The Force is Strong with this One
Writing Prompt: Write about your love or hate for Star Wars
Star Wars is a space fairy tale, from a certain point of view (one I share), and it came out at the perfect age, or I should say ages, for me.
The Original Trilogy
I was just 7-year-old when Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope premiered in theaters. My dad took me and my brother to see it. While some of it probably went over my head at that age, I didn’t know it did, and so I just enjoy the story. There was a princess (who fought for herself), a group of friends who turned into heroes, and a scary bad guy. I loved it and am pretty sure I clapped at the end.
Now, I was a pre-teen when The Empire Strikes Back came out, but I didn’t get to see it right away (I wouldn’t be come obsessed with it until much later in life). A boy in my choir class named Mickey (his last name is on the tip of my tongue even after all these years) told me that Darth Vader was Luke’s father, and I called him a liar. Imagine my shock when he was right. I vaguely recall sitting at the end waiting for more…for the happy ending. It was the first time I experienced a film that didn’t have one of those — having not been raised on cliffhanger serial films like George Lucas.
Because I’d had to wait to see Empire, I actually got to see Return of the Jedi sooner — well, not “sooner,” but with a shorter gap between the two films. I still loved Han Solo, Luke Skywalker, Chewie, and Leia, but Anakin Skywalker turning back to the Light Side at the end of the film had a deeper impact on me. It changed the way I thought about the villain — maybe even about villains. The beginning of understanding that good and evil isn’t black and white…despite the Star Wars color scheme.
As a result, asked which of the three original films is my favorite (when not brushing it off as akin to asking who was your favorite pet), I usually say Return of the Jedi…because not only was it the fairy tale finale with a happy ending for the good guys, but at least one of the bad guys was redeemed — saved by the love of his son. I won’t venture guesses as to the psychological reasons why this affected me so much, I just accepted that it did. It would also impact the way I viewed Anakin Skywalker in the prequels, which came out when I was much older and already married to a huge Star Wars fan.
The Prequels
The next set of films were well timed for me (and my spouse). We were able to make a big deal out of seeing the first showing of the The Phantom Menace. We didn’t camp out, but it was (probably) the first time we bought movie tickets online long ahead of the opening. In fact, we bought tickets to the midnight showing and another showing the next day, we were that confident we’d like it, and scheduled vacation time for both days. We showed up extra early to get a place in line to ensure our seat selection (in the days when you didn’t reserve a seat ahead of time).
The first thing that struck me was that it was MORE Star Wars. Everything was more, from the characters to the story. The sets and costumes were more elaborate and detailed, some costumes were extremely detailed and extravagant, appealing to the more grownup girl inside who always loved dress up and frills. The stories still had fairy tale qualities, I could enjoy them on another level as well. This was true for Attack of the Clones as well.
Technology had advanced, due in large part of Lucasfilm and their other production companies, which cranked up realistic quality of the worlds they were building, leveling up the sci-fi fantasy aspect. The paradise planet of Naboo with its elegantly dressed residents complemented and enhanced the storytelling, the pacing reflected the technical advances supporting the action, and overall I enjoyed the characters, sets, costumes, and story.
Of course, Revenge of the Sith was the heartbreak waiting to happen from the moment you learn that Darth Vader IS Anakin Skywalker. Believing this was going to be the LAST Star Wars film ever, we went for broke. Literally. I surprised my spouse with tickets to a charity premiere of the film — we would see it several days before anyone else in a posh D.C. cinema. I bought the lowest tier, and I can’t say that I would’ve spent that kind of money if it were NOT going to charity, but it made my mate insanely happy.
Now, it turned out that our position in the long line of fellow fanatics with ticket in that donation range put us in the back row of the section for that “lowest” tier, with the higher tiered patrons and special guests in the section just behind us. As it happened, we wound up watching the film in which Luke and Leia are born, with none other than Carrie Fisher and her mother Debbie Reynolds sitting directly behind us. I’m pretty sure that early anniversary gift will never be topped.
The Sequel Trilogy
We learned about the sequel trilogy just prior to attending a Star Wars Celebration (Convention) in 2015. My wife slept on the floor of the queue line at the Anaheim Convention Center to ensure a place in the main stage for the announcement about the first of the three films. Despite the discomfort, to this day she says it was worth it to be in that room with thousands of fans AND that star-studded panel. To get the first look IN PERSON of BB-8.
As for the long awaited sequel films themselves, there were some ups and downs. The Force Awakens was definitely my favorite of the three although I liked The Last Jedi for the most part, but I had issues with the Rise of Skywalker. While people cheered at the Star Wars Celebration preceding this film when they learned that Ian McDiarmid would be reprising his role as the Emperor, I was not among them. Literally because we were watching not attending that Celebration, but also because I wasn’t convinced they could make it work. (Sorry to say that I was right — as much as l love Ian McDiarmid, who was even better in the prequels than in the original trilogy.)
As expected, I had issues with that plotline of that final film. It felt to me like the Rise of Skywalker had two separate movies spliced together, one that I mostly enjoyed and one I didn’t…get. It wasn’t enough to sour me on the franchise or fandom. I’m just not that kind of fan. I won’t go into the standalone films or the various series, especially since I’m at more than double the (writing prompt) word count. Suffice it to say, I love Star Wars from the films to the fans, and I always will.
May the Fourth (and the Force) be with you, and
may you survive the Revenge of the Fifth!
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This was written in response to Keeley Schroder’s May Writing Challenge. Be sure to head over and give Keeley some love for inspiring other writers with her Writing Challenges.
Other participants in Keeley’s writing challenges and writers I enjoy:
Adrienne Beaumont, Autistic Widower (“AJ”), Brett Jenae Tomlin, The Sturg, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Trisha Faye, Karen Schwartz, NancyO, Katie Michaelson, Bernie Pullen, Michelle Jimerson Morris, Amy Frances, Julia A. Keirns, Ravyne Hawke, Pamela Oglesby, Harry Hogg, Tina, Pat Romito LaPointe, Ruby Noir, Brandon Ellrich, Misty Rae, Karen Hoffman, Susie Winfield, Vincent Pisano, Ray Day, Marlene Samuels, Randy Pulley, Michael Rhodes, Lu Skerdoo, Bruce, Lauren Alida, Pluto Wolnosci, Paula Shablo, Ellen Baker, Kelley Murphy, Jennifer Marla Pike, Carmen Ballesteros, Marlana, MSW, Denise Kendig, Patricia Timmermans, Amanda Weir-Gertzog, Adrienne Gibbs, and me, Leigh-Anne Dennison.
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