filkertom | A Long Time Ago

Thirty years ago today, a small film called Star Wars changed everything.

Literally. It changed the way movies were created. It changed the kinds of movies that were created. It damn sure changed the way movies were marketed. It allowed the viability of the return of Star Trek, and between that and this it got the language of SF into the mainstream.

I lost a job, lying about being sick so I could go see Star Wars again.

We rag on George Lucas now, I think because he has lost the power of his own vision. He sees ways to make his primal story, his very basic myth, "better". You can't improve a myth. He got it right the first time... and has been fudging with it ever since. Nope nope nope. There's a great scene near the beginning of Reign of Fire, where two of the adults are entertaining a bunch of kids by putting on a somewhat dimly remembered version of the first battle between Luke and Darth ("I AM your father!" "NOOOOO!").

So, even though I'm not happy with the Special Edition and the repackaging and the attempt to drain every last dollar out of the fan base he created, even though I think the Prequel Trilogy bites, I thank George Lucas for his myth. 'Cause it changed my life, and I'm pretty sure it changed yours.

So... what's your favorite line from the series? Mine, no question, is just before that huge first fight (in The Empire Strikes Back), when Darth says from the shadows, "The Force is with you, young Skywalker... but you are not a Jedi yet."