Star Wars
30 years ago, in a galaxy quite similar to ours, not so far away either, an event of some great magnitude happened. It may not be the most defining event of our world, it wouldn’t register automatically with people, but for many, it defined the way they were to see the world thereon in. 30 years ago, on May 25, 1977, a movie called Star Wars released. And changed this world forever.
Why do I love these movies so much, you may ask (which means that either you’re not a fan, or you haven’t seen these movies). It’s not what you may think, and inadequate as my power over words is, I’ll try to give an answer.
I got into Star Wars pretty late, as a matter of fact. In my first year in university, when an acquaintance lent me the movies. Till then, I had absolutely no idea what this was all about. And I remember quite vividly, quite distinctly, being absolutely captivated by these films. [Note: When I talk about Star Wars, I mean Original Trilogy]. I watched them one after another, mesmerized by the fascinating galaxy I had just discovered, one which seemed way cooler than my own. Now, see, I don’t get people who classify this as a “guy thing” or say dismissively that these movies are “for kids” or that they’ve seen better special effects. They’re missing the whole point.
Star Wars is not only about special effects or huge space battles or laser beams or light sabers (although all that is cool as hell). It’s about an escape from this world, the ability to make your dreams come true, the realization that there’s a universe out there and we aren’t confined by who we were born as, but who we want to be. When Luke grumbles about working on moisture evaporators and then looks out across the horizon, into those twin suns, dreaming his dreams…I know what he feels like. That shot gets me every time. Star Wars tells you that it’s okay to dream, that you can get out there and explore crazy new worlds and meet crazy people and do brilliant things and be more than just ordinary, and it’s okay to want that. It’s okay to not want to be just a farmer. It’s okay to dream big. It’s okay to want to travel the unknown. It’s a big universe with amazing creatures and fascinating worlds and mysterious powers and you’re smack bang in the middle of it all, so hell, why wait? It gives me hope, it gives me a longing to get out.
There’s Luke, and then there’s Han Solo. Everyone wants to be like him. That cocky grin, that sneer, the unabashed manly coolness. When a beautiful princess tells him as he’s being lowered to certain doom that she loves him, he just stares back and says “I know”. How cool is he? Then there’s the Jedi masters- my friend Yoda. “Try? There is no try!”
But of course, the big man himself, Darth Vader. An icon of villainy, of terrifying icy black coolness. The helmet, the hiss…the ability to force choke people who annoy him. His sarcastic, cold one liners- “apology accepted, Captain Needa.” I can’t articulate anything about him without sounding foolish, so I’ll stop.
See, Star Wars as movies are great. Okay, maybe not the last one, but the first two- spot on. You’ve got the essential ingredients of a mythology- the innocent wide eyed hero, the been there done that rough but good hearted scoundrel, a feisty beautiful princess, terrifying villains, the wise mentor(s), great fights and monsters and machines and impossible odds. You’ve got great people to fill these parts. Gripping storytelling, and lightsabers. And the lightsabers. And yeah, I want a lightsaber. I want to be a Jedi, man. So bad. I want to toy with the dark side. I want to….
And then there’s that beautiful score, one of the greatest of all time. Whenever I hear John Williams’ music, I’m transported to another galaxy far, far way. And that in my book is a good thing.
I could go on. About its cinematic influences, about how it revolutionized movie watching and merchandizing and the way the movie business was run and spawned millions of movie lovers and geeks worldwide. But I think all I’m going to do now is go watch Star Wars again. Because that’s the best way to pay homage to it. Apart from getting out there and going for my dreams.
May the force be with you.
Why do I love these movies so much, you may ask (which means that either you’re not a fan, or you haven’t seen these movies). It’s not what you may think, and inadequate as my power over words is, I’ll try to give an answer.
