Imagine a space station where everything to do with Star Wars is in one place.
This is it.
Star Wars is bigger than all of us.
It is so huge at this point, that it is even bigger than George Lucas.
It is out of his control.
He barely cares about it anymore. He is more of a businessman, now.
I can't say I blame him. Bills have to be paid, you know.
Anyway, for the first time in my life, I started looking at some THX-1138 material. I saw the original student film.
I saw in a video that 'THX-1138' wasn't even George's idea, but it was a script floating around.
George did make it happen, though, so you gotta give him credit for that.
I remember from my reading somewhere before that the assignment for his class was to make a five minute film. George broke the rules of the assignment, and made a fifteen to twenty minute film.
Thus, a filmmaker was born, because he didn't want to go by the rules, and he had a vision of what he wanted to do.
By the way, I'll have to do some more research on THX-1138.
It is, in my opinion, the first real Star Wars film. The idea of a 'used future' is there, as is a society filled with authority and control, just like the Empire.
'1984' by George Orwell influenced and informed 'THX-1138'. It is pretty obvious.
Other influences for Star Wars comes from Flash Gordon, World War II, and Star Trek.
Then, there is the 1965 sci fi masterpiece of literature....'DUNE'. Desert planet? Arrakis existed before Tattooine was a thought in George's head.
One can not forget the influence of 'Twilight Zone' on just about anything to do with science fiction.
Science and Technology itself was an influence, as was the 'Space Race', and landing men on The Moon.
It was in the air.
So, somehow, Star Wars came out of all this.
* * * *
Episodes I-III were a disaster. I'm of the mind at this point to pretend that they don't exist.
At the very least, a good writer could rewrite the prequels, and try to make sense of that mess.
On the other hand, the Clone Wars cgi cartoon series is very good, and keeps getting better.
Thank goodness there are people who actually do care about Star Wars, because in a way, it is about all of us.
* * * *
One final comment about Episode VI. Just because the Death Star was destroyed for a second time wouldn't necessarily mean the end of The Empire, so I don't know what everyone in the galaxy was so happy about.
I think it was too soon for a Cinco de Mayo Sesame Street Celebration.
I think it was just an easy and convenient way to end a movie.
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