Monday, November 7, 2011

use the horse!



I'm writing this because starwars is the cool thing to like. I see it on 9gag, tumblr, etc. People are talking about the places, the characters, and their eyes light up like its so wonderful to recall those things - and it is. But I don't just love starwars for that. Some people just try to know it because its cool and they want to be weird or quirky or whatever..I don't know.

No, I dont know everything about Starwars. I don't know about the outer universe and I dont memorize every place in the saga (i just know the basics: Tatooine, Hoth, Naboo, etc) I'm not a fangirl who would memorize every Jedi in the movie. Though I know that would be cool as hell, I don't think that that's the kind of qualification to say that youre really a fan. (if it is then youre just making it this exclusive whatever thing - you hipster.)

I write this because every time I sincerely ask a person if they like starwars, I often get a reply like "oh do you know the *INSERT A-PLACE-YOU-OBVIOUSLY-DON'T-KNOW-BUT-I'LL-SAY-IT-BECAUSE-I'M-OUT-THERE planet*"then I get a shun because I don't know it. sigh. this is why sometimes I just want to shut up about it, even though I feel like screaming from the mountain tops how amazing I think the whole thing is.

a love for star wars, just like a love for other things, is subjective. and maybe I'm not as cool as all the other fans out there, but I really do love starwars. So now I just want to write about it.

 The first one's I saw were the prequels and not the original trilogy..but it was fucking amazing. I loved every minute of it. Even part one, when I was anakin's age and all I could think about was how cool it was to race the way he did. And then in part 2 he fell in love, and I thought to myself because I was a little girl, "one day I'm going to marry anakin skywalker"

I even marked how tall he was on my wall, so I could mark my growth and pray it would match his in those weird couplely ways. (I know its very durpina of me, but what the hell) to me he was so real! and it wasn't the actor I loved, but the character. I remember even reading some stuff about him, he was my first love. To top it off,  I wanted the world to change into that parellel universe, I wanted it so badly. I used to collect the KFC mugs and buckets, trying to copy the characters on them. I played frisbee using the lid of the KFC bucket - just because it had starwars slapped across it. I didn't care. I found random sticks in the park and used them as light sabers. I'd talk to myself using that ethereal jedi voice. I'd dream about it - even until today.

then I got surprised because I grew up and found the internet. then I went to online forums about starwars, and I saw how many people were saying that the prequels sucked. I was a bit saddened by it because thats starwars for my generation. I saw them first not because I chose to, but just because I just wasn't exposed to the first ones. So part I, II and III came. and I was thinking "oh why was this here?" "why is this a big deal?"

and then I saw the original Star Wars. A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi.

I was amazed. even though the effects were outdated, it still spoke to me. I saw the originals when I was already in highschool, but it still took me away. I fell even more in love with the story. And the genius behind it, how it was so ahead of its time, was beautiful. I saw it again and again. Soon after I saw the prequels again, and I actually teared up a bit. The story was so true and so real. I love starwars that I wouldn't care if they showed the damn thing using sock puppets - there's just a message behind it that you just can't help but want to escape into.

People complain about technicalities, how the dvd edition has many new digital changes that they don't like, how the original is better...but come on, star wars was never about those things.

for me, the prequels were a tribute to the original. it was never made to compete, but to compliment. If the prequels weren't good, then I wouldn't have been so curious about the originals - it anchored me back. Now I know it, and my life just feels different each time I think about it. (and if you say that I dont know what I'm talking about then funk you you filthy adult! I was a kid and kids always know best!)

 The point is, star wars will always be there. It's a story of redemption, return, victory, love, and so many other things. I love it just the way it is, for all that it is (even the things people criticize about it) because you know why? It's a story worth knowing. Its a warmth worth carrying into our own galaxy, not so far away. If each person who's ever seen starwars would apply the love from the movie in real life, and not just the merchandise, then I truly believe the world would be a better place - then we wouldn't have to wish for it to be real because it's always been real. the force has always been amongst us.

that's it for my two cents.

now to lighten up the mood!

watch this video! :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eCSHJINqCo

3 comments:

  1. I used to be die hard Star Wars fan and I have the new blu-ray edition that Lucas came out with. There are a lot of stuff that he changed like the SFX of the lightsaber to the CG of some settings (Episodes IV- VI). I only got it because I wanted to see it in HD, plus my VCR's broken so my VHS copies are just sitting around.

    I have to say though that the prequels were a huge disappointment, and it probably because of Jar Jar Binks. In fact, in the next episode, he barely had any lines, and in episode III I said nothing at all. The only time I remember seeing him in III was during the procession of Padme at Naboo (he got like five seconds of screen time). I watched them in the order that Lucas intended, and I have to agree with you that IV-VI was way ahead of their time. I don’t know why, but I find IV-VI more appealing than the prequels. Probably because everything was GCI, just real props and great artistic direction.

    The story is fantastic, of course. In fact I see a whole load of Buddhism in "their way of the Force". The manner of translating that into sci-fi and involving a bit of politics, romance and action was the thing that got me hooked to it. If however Lucas never pushed through with the sci-fi, it would never be as legendary as it is now.

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  2. ooh okay! thats good. nice to hear from another fan. I think Jar Jar was okay - I mean I didnt mind. Now that I think about it he is kind of annoying, but hey I was a kid when I first encountered him so I really couldn't care less. And I agree, with real props you really see the kind of genius and creativity that the movie has.

    yep! lots of eastern influences with the whole "force" thing the story has :)

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  3. You know I've been wanting to watch all the movies again. I watched them all once but I couldn't understand them, the same way I couldn't understand The Lord of the Rings trilogy. I was caught up with Harry Potter then but I knew I would've like Star Wars. I just love the outer space and I like how Star Wars takes me there.

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