Star Wars: My introduction to a 1977 cinematic masterpiece - in 1997
It was autumn of 1997. Unknown to me this was 20 years after one of the most spectacular achievements in modern cinematic history had been released, and taken the world by mind blowing visuals and sounds. Set in a galaxy far, far away, the film would becomes universally known as Star Wars. Some call it A New Hope, but let's keep it traditional - Star Wars.
At this stage of my life movies were more a time filler, than the escapism and fascination it would become (and still is). The sports field was more my calling or playing with action figures in my room. Yes, I had seen my dinosaur obsession taken to new heights after seeing Jurassic Park in 1993, my intrigue with martial arts had begun with The Karate Kid (1984, which I first saw in 1994) and started digging into the world of comedy through Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis' Mr. Bean, and the overtop physical comedies of Ace Ventura (1994/5), the start of the animation CGI innovation through toys with a life of their own in Toy Story (1995), but my rabbit hole into the pop culture spectacle of the late 70s and 80s was about to be opened. What a treat I was in for!
As I type this I have my copy of the Star Wars soundtrack playing - the brilliance of Mr John Williams about to well and truly take cinematic score to a place beyond our world. It reminds me of the way the opening theme blasted into my ear drums with the cinema's surround sound and being captivated to George Lucas' story. But let's go back to the moments that autumn leading up to the first time I saw Star Wars.
Now, late Autumn where I was living puts the month of the year at May 1997. I'd had my mate and his little brother over to the house for a hang out, and when their mum came to collect them a short while after lunch my mum proposed to them to join her and I to see a film that evening. She referred to the film as Star Wars. I was surprised as the suggestion was out of the blue. My friends could join and would meet us at the cinema by our one and only local shopping mall that evening. I had no idea what I was about to witness, remembering we had no internet access for a quick-read up on what the film would be all about, or my mum kindly giving zero plot points away (now known as spoilers).
Shortly before leaving the house, my friends mother called to say they'd been misbehaving and as punishment could not come with us to see the film. My mum hadn't booked tickets over the phone yet with the local cinema so it was no loss, and just the two of us went to go see Star Wars.
The next 2 hours were to become one of the most memorable parts of my childhood chapter. There was a real energy in the cinema. Mum had told me it had been 20 years since Star Wars had been released at the cinema, and many people were only experiencing that for the first time - me included. The Star Wars universe was, mostly, in pristine condition.
Now, an important thing to clarify here is this release was for the most part due to George Lucas using ILM (Industrial Light & Magic) to leverage digital enhancements and CGI a a pitch to the industry - thereby taking the Star Wars trilogy and creating the Special Editions to sell what could be done. Sure, he stated there were things he wanted to do then that he could do in the now, but there's more to it. This was really the major start to the controversy that would continue to burden Star Wars to this day as many saw this move as unnecessary and purists disgusted an original "art piece" was being meddled with - for the sake of further monetary gain and pitching to new audiences. The other businessman spin-on this move from Lucas, was because Lucasfilm was due to shortly announce the pre-production of a new Star Wars trilogy telling the origin story of Darth Vader. I'd read about this shortly after in Star Wars Insider magazine. So, to maximise the appeal Lucas awakened the original fans and reeled in some new ones for market penetration. I was that new target audience. Point is, there was controversy and excitement, an imbalance that would never leave the Star Wars fandom.
The beauty for me though was our local cinema was staging both the original cinematic release and the special editions. By the grace of good fortune every viewing for me was an original cinematic release - so you can imagine my confusion when a short while after my cinema experience I saw a VHS release showcasing the special editions wondering where the heck all these additional scenes and CGI effects had come from? Either way, I consider my viewing experience VERY fortunate in hindsight.
Let's revisit that 2 hour moment. The cinema goes quiet and dark. I had mentioned that energy. Even my mum seemed excited assuring me I was in for a treat. The THX score and visual enters the large cinema screen - the sound was loud! Another product of Lucas. Then follows the 20th Century Fox logo and score which also plays...loudly. And finally it goes eerily quiet. The screen reads "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away..."
STAR WARS. 
