I was only a toddler when I was swept into a galaxy far, far away, and I can’t remember what won me over or when: the imaginative action, amazing score, great story, or memorable characters and their homeworlds. Growing up, I watched all the movies on loop, played the video games, read the books my brothers had, then I collected the original soundtracks and posters. Han Solo became my favorite character very quickly, if I remember correctly. He may not have had a lightsaber, but he had Chewbacca, and I had a dog: it made sense that we were just like them. His relationship with Chewbacca was pretty accurate of my relationship with my first dog: we loved adventures together, we never left each other’s side, and he’ll always be my favorite friend I ever had. In real life, though, Han survived while Chewie passed. I still have his puppy collar and it’s draped around a 12” action figure of Han Solo I purchased right after I saw Solo in theaters.
I remember getting all sorts of toys when I was little, too. I’m even trying to recollect a bunch of the ones I had growing up that got misplaced or donated. None of the ones I had are expensive, thankfully. I remember having so much fun making up my own continuations of the series, or even something dumb, like if I had multiple versions of a character, I would think of conversations between the characters.
There was a brief time I thought I had outgrown it, then I rewatched the trilogy and realized it’s a story about growing up. Luke Skywalker starts out at home, and doesn’t really want to leave. He and Obi-Wan go on an adventure because Luke has nowhere else to go, and Luke has to grow up quickly to ensure the survival of the rebellion. Even in The Empire Strikes Back, Luke’s lesson was to stay and complete his training with Yoda: because he jumped to a decision, and it almost cost the rebellion everything they had.
I absolutely love the original six films with all my heart, even the “bad” ones like The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones because of nostalgia, I admit. Attack of the Clones and Die Another Day were the first movies I remember watching in theaters. Both aren’t very good, and are highly regarded as the worst of their franchises, but I do love them on their own merits. I remember sitting in the theater, breathless at the ending lightsaber fight between Anakin and Count Dooku; the only lights in the theater were from the lightsabers. I’ve never seen that replicated before: there’s always a different light source in the same room, or the television is too bright and I can see the actors’ whole bodies.
Revenge of the Sith was probably my favorite movie-going experience growing up, though. I didn’t go to any midnight showings for Revenge of the Sith like I did with Spectre and The Force Awakens, but at six, I remember being swept away by the tragedy and John Williams’ best work. I honestly think the fight theme between Anakin and Obi-Wan (“Battle of the Heroes”) is the best song in the entire franchise. It has a mix of “Duel of Fates,” “Binary Sunset,” and I believe a hint of “The Imperial March,” showing that through this fight, Obi-Wan is fighting the boy from Tatooine, but he’s as angry and evil as Darth Maul. The dialogue is a bit punchy (and not in a good way) because they cut a part of Obi-Wan’s dialogue. I remember reading up on one the earlier drafts and when Anakin belts out “I hate you” and his eyes turn colors, that was supposed to happen after he pleads with Obi-Wan for help and Obi-Wan says “no.”
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