A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Okay, not so long ago (1977) and not so far away (Earth) a little movie called Star Wars came out. And it’s safe to say it changed movies as we know them.
It was a franchise that spawned sequels, a ridiculous amount of merchandise, and even this:
We’ve talked about Star Trek many times on the show, but this week it’s all about Star Wars!
* * *
We begin by talking about how old we were when we first saw a Star Wars movie…and what the experience was like. After that, we move on to how important Star Wars was in our lives when we were younger. Now that we’re adults, do the movies carry the same weight?
Did you know there are grown friggin’ men who fume about the Star Wars prequels, going so far to say the prequels ruined the original trilogy for them even more than Ewoks in Return of the Jedi? (Ewoks are worse than Jar-Jar Binks, people!) Find out what we think about those who let other things ruin the movies they love. (Although it’s probably more than evident with these lines…and if you’ve listened to the show enough, you know our answers already.)
Another thing people say destroyed the franchise was George Lucas constantly tinkering with the original trilogy. Find out our thoughts about a world full of computer-generated effects juxtaposed with people in rubber masks!
Next, we discuss our favorite — and least favorite — Star Wars characters. (Hint: Shawn’s entire back is covered in a giant Jar-Jar Binks tattoo and Christopher has Watto tattooed on his chest!)
When talking about the structure of the original trilogy, one can’t claim it’s a very complex thing. Based on the Hero’s Journey concept culled from Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces, we talk about whether or not the structure of the original trilogy works for us.
We get a new Star Wars movie in December. We talk about the teaser trailers for Star Wars: The Force Awakens and whether or not we’re looking forward to the next Star Wars movie.
In between the movies, fans have read Star Wars books, played video games based on the movies, and watched Star Wars cartoons. Find out how much of the Star Wars expanded universe we’ve consumed. (And laugh as Shawn introduces Christopher to this:)
Near the end of the episode, we get geeky and talk about which one Star Wars character we’d be if we could…and why.
And like so many episodes, we wrap it up by talking about the future — this time, the future of the Star Wars franchise.
As always, we’d love to hear your thoughts about Star Wars in the comments.
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I’ll just leave this here:
https://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/zvo6mqxzewfuhv8qtbvz.gif
That is BEYOND disturbing! I may never sleep again!
Ahmed Best is the actor’s name.
I was 7 when Star Wars came out. Honestly I don’t remember anything about Star Wars prior to my dad taking me to see it so I couldn’t tell you if I knew anything about it or looking forward to it before. I took my best friend at the time to see it with. I remember my friend talking about the trash compactor scene and all I could think of before the movie was the actors stuck in an oversized trash can.
It was CBS that first started airing them on television 🙂
And that’s why Shawn is still such the Trekker. Still trying to one-up his older brother for liking Star Wars.
You had the Imperial Shuttle AND the Millennium Falcon? YOU SUCK!
I just couldn’t get into the Jedi thing. Maybe because really the only Jedi was Obi-Wan and he was just an old guy in his bathrobe.
WWtJD? <– bracelets!
Mace Windu would go out like a punk 🙂
DON'T DIS THE WOLFMAN!
My problem with the SE was like Shawn said – dino-riding Jawa vs rubber masks. But also, I've seen Star Wars so many times, it's pace and rhythm is so engrained that the new scenes throw me off.
Ewoks irritated me because of the whole cuteness and wish they stuck with them being Wookies instead.
Comparing Star Wars to Mad Dog – Ha!
The prequels only ruined the originals when they try to tie the two together. When you see people talking and refer both trilogies together. Or a meme talking about 'This is your father's lightsaber – he killed 30 children with it' That just proves how much the prequels sucks.
To be fair – George Lucas cannot direct. When actors try to improvise his OCD kicks into overdrive and makes them go back to the script – verbatim.
There's an interview of Frank Langella saying he absolutely LOVED playing Skeletor and wished so much for a 2nd movie with him.
Anyone who says they became a man because of Star Wars needs to be beaten with a rubber Jar Jar
HA! Star Trek Insurrection? The crew of the Enterprise beams down to planet Day Spa. That was such a horrible movie.
I don't mind Lucas keeps wanting to tweak it. But to remove all instances of the original with no means of obtaining the originals is wrong. Thankfully I still have the OT on DVD (they were considered 'bonus' material in the 2 disc set)
Actually, those boxes were a result of transferring from film to digital for VHS, DVD, etc. Something to do with how film uses light to project so it's not as defined, but with VHS and DVD the blacks are less saturated and the boxes are more prominent
Thankfully Disney will eventually release the OT on BluRay because money.
HAN SOLO, baby!
As for Chewbacca being a dog – Chewie was inspired by Geroge Lucas' pet malamute (named Indiana – yes, I'm serious) who always rode shotgun with George whenever he went anywhere in his car.
Ewoks are probably my least favourite character(s)
Boba Fett is my biggest let-down. Think about it – he didn't capture Han. Vader and his stormtroopers did. Then he tries to fight Han and Luke on Tatooine and falls in the Sarlaac Pit because his jet pack malfunctions? All he did was follow the Millennium Falcon and let Vader know where they are. So really, he's just a snitch.