The film title blasts into view, full frame flying away from us, as John William's Main Title collaboratively blasts with the London Symphony orchestra following his conduct. The text scrolls before my eyes, giving me a summary for the story I am about to experience. I have some context but still no idea what I am about to see. The camera in the galaxy far, far away pans down. The stars in space become visible and only seconds later a small spaceship flies into frame, followed by lasers firing, and then a colossal ship. Very quickly I am shown the smaller ship is that of the Rebel Alliance, the heroes of the film, dwarfed in their struggle by the far more significant Imperial Star Destroyer pursuing them - and barraging them too. Very quickly we're introduced the comic relief of R2-D2 (artoo) and C-3PO (see-threepio). We see the Rebel Soldiers struggle - showing their faces, we identify with their fear and bravery. The Stormtroopers enter, masked and menacing - we don't identify with them. We see a Princess in peril (Princess Leia Organa), but not with the aura of the damsel in distress. She has a will to survive through her urgency. There's desperation. And then the force of evil, the master of menace and unsettling dominance enters. Darth Vader, referred to as Lord Vader by his troops. Laser battles in space, and in the tight corridors with opponents brandishing blasters as smoke blinds the Rebels. What an opening!
Shortly after the dark of space is replaced by the blinding lights of a world we can relate too, with sand and heat. Tatooine is the planet as William's score for "The Dune Sea of Tatooine" plays out. It shows the desolate and isolated wasteland of despair before our eyes as these two robots (I soon learn are Droids) show human emotion and struggle with their situation. This was certainly the point where I saw an incredible connection between music and movies, and upon some research the week that followed my Star Wars viewing experience I'd learn two other films I'd seen, Jaws (1975), E.T (1982) and Jurassic Park, were also scored by John Williams and filmed by Steven Spielberg - who I'd learn was a creative comrade and friend of George Lucas. A special discovery that was!
The film never let me go during those 2 hours. Now I am not going to summarise the whole film as there's no need for that, but I was hooked. Finding myself uncertain who our protagonist was, I was further intrigued by this alien world. Were the droids the characters I am struggling alongside? Am I relating to the story of two droids?
No. Enter Luke Skywalker. A local farm boy working for his uncle on this desolate world of sand and pessimism, yearning for adventure and purpose. Misfortune and tragedy occurs shortly after the droids come into Skywalker's care, but not before we get the beautiful scene of the binary sunset (again elevated by Williams score) where he feels the adventure and destiny he wants and longs for, will just never be.
It is certainly one of the top scenes in cinematic history, and one I hold closely.
This misfortune of loss that occurs the next day essentially enables him to be free of the ties to Tatooine, and fate brings him into the path of Obi-Wan Kenobi. A Jedi Knight who Luke can learn the ways of "the Force" from, and find his place as part of the Rebel's struggle against the atrocities at play in the hand of the tyrannical Galactic Empire. His mentor he needs to start the journey has come into his path, one who also knew Luke's father - Anakin Skywalker.
We then meet the dashing rogue smuggler, Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford who'd become my next film fascination in the form of Indiana Jones), his odd-looking Wookie side-kick, Chewbacca, as they join the adventure. This continues into space again on their ship, the Millennium Falcon. "You've never heard of the Millennium Falcon?", Solo asks in disgust before Skywalker and Kenobi get an expensive ride with them to try help the Rebels in the fight. Well, I hadn't heard of the Millennium Falcon. And I kept nagging myself as each scene of brilliance played out before me, "How had I never even heard of Star Wars before?"
In my Empire Strikes Back review I'll actually share that the seed of Star Wars fascination had actually been planted 4 years prior, and would no longer be dormant come the significant lightsabre duel between Skywalker and Vader. More of that in a later article!
The films action, suspense, and creative world continues to reveal layer after layer. After our heroes escape the Death Star, and before the final battle is fought there is a retreat to the Rebel's hidden base on Yavin 4. I felt a reprieve in this jungle world, where I could have a breather before the unbelievable finale between the Rebels and the Empire - a dog fight in space fighter jets! I'd learn the main aircraft in this battle consisted of X-Wings, Y-Wings, and Imperial Tie Fighters. And the tension and suspense would accelerate to lightspeed for this final showdown where I felt myself holding my breath! I was right there with Luke Skywalker, call sign "Red-5", in the cockpit of his X-Wing, days after leaving Tatooine to being at the centre of heroism and purpose - or doom. The Rebels have a limited window to fly through a trench and fire into an exhaust port to trigger a chain reaction to destroy the ginormous battle station, The Death Star. The Imperials intend to use their battle station super laser weapon to blow up the planet of Yavin 4 (where the Rebel's hidden base is located) and snuff out the Rebel's stronghold for good!
