That's it George?

I am in no way a Star Wars fanatic but I am looking forward to opening night tomorrow. We ordered tickets weeks ago for our local 'big screen' showing at 10 PM. (I estimate that this is the best 'screen' in the county featuring a new facility with very comfortable chairs and Dolby THX sound.) I remember seeing Star Wars I in 70mm in Southern California in the 1970's - the image and sound system were amazing - but it seems that 70mm has become extinct.

I am also enjoying the wide variety of Star Wars documentaries in anticipation of the opening - A&E, Animal Planet (really!) and Discovery Channel. Lots of interesting trivia and a chance to remember the story and scenes.

The one thing that puzzles me is that years ago there was a lot of talk about nine episodes - now George Lucas seems to be saying that after six episodes his dream will be complete and no one is raising the question. (The recent Wired article comes to mind.)

Update:

Just came back from seeing Star Wars III - the film met my expectations and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Matt found this for me from Roger Ebert:

I said this is not necessarily the last of the Star Wars movies. Although Lucas has absolutely said he is finished with the series, it is inconceivable to me that 20th Century-Fox will willingly abandon the franchise, especially as Lucas has hinted that parts VII, VIII and IX exist at least in his mind. There will be enormous pressure for them to be made, if not by him, then by his deputies.

The Star Wars saga never had the depth of story like Lord of the Rings but it is indeed fun. After considering the dust up in Cannes over comparisons between American policy and the Empire I find that the comparison requires a significant vacancy of thought. The essential theme of Star Wars is that the state has usurped authority from the individual ostensibly for the sake of the individual. This is a tale as old as history whether recent such as the socialism of Nazi Germany or communism of Soviet Russia or in the case of benevolent tyrants of ancient Greece. Many of those who condemn George Bush and want to 'wage peace' also advocate the primacy of the state over that of the individual for the good of the individual. Typical refrains include 'Bush stole the election' (buying into baseless rumors); 'we're sorry world' (democracy doesn't work); we need more regulations (people can't be trusted and the case for socialism); and 'how [fill in the blank] the red states are' (an elitism that asserts that some people are more equal than others). (Oh yes - and all those claims that the religious right must be stifled as they follow democratic means to achieve their aims should really cause concern - the ACLU really doesn't want people to exercise their liberties...) Those who assert that Bush is disassembling our democracy simply isn't dealing with democracy - citing the Patriot Act is just silly or revising filibuster rules in the Senate is naive. Were Bush to try to dissolve the legislature or judicial branches he would simply lose his base and usher the opposition into power (which is probably why they continue to make these baseless assertions).

Oh, did I say that socialism is anti Democracy? In small communities such as the oldest religious communes or Israeli Kibbutzim it can actually work - but on a grand scale? No way - absolving yourself from personal responsibility in exchange for state care only leads to irresponsibility. Perhaps anti liberty is more accurate. Socialism and its modern synonym 'progressive' needs to be seen as the more likely path to the Empire rather than conservative love of freedom.

By the way - remember the apalled reaction of the same crowd to 'Lord of the Rings' - cries of Peter Jackson selling out to the right? And the theme of LOTR - the evil of homogeneity (one ring to bind them all); the righteousness of war and killing;  and the supremacy of individual rights and freedom. In both sagas the authors were honest enough to understand that people aren't good or evil - but struggle and shift back and forth as we move through time.

T.M. Lutas has a post more articulate than mine on this topic.
Adam Shostack digs into the intellectual side as well here.
Kyle Maxwell also has a fine post here.
Great discussion on Jackie's blog here.

Saar found this great Star Wars clip att StoreWars.org
Audiophile found this great Star Wars clip at Lego.

Comments

[Saar Drimer]

You might enjoy:
http://storewars.org/flash/index.html
Have you read the Timothy Zahn trilogy (episodes 7,8,9)?
I read them long ago, but remember they were quite good. Enjoy the show (if you can mask out the ambient noise, typically added on opening weekends :)