In a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Pete has been begging to see "Star Wars" for ages now. He believes he's the only kid in his whole kindergarten class who hasn't seen it. I saw it just once, when it was first released in 1977. I remember enjoying it very much and being wowed by the whole experience, but I couldn't really recall how scary it was and I didn't want to scare Pete. Even as an adult, I know what it's like to see something scary or upsetting and wish you could just erase it from your brain. (This has happened to me with movies as varied as "Schindler's List," "Leaving Las Vegas," "The Silence of the Lambs," and "American History X," to name just a few, all of which have one image in particular that upset me terribly and that I can't shake.) Anyhow, I finally decided he could see it, so I rented it yesterday at Blockbuster* (after making the guy there assure me several times over that it really was "Episode IV: A New Hope" that I wanted), and today was the big day. Well, he loved it! Me, I couldn't get over how cheesy it all looks now! The costumes were no better than something you'd see on a "Power Rangers" TV episode, and the special effects were nothing. It's amazing how far we've come in 25 years—when "Star Wars" first came out, it was like nothing anyone had ever seen before, and now it's so very hokey. Don't get me wrong, it's still a terrific story with great, lasting icons and images, but technically it's unbelievably dated.

I also couldn't get over how young Harrison Ford looked. Was.

I still won't buy Pete any toy weapons, so after the movie he fashioned some out of paper. Sigh.

*Blockbuster is really losing it. I rarely go in there anymore, since my love affair with Netflix began. But I do still get the kids videos there occasionally. Anyhow, they have this whole thing now about "no late fees." But then there's a sign near the register that says, "Sorry only works for 7 days. On day 8, you own it." Sheesh.

Comments

[nina]

Yeah, but if you bring it back after the 8th day, they credit you back for the movie minus a $1.65 restocking fee, so it's still a great deal. Not that I've ever had a movie out for that long, but that's what I hear, heh heh.

[Phillips01]

"...and the special effects were nothing"
"...but technically it's unbelievably dated."
~~~~~~~~~~

I almost couldn't stop laughing enough to type this comment.

Do you happen to remember if you rented the "original" version of the movie or one of the "special editions" with the updated hokey effects? :)

[Scott D. Feldstein]

Do not see Hannibal (as in Anthony Hopkins). Just don't. I myself felt assaulted and exploited after watching it, and I don't consider myself overly sensitive to movie violence.

Also, I believe boys will always make weapons with which to act out their internal dramas. Dramas that include conflict and physical striving against others. I do not believe this will ever change. Maybe the best we can hope for is to give them kindness and honor and nobility of purpose to go with it.

[Margaret]

I loved Star Wars, but looking at it today is weird. Special effects have certainly come a long way.