BLOG: For My Fellow Star Wars Fans, Remembering the Binary Sunset
Star Wars is the most convoluted, bloated excuse for a franchise in all of nerd culture. Three revolutionary movies shook the world and created tidal waves of merchandise, books, and fat men in slave girl outfits, as well as aftershocks of prequels, TV shows, and God help us, Christmas specials.
It’s become increasingly easy over the years to look at Star Wars as a big joke, but today, I urge you, as a passionate fan, to step away from the memes, the jabs, and the arguments, and remember the first time you saw A New Hope.
Remember the jaw-dropping size of that Imperial Star Destroyer.
And the first time we heard Vader breathe.
How Luke was just a normal kid, like you and me.
How much we wanted a lightsaber.
The song in the Mos Eisley Cantina.
The first time we met Han, the first time we heard Chewie.
“I’m Luke Skywalker, I’m here to rescue you.”
My dad used to tell me how he’d ride his bike to the theater in his small town, scrounging up spare change just to see this movie on the big screen. It was the most amazing thing his thirteen-year-old self had ever seen, and it changed the lives of he and his friends forever. Who cared about snobs pointing out cheesy dialogue or debating the Force or whining over Han not shooting first? People were just enchanted.
I rarely watch the Original Trilogy with friends, because the event turns into a quoting, mocking, joke fest. Which is fine, and I’m usually the most gifted insulter of them all. But when I watch the films alone or with my dad, I get that feeling again. I revert back to when I first saw them – when I didn’t want to be Princess Leia, I was Princess Leia.
A true fan loves Star Wars in spite of its flaws, in spite of its corniness. To us, it’s a real adventure that we would give anything to experience, and the theme song still runs chills down our spines.
Don’t forget what it’s like to be a Jedi – your childhood self would slice your arm off.
Happy Star Wars Day. May the Force stay with you forever.
Author: Lisa Foiles
