Star Wars "The movie that changed everything"

[Miss Mary]

Celebrating....... "Star Wars" (aka "A New Hope") - 30th Anniv. - May 25, 2007 It's hard to believe it's been 30 years already! I saw SW in the theater soon after it premiered. Needless to say I became an instant, devoted SW fan (my favorite character was and will always be Luke).

Congratulations SW and George Lucas for continuing to inspire new generations to this saga. Sorry, but I have to say it...."May the Force be with you".......I heard that phrase over and over again in 1977. LOL

_______________________

http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/Movies/ ... index.html

Thirty years later, 'Star Wars' force still being felt
POSTED: 10:16 a.m. EDT, May 24, 2007

• "Star Wars" was released May 25, 1977, in just 40 theaters
• Blockbuster film tremendously influential
• 30th anniversary events include History Channel documentary

(CNN) -- What the studio executives couldn't see, 13-year-old Stephen Colbert saw all too clearly.

"We went to school the next day unable to explain to our friends how everything was different now," the "Colbert Report" host, now 43, says about his first viewing of "Star Wars" in the History Channel documentary "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed."

How right he was.

"Star Wars," indeed, was a phenomenon -- one that caught most of Hollywood by surprise. Thirty years after its premiere on May 25, 1977 (in just 32 theaters), it remains the model for the summer blockbuster -- and a touchstone for two generations of moviegoers. (i-Report: Your "Star Wars" memories)

With the film's 30th anniversary Friday, celebrations are kicking into high gear. Besides the History Channel special, set to air 9 p.m. ET Monday, there are:

Several books (notably "The Making of Star Wars: The Definitive Story Behind the Original Film" [Del Rey]);
"Star Wars" weekends at the Disney-MGM Studios theme park near Orlando, Florida;
"Star Wars" Celebration IV, beginning Thursday in Los Angeles, California;
30th-anniversary action figures, released by Hasbro;
A screening of all six films on Cinemax on Friday;
And even "Star Wars" postage stamps, to go along with all those R2-D2 mailboxes that the United States Postal Service has installed around the country.
Not bad for a film rather unsensationally described in its own press kit as "an expression of [George Lucas'] boyhood fantasy life -- his love for 'Flash Gordon' and all the great mysteries and adventures in books and movies." (EW: The secrets of "Star Wars")

'It was touch-and-go for a time'

Given that press kits are usually chock-full of hyperbole, that somewhat timid portrayal may have indicated what studio execs, and even Lucas' friends, thought of the film.

After viewing a screening in March 1977, with the special effects still unfinished, Lucas' wife Marcia was aghast, according to Peter Biskind's 1970s movie history, "Easy Riders, Raging Bulls."

"It's the 'At Long Last Love' of science fiction," she said, referring to a well-known bomb of the time.

And the necessary special effects cost a fortune in 1977. Lucas' studio, 20th Century Fox, was nervous. "It was touch-and-go for a time," Lucas later recalled. (He wouldn't trust a studio again, creating his own company, Lucasfilm, to go along with his special-effects house, Industrial Light & Magic, for future endeavors.)

But moviegoers never doubted. The film was a hit from its first day, attracting such crowds of people that its opening was featured on Walter Cronkite's "CBS Evening News." Harrison Ford was practically ripped apart while shopping at a record store. The film's theme music, redone in disco form by a musician named Meco, became a No. 1 single.

The success of "Star Wars" paved the way for Lucas' entire empire, including massively successful merchandising tie-ins and five other films, broadening the "Star Wars" mythology. (Gallery: A guide to "Star Wars" characters)

Observers, from casual fans to Ph.D.-laden professors, have tried to explain the reasons for the films' success. Lucas had more than "Flash Gordon" on his mind when he started writing the first film in 1973; he had the myth-probing works of Joseph Campbell as well.

Lucas' universe incorporated such figures as the reluctant hero (Luke Skywalker), the reckless adventurer (Han Solo), the goofy sidekick (C-3PO, Jar Jar Binks) and -- perhaps most important -- the corrupted leader (Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader). It's a mythology that has deep resonance.

"A hundred years from now someone will be sitting here discussing the impact of 'Star Wars' and they will be seeing different things in it than we are seeing today, just as today we have classes in the university on Homer," Joan Breton Connelly, who teaches "From the Iliad to 'Star Wars' " at New York University, says in "Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed."

Former NBC anchor Tom Brokaw is blunter.

"I thought 'Star Wars' was the quintessential Western played out in a different universe," he says in the History Channel documentary.

'All roads now lead to Tatooine'

"Star Wars" changed the Hollywood universe as well.

Previous box-office kings -- "The Sound of Music," "The Godfather," '70s disaster movies, even "Star Wars" predecessor "Jaws" -- were aimed primarily at adults. "Star Wars" brought in a huge teenage market that went to movies over and over (and over) again. In the decades since, this has become Hollywood's blockbuster template.

In a recent column, Atlanta Journal-Constitution film critic Eleanor Ringel lamented how "Star Wars" and "Saturday Night Fever" helped kill the so-called '70s golden age, when movies ranging from "The Godfather" to "The Sting" to "Shampoo" could be both critical and box office successes.

