that Star Wars was released. There are lots of folks talking about the first time they saw the movie, but most of them were old enough to go to a movie on their own. I was four by the time my parents packed my baby brother and me, already in our pj’s, into the car for a trip to the second-run drive-in. They didn’t expect us to stay awake, you see.
We did.
So for me Star Wars wasn’t a revelation the way it was for some folks. It was simply the way movies were supposed to be, and on some level I think I’ve been judging movies by that standard ever since. I certainly prefer SF films (and books) to any other genre.
But Star Wars was also a cultural phenomenon, especially in the realm of tie-in marketing. At various points in time I had a Star Wars Playdough set, a Star Wars lunch box, and quite a few Star Wars figurines.
Even playing make-believe was influenced by Star Wars. My brother and I, along with a few neighborhood friends, used to play spaceship. Our front porch was the ship, and the big side yard was whatever planet we were visiting. Some had jungles, some were deserts, and there were always bad guys to deal with and princesses to rescue. Nevermind that two of us were girls — we were never princesses, always the heroes.
btw — sitting next to me right now in my cubicle — Princess Leia and Darth Vader figures.
I can’t believe it was thirty years!! I remember standing in line to see it — even in my small hometown, the line was around the block.
Now I feel really old.
Can you believe that I’ve never EVER seen Star Wars? Odd, I know.
Adri–I wish I still had my Star Wars figures. Especially Han Solo!
Yogamum–no older than the thousands of other people with the same memory.
Zazazu–I wouldn’t have thought that possible!