Yoda bugged me (mostly) because of the prequels. Really, the prequels just showed how much of wusses everyone in the Star Wars universe is. I mean, here we have the baddest Jedi Master, and all he does is waste his devine wisdom on children – he's a Kindergarten teacher. Then loses one fight and decides "Nope" and goes hides. I guess I missed the Jedi code where if you lose, give up. Just wait 20 years to try to train someone to be your revenge errand boy. Even then, he can't even keep track of which lesson he's supposed to teach.
Yoda: Don't go. Your training isn't complete.
Luke: I have to go and fight Vader to save my friends. I'll be back.
******
Luke: I'm back! I need more training.
Yoda: Really, all you have to do is fight Vader.
Luke: Umm…isn't that what you DIDN'T want me to do last time? So, I did it already. So I'm a Jedi?
Yoda: No…that one didn't count. Do-over.
Luke: Shit…
HELL YEA! Star Wars The Force Awakens!
I'll be there at the midnight premier!
THANK YOU JJ FOR CLENSING MY CHILDHOOD!
Wait…I'm 45. I KNOW WHO YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT, ASSHOLE!
Star Wars Rebels isn't bad. For the EU I've only really read the Zhan trilogy which kicked off the EU resurgence. But I'm also reading the new Marvel comics right now.
SHUTUP! Dance, Dance, Rebel Revolution is CANNON!
(Yes, this was the apex of the EU going to far)
AH! My name is mentioned! I'M FAMOUS!
Funny enough, I don't have a Han Solo costume…
…yet.
That was the end of Space Balls
Future of Star Wars: Total Domination!
Actually, I think it will reach Star Wars saturation in about 5-6 years with everything coming out. TV Shows, movies, Disney Parks opening themed lands. I think it will reach a saturation point that Marvel's Cinematic Universe is dangerously close to reaching.
Dancing with the Star Wars!
And May the Force be with You!
I heard about Star Wars shortly before it came out. A friend had the paperback and told me the movie would be out in a week. The effect of seeing Darth Vader on that original cover hit me more than anything.
Yes, Shawn was a fortunate kid to have so many ships. He’d probably blame his brother. I had an X-wing. I saw a coupon in the back of Frankenberry cereal for $5 off. I thought that meant it was $5. I ate the entire box of cereal in an evening and the next day went to Ace Hardware with the coupon and a $5 bill…my allowance. When the woman ringing up the order told me the ship was more like $15 or $20 or whatever it was and that the coupon was $5 off, I teared up. She told me, “Wait, no…I made a mistake…I’m so sorry — you’re right, this is for a $5 X-wing fighter.” Whether she paid out her pocket or just let it somehow slide, I think about how generous that person was and still tear up knowing there are good people out there. One of those people you wish you could track down and thank.
Very good point about the prequels trying to cram in things that didn’t happen. Or, worse, midi-chlorians. “Hey, the Force…yeah, it’s not a universal life force in everything around you. It’s almost like, “Hey, we figured out a vaccination to stop the infestation!”
Also a good point that George Lucas is not a good director. I’d add to that a writer. I’m glad he made this world and worked with great people to bring it all to life. But yes, there’s a reason Empire Strikes Back is still a thing to behold and Attack of the Clones is not.
Han and Chewie really are the shit in those movies 🙂 As much as I loved the idea of Jedis, we only see a moment of Luke being a badass and it was rushed and forced. Hand and Chewie started off badass and finish badass. Even I must admit that.
Your points about Yoda and that dialogue is perfect! I think that’s what got me with Yoda, too. I was fine having him on Dagobah (another Lucas racist thing? “Dagos? BAH!!!” 😉 ), but it’s another good point about how the prequels pull against what’s gone before.
Hey, I’ll admit that I got chills when I heard Luke’s voice in the second teaser. I trust J.J. — he grew up loving all this as much as the rest of us, and even the stuff he’s done that isn’t my thing still has heart. That’s really my complaint about the prequels: when Jar-Jar has more heart than most characters, you have a problem. I’m fine with more serious and even sterile environments. I loved seeing Coruscant. But there was no heart, and actors were given such stale writing to work from that they couldn’t do their job. As Shawn mentioned: you have some of the better actors working in this, and they were all wooden as hell.
Sadly, I think you’re right about the saturation bomb about to drop. I’ve still not seen Avengers 2. As much as I adored season one of Daredevil, a part of me is like, “Okay, have one more season with him skilled and drop in Elektra and Bullseye if you must,” but even something like that feels like it will suffer from the volume of it all. And I shouldn’t feel that way. It’s not that the Marvel universe in film or television leaves me flat; hell, I watched Agents of SHIELD last night. But yes, saturation…and I can see Star Wars soon suffering from that.
A theme park where I can order a drink in the cantina and things like that…I will go to Florida for that drink! Hell, in a closet in this apartment is a Royal Guard helmet and a full set of Stormtrooper armor (minus the bucket). Like Shawn mentioned, it’s possible to knock the thing you love with entertainment. I think the saturation point will be heavy inside a handful of years, but the strength of Star Wars is the fantasy element that allows it to be an easier cross-generational thing. While I don’t want you to become a grandparent anytime soon, Curtis, I love the thought of the day you geek out with grandkids over Star Wars.
That aspect of the Star Wars future is what I love most.
And yes, May the Force Be with You…