Today, May 25, 2009, we celebrate the 32nd year since the release of the original Star Wars movie
Today, May 25, 2009, we celebrate the 32nd year since the release of the original Star Wars movie. Though I'm a long-standing fan of Star Wars I watched Return of the Jedi Special Edition over a decade ago in Bangalore, soaked to the bone in the rain while riding my bike, because I didn't want to miss the movie I don't know what to write.
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Like him or not: Darth Vader is one of the most iconic characters from Star Wars. |
Do I write about the appeal? After all, one of the films here, The Empire Strikes Back, has Darth Vader saying "I am your father" to Luke Skywalker, which is one of the most dramatic scenes ever on the big screen. And like it or not, Vader rules, first as the young man who knows not what is right for him. He gets sucked by the Dark Side, and since he has enough good in him to still hold on to the Light, he makes a comeback. This simple message of good winning over evil is perhaps responsible for the series being still relevant today.
Do I write about the Force? This is an interesting addition to the power of the Star Wars trilogy. While Star Wars is not just about the Force, it can be convincingly argues that without the Force, there would be no Jedi, and therefore, no Star Wars. The nice variations of how the Force is used by the Dark Side and the Light Side are what give the series its unique flavour. This is used for maximum effect in the climax of Return of the Jedi, when the Emperor and Vader try to seduce Luke to the Dark Side.
Do I write about the silly fun parts? I mean, I have always wondered about one thing if the Emperor is so damn powerful, why doesn't he get some botox injections and look a little more presentable? And while he is at it, couldn't he also see a dentist? I don't wield one billionth the influence of Palpatine, but my teeth look a hell of a lot better in spite of all the chocolates I have eaten over the ears.
Or, finally, do I write about the non-tech bits that make a film great? Though all of us eagerly awaited the first three films in the late 90s, they didn't have the impact of the older films. The older films lacked technology, but they still managed to do well. And they had great dialogues I can recall quite a few dialogues from the older ones, but almost none from the newer ones. The new films had better CGI, but give me the older ones any day for the story flow.
What do I write about? I don't know.
