A Long Time Ago In a Galaxy Far, Far Away….
Thirty years ago today, May 25, 1977, the world changed forever. That was the day Star Wars (since re-titled Episode IV: A New Hope) opened in theaters. From that point forward, there has never been a world without Star Wars.
Now, this may seem inconsequential, the anniversary of the opening of a movie. And it would be, if it were any other movie. But it isn’t, and it isn’t. This is the small independent film that became an empire, ironically enough. This is the film that revitalized not only the science fiction market, on screen and in print, but also the movie industry as a whole. This is the film that has created generations of geeks, and then inspired them to greatness in all walks of life.
This is Star Wars.
Star Wars is more than a movie, it is an entire universe, with it’s own rules, mythologies, history, and inhabitants. The characters we know and love have become something more than one man’s creation; they have become archetypes themselves. When you ask someone to name a villain, chances are good that Darth Vader comes to mind. The same goes for idealistic heroes and Luke Skywalker. Countless books have been written exploring the minutiae of the Star Wars universe, discussing people and places only mentioned in passing in the movies (I should know; I own many of them). Novels, comic books, video games, and, we are told, forthcoming TV series have given us stories to fill in the places the movies didn’t (or couldn’t) show us. The universe has grown, and will continue to grow. Those of us who are fans will pass the love of Star Wars to later generations, and the universe will grow further, as new stories are written to fill in more places we haven’t seen yet.
I’m not sure I could adequately describe why I love Star Wars. And if I could, I’m sure it would take many more words than I’m willing to put down at this time. I know that when it started it had a lot to do with robots and laser guns and spaceships. I also know that it is far more complex now, although the Millennium Falcon is still the most bad-ass mode of transport I’ve ever seen and I still want my own R2 unit.
So happy birthday Star Wars. It’s been a fun ride, and I’m sure it’ll continue to be so. Here’s to the next 30.