"Goodbye, Don Corleone and Travis Bickle. Hello, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Tony Manero. Move over, Little Italy and Nashville. All roads now lead to Tatooine and Brooklyn," she wrote.

And though the second "Star Wars" trilogy -- "The Phantom Menace," "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith" -- did huge business, many fans prefer the first three films. (Most rate the second film, 1980's "The Empire Strikes Back," best; it's no coincidence that it had a script written by Lawrence Kasdan and sci-fi legend -- and noted screenwriter -- Leigh Brackett.)

Nevertheless, Lucas and his collaborators succeeded in creating a legacy.

"It is bad guys versus good guys, and everyone wants to see that story," says director -- and hardcore "Star Wars" fan -- Kevin Smith in the documentary. "That story will never grow tired, never grow old."

[fwbbreeze]

"fear is the path to the dark side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering"--YODA


Geez I love those shows!!!


fwbbreeze

[Tropigal]

"fear is the path to the dark side, fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering"--YODA


fwbbreeze

What a great quote!!!

[Miss Mary]

I predict we'll have a visit from young yoda/Matt today, sometime.....his yoda radar is probably up!!!!

He will arrive, that he will - sorry Matt, I can't do yoda speak as well as you can!

Mary

[Aslkahuna]

Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side.

My favorite character is the Emperor.

Darth Kahuna

[Category 5]

Me and my girlfriend are so into those movies.

"I am your father"

[Aslkahuna]

"May the Force be with You"

"I have a bad feeling about this"

Two lines that have been spoken in all 6 episodes.

Steve

[Miss Mary]

I love SW trivia......what else ya got Aslkahuna?

*Edit* I changed this title's thread. Just so you're not seeing things....LOL

[alicia-w]

omg, that opening day was the only day i ever ditched school. in fact, it was our senior ditch day. instead of going to the mountains (hannigans meadow), we went to see SW.

[TexasStooge]

I've been an instant fan of "Star Wars" the minute I've seen it the first time.

[yoda]

I predict we'll have a visit from young yoda/Matt today, sometime.....his yoda radar is probably up!!!!

He will arrive, that he will - sorry Matt, I can't do yoda speak as well as you can!

Mary

Correct you were. Strong in the Force, Miss Mary is!

I love Star Wars!!! "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not, hmm?"

[kevin]

"Try not. Do or do not, there is no try."

[Aslkahuna]

"Oh no, my young Jedi-you will find that it is YOU who are mistaken -- about a great many things"

Q: Who spoke the last words in Episode III?

James Earl Jones-the voice of Darth Vader is a stutterer

BTW, Darth Vader never sees C3PO or R2D2 in Episodes IV through VI

Darth Kahuna

[Miss Mary]

LOL @ yoda! He made an appearance.....

Found a local article commerating the SW anniv.:
http://www.wlwt.com/entertainment/13389231/detail.html

[DaylilyDawn]

Now you will experience the full power of the Dark Side.

My favorite character is the Emperor.

Darth Kahuna

I Lord Vader,bow down to the Emperor as I embrace the Dark Side of the Force. I will grow strong in the Force though I am only 31, I fell in with Lord Vader at an early age I was about 6 years old.

The above sentence came from my son. His bedroom is a shrine to the Dark Side.

[Aslkahuna]

I have Sith Posters in the house. My light sabers are Vader's and Dooku's. My Darth Maul Saber broke in half during a light saber fight some time ago and could not be repaired. The image of the Emperor is the wallpaper on my and my son's computer monitor. On the shelf next to my digital temperature readout I have action figures of Darth's Vader and Sidious, the Emperor and a Storm Trooper. A portrait of Darth Vader hangs in the front room.

There is a great disturbance in the Force.

I have waited a long time for this moment my little green friend

Steve

[Ptarmigan]

Luke, I am your father.

Darth Vader

[Miss Mary]

I want to watch A New Hope, sometimes this weekend. We have surround sound and a big screen in the basement. When that scroll starts, I swear but I get goose bumps!

I'm sure some SW fans are watching all 6 movies this weekend.....I can't imagine sitting down for all 6, in a row but hey more power to anyone who tries this! And now young yoda, you're going to say you've done just this Matt! LOL

M.

[DaylilyDawn]

I have Sith Posters in the house. My light sabers are Vader's and Dooku's. My Darth Maul Saber broke in half during a light saber fight some time ago and could not be repaired. The image of the Emperor is the wallpaper on my and my son's computer monitor. On the shelf next to my digital temperature readout I have action figures of Darth's Vader and Sidious, the Emperor and a Storm Trooper. A portrait of Darth Vader hangs in the front room.

There is a great disturbance in the Force.

I have waited a long time for this moment my little green friend

SteveMy

My son has framed posters of Bobba Fett , One of the advertising posters (full size) that hung in movie theatres is of Luke and Leia with Luke having the lightsabre in a defensive move, two pictures made from photomosiacs , one of Darth Vader and one of Yoda . He also has a piece oftmovie clip framed with an autograph of the actor who played the part in the clip. I can take pictures of all of it and send it to you if you would like to see it.

[TexasStooge]

On June 9th, the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History hosts "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination". Who knows, me and my family just might attend that program.