My article on Star Wars (1977) and The Empire Strikes Back (1980) I n 1983 the conclusion to the Star Wars saga hit cinemas. Originally intended to be titled  Revenge of the Jedi  it was changed to be more appropriately titled  Return of the Jedi.  It was a year after E.T (1982) and science-fiction/fantasy was well and truly upon the kids and teenagers of the 1980s. In 1997, I was experiencing Return of the Jedi for the first time and seeing how the epic story concluded.  The title change was Lucas feeling it was inappropriate, as a Jedi shouldn't be following the path of revenge ( source ). The change directive came after promo material had already begun circulating. This would also become part of the belief from some that it was also to soften the film to being more child/family friendly a film, which was met (and still is) with criticism following the darker theme and delivery of The Empire Strikes Back. I can honestly say, I was aware of this even as a ch...

A fter seeing the cinematic sci-fi master piece Star Wars , I only had to wait 2 weeks to see the next instalment in the adventures of Luke Skywalker. The film was The Empire Strikes Back. Released in 1980 it is deemed the greatest of the Star Wars films and more so one of the best films of all time. And the best part for me was not only had I limited wait time versus those kids back in 1977 who had to hang in there for 3 years to see this film, but it was also the follow-up I didn't even know existed until I saw the poster after seeing Star Wars  with my mum. I walked out of Star Wars  feeling my world forever changed. Then I saw the posters on the exit ramp wall leaving the cinema grounds. In one of them it showcased a silhouette of a smaller man fighting a tall figure - who looked like Darth Vader. "Return of the Jedi" it read. Then my eyes narrowed in on the small font bordering the film title.  "Star Wars". On  the next poster it had Han Solo? Yes, Han Sol...

I t 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...

B eing an introvert by nature, one of the biggest anxiety triggers is being in a social situation, having to break character and push ahead to interact with people you don't know. Where do you begin? Do you ramble on about the weather, which most people have a strange reason to default to? The weather is that universal a theme we all share, but it's the small talk safe haven. I hate it. Or do you dig into the obvious and discuss the reason you're in that very space with the other person? Since entering the working world many years ago now, I found two themes I could almost effortlessly find someway  to tap into the world of another person I needed to engage with. Those two themes if the situation permits? Music and movies. Popular culture - or pop culture, every decade there's a history of it. Living through my fourth one of cognitive recall has allowed me to expand on the ability to chat to someone older, or younger than me about music and movies. History itself allows...