was. My Dad was born in 1930, served in the Navy after WWII and during Korea;
Sci-Fi was not his choice of movies. “Star Wars? A space movie, are you sure,”
he asked? “My choice” was my reply. In we went, I think we paid $3.50 for a
ticket. I kept the stub for 15 or 20 years, so the cost sticks in my head
today.
I
remember that my dad liked the movie because we talked about the movie
afterwards. I marveled at the action, the special effects, the characters, and
he liked the subtext, the true meaning of good versus evil and how one man can
make a difference. Did we watch the same movie? We went for dinner and talked
about the movie and his perceptions of the movie changed the way I looked at
movies. When I went back to see the movie a second and third time, I looked
past the stuff I saw the first time and fell in love with the “real” story.
I
saw myth and tradition mixed in with Japanese Kendo martial arts and the sacrificing
of yourself for something larger. I saw how one person COULD make a difference.
The force, the dark side of the force. Good versus evil, light versus dark.
What is a Jedi? Fucking, badass LIGHT SABRES!! Luke, Leia, Obi-Wan, Han, Darth
Vader who were these characters and where did they come from? I want more!
It
was more than the story of a young moisture farmer from Tatooine. Suddenly, I
saw themes of redemption, friendship and the everlasting boy meets girl, falls
in love, she’s your SISTER? WTF? I believe if the Star Wars story was told in a
contemporary setting or a recognizable era, the truths would be lost. Because
it was told in a time and place that wasn’t real, (science fiction) the themes
are hidden just below the surface of the story.
It
was probably the last movie I ever saw with my Dad. After High School, I moved
away and we argued over foolish things for years. Later we reconnected when he
retired and thankfully, before he passed away.
Today
Star Wars is an experience I share with my nephew. He experienced the second 3
movies in a movie theater. He watched the revised original 3 on DVD and then in
2012, he and I went to see the 3-D release of the Phantom Menace, which by the
way was terrible. We are going to see the movie this Friday to see the movie
that remains with me nearly 40 years later and I will think of that May
Saturday with my Dad.
The Archer’s Arrow
By Lori Ortega
To
be honest I have spent more time watching Spaceballs as opposed to Star Wars. I
have enjoyed laughing at Dark Helmet rather than fearing Darth Vader. I even
dressed up as Princess Vespa for Halloween one year. I do vaguely remember
trying to watch bits and pieces of the original 3 Star Wars films in college
however I typically lost interest or fell asleep. I tried; I really tried to
get into them. The one that sort of stuck with me the most was the one with the
Ewoks; I can’t even really remember which one that was. Return of the Jedi
maybe? I have always wanted to re-watch them but everyone that has promised to
watch them with me has failed me.
For
the most part I do like Star Wars for what it represents. It’s a huge pop
culture phenomenon. I love Star Wars merchandise, I mean I’m even wearing a
Star Wars band aide while I’m typing this. Storm Troopers just look cool and
who doesn’t love Chewbacca; I especially love seeing dogs dressed up like him. I
can honestly say that I especially love hearing about why this film series is
so very important to other people. I like to hear the passion and excitement
that is expressed when a true fan explains their favorite scene, character or
whole movie. The way they light up while talking about it is pretty awesome.
This
year however, Star Wars is ruining my birthday plans! The film will be shown
limitedly on the 17th, my actual birthday. And everyone I know has
some sort of plans to see it over the weekend and therefore cannot commit to
doing anything that I have tentatively planned to celebrate the anniversary of
my birth. Although I know the release of this film is a huge deal to billions
of people, it sort of bums me out that it’s such a birthday blocker. Oh well,
maybe I’ll just take up one of the many offers that I’ve received to go see the
damn thing. Maybe I will become a fan this weekend.
Scorpio
Spotlight
By Daniel Torres
Standing on the precipice of what is
widely expected to be one of the most profitable films ever made, possibly one
of the grandest films JJ Abrams will helm, and perhaps most importantly, the
film that will sway public opinion to believe there is a new hope for the
franchise, I find myself less enthused than I suppose I ought to be. While more
than a passing fan of film, Star Wars has never presented itself to be more
than an operatic space adventure in the fight between right and wrong, good and
evil, light and dark.
By the time I was born, the Jedi had
already returned and all was right and balanced in the universe. Besides a
scant of rentals, I had never immersed myself in the galactic empire, and I
never felt an urge to do so. My first theater experiences with Star Wars came
in the much criticized prequels. When they were happening, I never found
anything to be awe inspiring nor did I find them to be the atrocities they were
considered. There were other films coming out at around the same time I found
to be much more interesting and arresting. It would not be until years later
that I could appreciate these films for what they represent to me, and for what
films can do for people all around the world.
Movies can be a difficult medium to
levy a judgment. On one hand there are techniques in every aspect of the film
making process that should and should not be used, rules that should and should
not be followed. Some rules can be bent, others broken. On the other hand, you
can throw the rulebook out and start from scratch. Movies are something that
will find an audience for any kind of film maker.
Star Wars was not groundbreaking
because it brought brand new original material to the mainstream. In the same
year, there was already Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Eraserhead and the
Spy Who Loved Me. Granted, all of these are different they do contain aspects
of science fiction. Star Wars was perhaps just what was needed at the time. By
that time there were ten James Bond films to choose from. David Lynch films,
while engaging are not films that the average movie goer is looking for.
Sometimes we just want to be entertained.
Historically, by the seventies,
artificial genes were being created, neutron bombs were being funded,
supercomputers were released and probes were launching to mars. Not only was
science fiction on the screens, it was in our lives. Suddenly the thought of
Flash Gordon seemed real, and John Carter is perhaps walking about us. The
seventies saw Watergate and exploding women’s and environmental movements.
Public frustration with political leaders was high, and personal freedom was
the sole objective.
Star Wars provided a sort of remedy.
Lucas gave us the reluctant heroes and anti-heroes. He showed us that women do
not need to be portrayed as helpless. The idea of societies that accepted
everyone as they were and could generally be civil. He somehow managed to
bottle that lightning. Collecting a wide range of human sentiment of the time
and used ideas and stories he loved, he gave us a retelling of what
historically people have always done: rebel. There are countless examples all
throughout history that show above all people will protect what is possibly the
most important human right; to be free.
Although I may not consider the
franchise to be among the best, it is a far cry from the worst. I have a great
appreciation for the headway these films have made and look forward to a new
era of galactic rebellion. And while the original trilogy coupled with the
prequels leaves my taste at neutral, the Force Awakens just might sway my
opinion and I can see these films, once again, in a new clearer light.
Twin Talk
By Kim Ova
My experience with Star Wars is very
similar to Lori’s. I actually grew up watching Spaceballs. I have very fond childhood
memories of myself, my brother and my cousin watching it, what seemed like
almost every weekend (along with The Princess Bride). I don’t even think I realized
it was a parody until many years later. I wasn’t really introduced to Star Wars
until I inherited the DVD set from an ex some ten something years ago. I
finally decided to take the time to watch them and was pleasantly surprised
that I actually liked them. It also made Spaceballs make a lot more sense! Lol.
Although I am more partial to the parody, I am looking forward to the release
of The Force Awakens. Will I be rushing to the box office this weekend to see
it? Probably not. I’m sure I’ll just end up waiting for its release at Redbox
so that I can enjoy watching it in the comforts of my home, in my jammies, on
the most comfortable couch in the galaxy ;)
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