Darth Vader pursues Luke Skywalker - "The Battle of Yavin" score plays as Obi-Wan talks to Skywalker through The Force, as he turns off his targeting computer and now with the Force as his ally ready to take the shot it seems Vader has the last laugh with his will and power of the Dark Side of the Force. But no, Han Solo comes swooping in the Millennium Falcon to obliterate Vader's wingmen and send him into a spin. He returns valiantly to his friends in their most desperate moment, announcing to Skywalker, "You're all clear kid, now lets blow this thing and go home!" It's a real fist-pump moment. With that, Skywalker takes the shot and the Death Star explodes as the musical crescendo ensues. A special effects sensation as the giant battle station merely turns to space dust with sparks fading out.
I stayed with mum until the end credits finished rolling (something we always did so the cinema going crowds back then could exit the cinema), the final passage of music ending in a powerful marriage of strings, percussion, and horns. If I listen to this particular passage now it can move me to tears recalling that emotion as a child. Then, it's over. Lights come back on.
What had I just seen? It was like nothing I'd well and truly ever experienced. I was elated and in that moment I became a Star Wars fan, and also now in hindsight a significant moment too where I connected music and movies as one.
I still remember my mum asking me what I thought of the film when it ended and saying I couldn't believe I'd never seen it before and how great it was. I probably annoyed her with many questions. She even took me afterwards to one of the clothing stores that was still open, where to my surprise they had Star Wars clothes (yes, I was naïve not realising the reach of the galaxy far away into a consumers pocket). It was a winter pullover with green sleeves, and black torso with the Star Wars logo on the front, and an X-Wing blueprint on the back. I wore that top a lot over the new couple years!
You can imagine my thrill when I realised there was more than one Star Wars film, and it had been a trilogy. And being a promotion of the franchise in anticipation for the Special Editions and pending new trilogy, I only had to wait 2 more weeks until The Empire Strikes Back (1980), then Return of the Jedi (1983). Memory serves I saw the latter just days before my 11th birthday. What a privilege.
That birthday was classic. My fascination lead to an introduction to the expanded universe with a copy of Tales of Bounty Hunters, written as a collaboration between different authors, set during The Empire Strikes Back, with a tale of each of the Bounty Hunters we briefly meet in that film. I still have a copy of it, and loved the tale of IG-88. The gift of some action figures that meant a lot to me, and a few years later the toy collector sentiment in the film Toy Story 2 (1999), lead to an interest in collecting the action figures I had happy memories attached to. I enjoyed hours of escapism in my bedroom creating my own Star Wars battles with the figures. I have always enjoyed the packaging of figures, the details of the figures, and intrigue over the pull many of us have to these plastic representations on fictional characters that sit deep in our minds.
On the mention of the original trilogy, maybe I'll do an article one day how I only view Star Wars as a spectacular journey of 3 films? I am not passionate or invested in any other works after The Return of the Jedi, as I do not view these as fitting to the Star Wars galaxy that lives in my head.
What has been a wild realisation as I've written this is Star Wars turns 50 in just 2 years time - 30 years in my own life since I first had the experience shared. Both my children have seen the films and share an interest in the movies as well, all 3 films being regular features in our Friday Pizza Night viewings, closely met by the Indiana Jones trilogy, or Jurassic Park. No doubt I will write about many of these films - but for now I'll leave it here.
Star Wars. A 1977 cinematic masterpiece that left as big an impression on me at 10 years of age, as it would have on a 10 year old back in 1977, as it seems to have on a 10 year old in 2025. Who'd have thought? Lucas and his crew pushed the boundaries with visual & sound effects, a cohesive soundtrack with one of the greatest composers of all time, excellent editing from Paul Hirsch, Richard Chew, and Marcia Lucas (Lucas' ex-wife), but most importantly (what many forget in this day and age) a solid story that most people relate to on the most fundamental of levels. Lucas pushed himself to absolute exhaustion directing Star Wars, and even though I think his legacy has been slightly tarnished with embers of self-destruction from the prequels, and then his Disney sale essentially removing himself from the galaxy, I will never dismiss the vision he had set the foundation for tin he 1977 film, and what followed.
Star Wars is described as the heroes journey. The adventures of Luke Skywalker. A pop culture hero with his friends and enemies still giving us an escapism to this galaxy far, far away.
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