As my twin soon-to-be five year old sons run about our house with their array of Star Wars, Avengers & Spiderman Christmas presents, I find myself reflecting on the enjoyment provided by my love of all things science fiction.
I must admit that first and foremost, I am primarily a visual person, so my first reaction has always been about the visual impression something has created. Whether it be a movie, a television show, a comic book or a poster. However, I have over the years, read and enjoyed a diverse range of written science fiction, fantasy and horror that has challenged my imagination to work harder than it may otherwise have.
I've found it hard to know exactly where to start the process of reviewing, but the most obvious is +George Lucas' Star Wars. I was 5 when Star Wars was released in Australia and, to this day, I remember why I was so engaged by it.
First, was my Mother's objection to my brother and me seeing it. Even at 5, I figured if my Mother didn't want me to see it - it must be good.We were initially forced to see a re-issue of Snow White but, upon my Father seeing the preview, we saw Star Wars soon after at the Greater Union theatre in Hunter Street, Newcastle.
Second, was the corridor scene in the Rebel Blockade Runner. The opening scene with the Blockade Runner and the Star Destroyer was beyond me at the time, as I had no comprehension of what I was seeing. Once the action moved to the inside of the ship, with people, it all of a sudden became something real. I remember loving the outfits that the Rebel soldiers wore, the shoot-out with the Stormtroopers and, ultimately, Darth Vader's appearance!
Third, the toys! The ongoing presence of the toys in shops, even after the movie had finished its theatrical run, was a reminder of what was so great about Star Wars. One of the big issues older fans had with Episodes I, II & III is that they were toy advertisements masquerading as movies. Perhaps the endless stream of merchandise over three decades has made older Star Wars fans a little cynical, but, as a kid, I never thought you could have too many Star Wars toys. in 1977, the action figures let you re-create the lightsabre duel between Ben and Vader in your own bedroom!
So, what do I make of Star Wars today?
To be fair, all entertainment should be reviewed as a specific thing produced at a particular time. The 1977 version of Star Wars should not be reviewed in comparison to other films. Times change, and production techniques for film and television have allowed for story-telling to take place against a much-broader technical canvas.
The 1977 version of Star Wars is a strong piece of film-making. It starts with a great opening sequence that concludes with Luke leaving Tatooine behind as he embarks on his quest to find Princess Leia with Ben, Han, Chewbacca and the droids. The Second Act sees Luke accomplish his mission to find Leia, only to be told that they must escape the Death Star and deliver its technical read-outs to a waiting Rebel attack force. The Final Act sees Luke, Han & Chewbacca deliver the knock-out blow to the Death Star and provide the Rebels with a much-needed victory against the oppressive Empire. The through-line of the story is Luke's journey from boy to man who discovers, through Ben Kenobi, that he is endowed with Jedi powers just like his late Father - Anakin Skywalker.
This is the great accomplishment of Star Wars - the simplicity of its story. In keeping the story simple and the characters motivations clear, George Lucas was able to create visually creative environments that had never before been put on film. The Mos Eisley Cantina scene is an example of this creativity at work. The scene itself functions as a means for Ben and Luke to hire Han and Chewbacca to get them off Tatooine, but what really makes it unique is the sights and sounds taking place all around these five characters. There's no need to go into the details, as anyone who has seen the film knows the scene well.
Another great accomplishment of Star Wars are the visual effects created for the film. George Lucas created Industrial Light & Magic specifically to handle the effects for Star Wars and his decision turned out to be a good one. While the tortured process of creating these effects has been well documented, the final product proved to be beyond anyones expectations. Unlike many films today, where the effects are used for the sake of an effect, Star Wars' effects are used in the first two acts as bridging tools to help link scenes. It's not until the Third Act that the effects take centre stage with the Death Star dogfight between the Rebel and Imperial ships. The film was recognised with a number of awards for its effects work, including the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
One of the less talked about accomplishments of Star Wars is the acting. While Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher work well as a trio, their performances are enthusiastic as opposed to nuanced. The real acting credit in the film goes to Alec Guiness, Peter Cushing and the vocal talents of James Earl Jones. These three performances provide a theatrical tone to their three respective characters, who may otherwise have come off as one-note supporting cast members. James Earl Jones' Darth Vader voice has gone on to become a cultural icon on its very own; these days even inhabiting such things as the Tom Tom GPS unit!
Finally, I can't finish this piece without reference to the John Williams' score. I remember seeing George Lucas interviewed about how John Williams was going to score The Phantom Menace. Lucas sat down to listen to what Williams had prepared for the opening story crawl and was surprised to hear the Main Title track from Star Wars. The music Williams produced for Star Wars has, like so many things from this film, become iconic.
There's been so much written about Star Wars and its success as both a piece of entertainment and a cultural phenomenon. Like so many people, it became the starting point for my love of science fiction. It's probably more important to me today than it was as a child. As a middle-aged man watching his kids recreate their favourite scenes with their new toy lightsabres it makes me believe that there's always the possibility for me to make a trip to 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ...'
Finally, I can't finish this piece without reference to the John Williams' score. I remember seeing George Lucas interviewed about how John Williams was going to score The Phantom Menace. Lucas sat down to listen to what Williams had prepared for the opening story crawl and was surprised to hear the Main Title track from Star Wars. The music Williams produced for Star Wars has, like so many things from this film, become iconic.
There's been so much written about Star Wars and its success as both a piece of entertainment and a cultural phenomenon. Like so many people, it became the starting point for my love of science fiction. It's probably more important to me today than it was as a child. As a middle-aged man watching his kids recreate their favourite scenes with their new toy lightsabres it makes me believe that there's always the possibility for me to make a trip to 'A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away ...'
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