I got into Star Wars pretty late, as a matter of fact. In my first year in university, when an acquaintance lent me the movies. Till then, I had absolutely no idea what this was all about. And I remember quite vividly, quite distinctly, being absolutely captivated by these films. [Note: When I talk about Star Wars, I mean Original Trilogy]. I watched them one after another, mesmerized by the fascinating galaxy I had just discovered, one which seemed way cooler than my own. Now, see, I don’t get people who classify this as a “guy thing” or say dismissively that these movies are “for kids” or that they’ve seen better special effects. They’re missing the whole point.
Star Wars is not only about special effects or huge space battles or laser beams or light sabers (although all that is cool as hell). It’s about an escape from this world, the ability to make your dreams come true, the realization that there’s a universe out there and we aren’t confined by who we were born as, but who we want to be. When Luke grumbles about working on moisture evaporators and then looks out across the horizon, into those twin suns, dreaming his dreams…I know what he feels like. That shot gets me every time. Star Wars tells you that it’s okay to dream, that you can get out there and explore crazy new worlds and meet crazy people and do brilliant things and be more than just ordinary, and it’s okay to want that. It’s okay to not want to be just a farmer. It’s okay to dream big. It’s okay to want to travel the unknown. It’s a big universe with amazing creatures and fascinating worlds and mysterious powers and you’re smack bang in the middle of it all, so hell, why wait? It gives me hope, it gives me a longing to get out.
There’s Luke, and then there’s Han Solo. Everyone wants to be like him. That cocky grin, that sneer, the unabashed manly coolness. When a beautiful princess tells him as he’s being lowered to certain doom that she loves him, he just stares back and says “I know”. How cool is he? Then there’s the Jedi masters- my friend Yoda. “Try? There is no try!”
But of course, the big man himself, Darth Vader. An icon of villainy, of terrifying icy black coolness. The helmet, the hiss…the ability to force choke people who annoy him. His sarcastic, cold one liners- “apology accepted, Captain Needa.” I can’t articulate anything about him without sounding foolish, so I’ll stop.
See, Star Wars as movies are great. Okay, maybe not the last one, but the first two- spot on. You’ve got the essential ingredients of a mythology- the innocent wide eyed hero, the been there done that rough but good hearted scoundrel, a feisty beautiful princess, terrifying villains, the wise mentor(s), great fights and monsters and machines and impossible odds. You’ve got great people to fill these parts. Gripping storytelling, and lightsabers. And the lightsabers. And yeah, I want a lightsaber. I want to be a Jedi, man. So bad. I want to toy with the dark side. I want to….
And then there’s that beautiful score, one of the greatest of all time. Whenever I hear John Williams’ music, I’m transported to another galaxy far, far way. And that in my book is a good thing.
I could go on. About its cinematic influences, about how it revolutionized movie watching and merchandizing and the way the movie business was run and spawned millions of movie lovers and geeks worldwide. But I think all I’m going to do now is go watch Star Wars again. Because that’s the best way to pay homage to it. Apart from getting out there and going for my dreams.
May the force be with you.
Labels: movies
posted by Karan at
2:16 PM
5 Comments:
Contrary to what I thought, there's been no hussle-bussle here regarding the 30th anniversary.
Strange.
I wouldn't expect it to. It's France. They're snooty about their own movies. They watch Star Wars secretly at home.
Its silly. Every movie is dubbed. NOT subtitled, DUBBED.
And they watch hollywood. All their cinemas and tv channels air hollywood mostly. And its al dubbed.
Hell even the porn movies on tv are dubbed.
Its a stupid country.
"It’s okay to not want to be just a farmer."
Isn't that the standard now? Maybe something that tells me that it is in fact ok to want to just (?) be a farmer will be my escape. Till then, I'm afraid I'm one of those people who just don't get it.
Okay, I'm guessing you haven't seen Star Wars. 'Cos I don't understand your comment. What do you mean by standard?
And by farmer, I don't mean the farming profession per se. I am referring to what you're expected to become by parents, by society, a fixed role beyond which it is not "rational" or okay to dream.
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