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Star Wars

We’re entering dangerous territory here. Not being alive during the original release or an outstanding science fiction fan, odds are I’d have millions of fanatics rapping at my inbox had I taken the lower route and exclaimed my disdain for one of the most influential, beloved institutions of our time. But no, I wouldn’t go that far. In fact, I unabashedly admit my fondness for the 30-year-old, yet eternal, epic romp through the galaxy far, far away. It highlights the timeless struggle between good and evil and the fine line that floats between the two. How many Darth Vaders have grown up to be fine, law-abiding citizens and Luke Skywalkers committed unpardonable sins? Things aren’t black and white, bathed in simplicity. It pays for children to learn that lesson early, because they’ll be more likely to question their own surroundings and rid themselves of at least some unnecessary socialization. And, just maybe, it’ll take a little stress off the lives of the unfortunate ridiculed nerds, knowing that come the future, they’ll be counting to a much higher force than the gas-pumping bully.

We all learned from the little-yet-masterful green guy himself the value of pig Latin. Not to be derogatory in the least, I’m sure numerous schoolchildren have picked up on the simple fact that if you just flip sides of your sentence, intellect increases tenfold. Dangerous, the playground is. Even adults can use that one. Yoda, like all pop culture icons, has influenced an entire generation, fan or not. No matter how far away in cultural proximity or actual location, everybody has subconsciously used a line or two from the film. Obi-Wan gets the most points for his line to Luke Skywalker about using the Force, but every single character has at least one memorable moment which will echo throughout the world’s collective psyche until the end of time.

To those just arriving on earth, I’ll explain the most basic plot points; Luke Skywalker is a normal boy living on a desert planet. He is taken under the wing of a wizened old hermit, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who explains to him details of a situation involving an evil empire and teaches him a special fighting style. Luke gets on a plane. He crashes on a strange, boggy planet. He meets a small green guy who talks in a confusing manner. Luke leaves. He joins the resistance fighting the evil empire. He is the most gifted pilot there, despite having no formal experience or training. He destroys one of the Empire’s premiere spaceships. The resistance lives on to continue the fight.

The special effects, though tame by today’s standards, are believable for those simply enjoying the film, not studying it or revering it. Figuring out which ships are cardboard boxes is difficult to the casual viewer, and the spot-on sound masks the slight discrepancies well. And besides, films like these are of a different era, an era that relied on great, memorable characters and their stories, not special effects. George Lucas’ masterpiece is an all-in-one epic, combining entertainment and a social centerpiece for everybody around the globe. And it will continue to be discussed and enjoyed for generations to come.

Written by: Jason Villemez

Reviewers Rating: 8.5
Reader's Rating: 10.00
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