Episode V: Flashback Strikes Back

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away....

Just kidding. How cliche would it be if I started this post that way? I mean, totally predictable, right? Any sort of writer with a sense of originality and self-worth wouldn’t start an article about Star Wars that way.

Ah shit, I just did, didn’t I? My attempt to be pithy and original backfired, didn’t it? Oh well, whatever, moving on.

This past week one of my good friends informed me that she had just seen Star Wars for the first time (spoiler alert: she loved it). Of course, my first reaction was utter astonishment combined with a healthy dose of bewilderment, followed by a touch of downright anger. I mean, c’mon! How does any adult with the least bit of self-respect and dignity go their entire lives without seeing Star Wars? It’s like if John Lennon didn’t pick up a guitar until he was 25. Or if Carl Sagan never went to the World’s Fair  when he was a child. Or if Charlie Sheen was never introduced to cocaine (sorry, had to, but you get the point).

Anyone that knows me personally can tell you that I am a huge Star Wars fanatic. So much so, that my childhood love of the franchise grew into a minor adult obsession that has led to several failed relationships and a general sense of distrust of anyone I meet who either hasn’t seen it, or has seen it, but was unaffected by it (another one of my good friends’ summed it up best: “if you’ve seen Star Wars, and it didn’t change your life, you’re an asshole”).

Ok, that last paragraph may come off a bit harsh and exaggerated, but the point is, I really love Star Wars.

However, as flabbergasted as I was that my friend had never seen Star Wars before, I learned the circumstances of which this had occurred, and I found myself feeling something I hadn’t felt when someone says to me “I’ve never seen Star Wars”:

Understanding.

With this recent conversation, and last week’s national StarWars day celebration (May the fourth be with you), I found myself recently reminiscing about the first time I saw Star Wars.....

It was a long time ago, in a suburb far, far away.....

Damnit, I did it again.

I first saw the Star Wars when I was about 6 or 7, my dad brought home the trilogy on VHS (Flashback Friday: VHS, holy shit remember that?), sat me down for a serious discussion, as if we were about to have the “where do babies come from?” and “birds and the bees” chat (this conversation happened, verbatim):

Dad: “Son, we need to have a serious talk....it’s time that I introduced you to Star Wars”

6 or 7 Year Old Me: “What’s Star Wars, dad?”

Dad: “Hah! Son, Star Wars is the greatest film trilogy ever made, it will change your life”

Me: “Dude, are you serious? Have you seen Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, c’mon, that shit rules”

Dad: “Man, you have no idea what you’re in for, just watch....”

Put one on the board for dear ‘ol dad. He was right, the first time I watched it, like so many others, it blew me away. Robots, crazy aliens, lightsabers, spaceships, strange planets, I mean how could that stuff not utterly astonish any 7-year old boy?

There’s something magical about looking back at the first time you saw Star Wars.

Remember how jaw-dropping the first scene was- Huge Imperial destroyer, huge blaster battle on the Rebel ship?

And being introduced to Storm Troopers for the first time.

How about the first time you heard Darth Vader breathe?

How badly did you want a lightsaber when you first watched Obi-Wan bestow Luke’s father’s lightsaber unto him?

What about the first time you were introduced to Han and Chewie in the Cantina while the band of aliens played that infamous tune? (btw, Han shot first, I dare you to doubt me).

How many of you guys fell in love with Princess Leia? How many of you ladies wanted to be Princess Leia. I still get goosebumps every time I hear “My name is Luke Skywalker, I’m here to rescue you”.

The point I’m trying to make goes without saying. But I’m going to say it anyways: Star Wars is and will forever be the most influential film franchise in the history of cinema (excluding the prequels, because.....well....you know what, I’m not even going to get into it). Whereas I used to shun people who’d never seen Star Wars, I look at them with a new perspective....a sort of New Hope, because I know it’s still not too late for them to experience the magic that is Star Wars. And to be the one watching it with someone for their first time, it can be a whole new experience, sitting back and watching their reactions, reminiscing about your first time.

Try it sometime, it’ll take you back and make you wonder....with the blast shield down, how the hell is Luke supposed to fight?