It was a long time to wait for a movie sequel — almost 42 years. Those of us who first were introduced to Star Wars on the big screen in 1977 could only hope that the wait would be worth it as we entered the theater to see Rise of Skywalker. It was.
I loved it!
I said that about the first one, and there are no better words in my vocabulary to express what I felt about this final one.
Now I am jubilant because it has been confirmed that Rise of Skywalker was not the final one after all! Maybe not by a long shot! In April, at Lucasfilm‘s Studio Showcase at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, it was announced that three new films are in the works, but with no target dates announced at that time. Other projects, to follow The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, were also outlined. Four days ago, the premiere date for a new live-action series on Disney+ was made public. Ahsoka will be aired initially August 23, and will continue weekly on Wednesdays! You can bet I’ll be tuned in!
I was an adult in 1977. Later, my son was equally taken by the story line; he reached maturity with a deep and abiding affection for the characters, and has awaited each new release in the intervening years with great anticipation. His now-teenage son is also a fan. I am a much older adult now, but I cannot wait to gather my old DVD’s and sit down one weekend soon to watch each episode again at my leisure.
I want to sink deep into the story once again, to experience the wonder of traveling to other worlds, to be charmed as always by Chewbacca and R2D2, enchanted by Obiwan; to face adventure with Leia, Luke and Han, and to learn from Yoda. There is pure delight to be found in every movie, even if it is Hollywood-style. I also want to again consider the message, to believe once more in the essential truth that good really can — and does — triumph over evil.
That, after all, is what those classic morality plays were all about. That is what Star Wars expresses masterfully in futuristic terms. It is as pertinent in our age as it was 500 years ago, as it still will be, I think, in another few decades, perhaps also in another 100 or 500 years. I suspect it’s as true on other worlds, if they exist, as here on earth.
What has assured the lasting popularity of Star Wars is its appeal to young and old alike. View the story as a fairy tale or fantasy, or look upon it as a reminder of universal truth. Or, at the very least, embrace the message as a fervent hope — that good will ultimately win out.
And that’s the point.
I loved Star Wars then. I loved Rise of Skywalker when it was released in December of 2019. I am certain I will love the new series and the yet-to-come new trilogy just as much with each re-viewing, and that my grandchildren and great grandchildren will be as enchanted at some point in the future as I was, as my son was.
I can only hope that the children who see these new movies will view the early ones as well — for background, for the story line, and for the simple fun of them all. Perhaps, then, 40-something years hence, they will still love them all as much as I do.
Our world has changed since 1977. But wonder remains. If we can still feel it today as it’s projected on a theater screen, perhaps it’s possible it will still be “wonder-full” in 2062 or beyond.
I certainly hope so!
https://wordpress.com/post/writeoffmain.wordpress.com/280
About adriennecohen221
A full-time freelance writer for more than a decade, Adrienne Cohen writes extensively about travel, food and drink, cruising, road trips, farm-to-table dining, alternative agriculture, and entrepreneurship. A classically-trained journalist, she is always in search of a good story, and her bylined work has been published extensively both online and in print media.
Right Off Main 
Mark the date. I’ll make the popcorn!
It was a long time to wait for a movie sequel — almost 42 years. Those of us who first were introduced to Star Wars on the big screen in 1977 could only hope that the wait would be worth it as we entered the theater to see Rise of Skywalker. It was.
I loved it!
I said that about the first one, and there are no better words in my vocabulary to express what I felt about this final one.
Now I am jubilant because it has been confirmed that Rise of Skywalker was not the final one after all! Maybe not by a long shot! In April, at Lucasfilm‘s Studio Showcase at Star Wars Celebration Europe 2023, it was announced that three new films are in the works, but with no target dates announced at that time. Other projects, to follow The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett, were also outlined. Four days ago, the premiere date for a new live-action series on Disney+ was made public. Ahsoka will be aired initially August 23, and will continue weekly on Wednesdays! You can bet I’ll be tuned in!
I was an adult in 1977. Later, my son was equally taken by the story line; he reached maturity with a deep and abiding affection for the characters, and has awaited each new release in the intervening years with great anticipation. His now-teenage son is also a fan. I am a much older adult now, but I cannot wait to gather my old DVD’s and sit down one weekend soon to watch each episode again at my leisure.
I want to sink deep into the story once again, to experience the wonder of traveling to other worlds, to be charmed as always by Chewbacca and R2D2, enchanted by Obiwan; to face adventure with Leia, Luke and Han, and to learn from Yoda. There is pure delight to be found in every movie, even if it is Hollywood-style. I also want to again consider the message, to believe once more in the essential truth that good really can — and does — triumph over evil.
That, after all, is what those classic morality plays were all about. That is what Star Wars expresses masterfully in futuristic terms. It is as pertinent in our age as it was 500 years ago, as it still will be, I think, in another few decades, perhaps also in another 100 or 500 years. I suspect it’s as true on other worlds, if they exist, as here on earth.
What has assured the lasting popularity of Star Wars is its appeal to young and old alike. View the story as a fairy tale or fantasy, or look upon it as a reminder of universal truth. Or, at the very least, embrace the message as a fervent hope — that good will ultimately win out.
And that’s the point.
I loved Star Wars then. I loved Rise of Skywalker when it was released in December of 2019. I am certain I will love the new series and the yet-to-come new trilogy just as much with each re-viewing, and that my grandchildren and great grandchildren will be as enchanted at some point in the future as I was, as my son was.
I can only hope that the children who see these new movies will view the early ones as well — for background, for the story line, and for the simple fun of them all. Perhaps, then, 40-something years hence, they will still love them all as much as I do.
Our world has changed since 1977. But wonder remains. If we can still feel it today as it’s projected on a theater screen, perhaps it’s possible it will still be “wonder-full” in 2062 or beyond.
I certainly hope so!
https://wordpress.com/post/writeoffmain.wordpress.com/280
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About adriennecohen221
A full-time freelance writer for more than a decade, Adrienne Cohen writes extensively about travel, food and drink, cruising, road trips, farm-to-table dining, alternative agriculture, and entrepreneurship. A classically-trained journalist, she is always in search of a good story, and her bylined work has been published extensively both online and in print media.