May the Force Be With You {#MovieMonday}
Last Updated on August 2, 2017 by lydiaf1963
It’s another Movie Monday and this time we’re celebrating May the Fourth and all things Star Wars!
I’d be hard pressed to come up with a movie franchise that has had a greater impact on contemporary culture. When the first Star Wars movie came out in 1977 I was 14 years old. Hard to believe it was 40 years ago. I remember watching it on the huge screen at one of the last independent theaters in town. The story caught our imagination.
Dashing heros
Strange creatures
Beautiful princess
Robots
and LIGHT SABERS!
My brother built a model Millennium Falcon, complete with lights. My sister and I had magazine photos of Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford taped to our bedroom walls…move over David Cassidy! We devoured books and magazines devoted to Star Wars and how they pulled off all those special effects. We purchased the soundtrack and of course quoted the movie to each other whenever appropriate.
By the time The Empire Strikes Back was released I was driving and so was able to see it multiple times. Aside from the battle on the ice planet, I was enchanted by the scenes with Luke and Yoda in the swamp and heartbroken when Han was captured by the treacherous Boba Fett. Darn you, Lando! I’m pretty sure my brother had a Boba Fett action figure. I understand they’re worth a few $$$ now.
I was in college when Return of the Jedi made the rounds in theaters. More great robots and machines. Loved how C3PO was regarded as a god by the people of the forest moon. There was actually a woman in my dorm who claimed she was an Ewok extra. I remember taking the time to find her name in the credits of my video. I never found it, but there was no reason to doubt her.
Twenty years after the original was in theaters, George Lucas used the most modern effects available to him to create a Special Edition on video with new footage and a controversial retelling of the scene where Han shoots Greedo. A new generation was introduced to the characters and my children were included.
Besides the books and the movies, Star Wars video games were also popular in our home. At one point we had a Star Wars flight simulator that was pretty complex, and hours were spent playing Shadows of the Empire on Nintendo. (The font on the graphic I made for this month is called Shadow of Xizor, one of the villains in Shadows of the Empire)
As a fan I’ve suffered through watched the Annakin films and have caught up with The Force Awakens and Rogue One, but I don’t feel the same enthusiasm and wonder I felt a long time ago in a theater far, far away.
If you’d like to download the graphic, click on the image above and the full file will download. You will then be able to resize and print it.
Photo Credit: © | Dreamstime.com
Font: Shadow of Xizor
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Ah the memories Star Wars brings back right? I bet all of our kids will have similar stories 🙂 Your photo is so funny, what a great quote. Thanks for sharing as a free download!
I’m looking forward to watching the movies with my grandsons. 🙂
That is the cutest picture ever!!
I thought it was awesome! I was looking for a Princess Leia silhouette and laughed when I came across the photo 🙂
So many great memories with the Star Wars franchise! The printable is awesome!
So true, Michelle, and it’s a worldwide phenomenon. Thanks for dropping by 🙂
Thank you for the great trip down memory lane. I remember feeling those same things as each movie came out. It’s been so fun to watch my children’s reaction as they’ve gotten to watch them for the first time. And I agree, the newer ones just don’t compare.
I was wandering around a bookstore today and saw a Little Golden Book version of The Force Awakens. Almost bought it for my grandson 🙂
I wasn’t a huge fan as a kid, but I do remember seeing all of them. It’s been fun to watch them with my son now.
My husband isn’t into them at all and doesn’t understand my very strong reactions 🙂 HOWEVER, he yells at the TV during The Walking Dead because he could run a better zombie apocalypse, lol.
Such an adorable photo! We have watched all of the movies. Looking forward to the next one.
I read one article which implied Mark Hamill might garner an Oscar nomination for his performance. I laughed, but I’m looking forward to seeing his portrayal of an older Luke.
OMG you said move over David Cassidy! I could never! LOL! I loved Mark and Harrison but they could never replace David.
I loved Star Wars too and did like last two that were made but nothing can hold a candle to the original three!
When I left to go to college I kept my Partridge Family albums, but my dorm room was decorated with an Indiana Jones poster 🙂
I have to say that I absolutely loved Rogue One. I did find it hysterical that they made an entire movie to explain the flaw in the Death Star but I still thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m kind of with you on the other newer movies, though. Thanks for the hysterical free printable!
Thanks, Marie! I enjoyed the movie, too and will happily watch it again. 🙂