A Few of FR's Finest...Every Day....05-19-05...Star Wars

DollyCali | May 19. 2005 | DollyCali

[DollyCali]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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~ Billie, Mama_Bear, dutchess, Aquamarine, DollyCali ~

.

Ah, Star Wars – where to begin?


Words & phrases were born: “The Dark Side”, “May the Force be with you”,”Ewoks”, “lightsabers”, droids”, "hyperspace”. The stellar career of Harrison Ford (Hans Solo) was launched, while Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker) remained relatively obscure and Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) went to rehab & both Mark & Carrie have experienced a modest comeback.

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R2D2 & 3CPO were resurrected in 1999 for episodes 1-3 all the while George Lucas, a household word, became famous, rich, & has input with many films of all sorts with his companies Lucas Industrial Light and another firm Skywalker Sound. These two firms combined have won 40 Oscars ! If you sit through the “credits” at end of movies, as I always to, you see the names often. Lucas also had directed &/or produced movies such as Willow; Indiana Jones series; and American Graffiti. The genius of Lucas is undisputable.

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We learned a little about tolerance, respect, cooperation, and even LOVE ? among humans not just a different color, race or nationality.. but between human and robots and humans & intelligent creatures of every imaginable appearance and disposition. Hans Solo & Chewy; Leia & C3PO; Luke and R2D2 - a few examples. We waited for the first kiss between Leia & Hans; we cheered when the Death Star exploded and cried when we found out Luke was Darth Vader’s son

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We also learned that no longer were the credits at the end a one minute affair. I didn’t think there were that many people in Hollywood, yet alone part of one movie!

A generation that was raised (or raised their children) on the first three episodes – actually the middle of the trilogy - beginning in 1977 looked forward with anticipation as the opening of the next series at the end of millenium, to let us know “how it all started”. Current gossip has it that Lucas may be bold and go where no other human has gone – No wait that is another series - and do the last three of the trilogy. Hmm.. a trilogy of trilogies. Works for me.

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Please join us with your stories of your childhood experiences, your children’s experiences, your Star Wars favorite characters; Star Wars Trivia; your favorite Star Wars Pictures/graphics.. And hey, invite your friends, who are Star Wars fans to join us.

And yes, it is Thursday and JohnHuang2 is not able to be with us today. My guess is he has bought an all day pass and is going to sit through the movie half a dozen times He should be back with us next week.



DollyCali Does Star Wars


Always having been a movie fan & a Sci Fi fan for decades, I looked forward to this movie with all the hype that preceded it.. 1977. My son was 4 when husband and I decided to take him to the first theater movie. It has been playing for weeks with great reviews & crowds still heavy, but not sold out.

Son Jeff had been talking about it for weeks – much promo on TV. As we stood in line for the movie and he asked what we were going to see we asked him what was the movie he really wanted to see.. We just about fell over when he said “Pete’s Dragon” (the most recent advertised flick) .

Well we did NOT have to worry about him being disappointed. Jeff like his mom is typical ADDH… little sleep, always bouncy, active and talkative. I had worried about him also disturbing other movie fans. Well, we didn’t have to worry about this either. HE NEVER MOVED. He sat transfixed from beginning to end.

Jeff and I saw this at theater several more times together and I alone many more times (for the sake of you all not thinking I am a complete Movie Maniac, I plead the 5th to exactly HOW MANY TIMES.)

Jeff and I together saw the next two episodes over the years. Between the first movie & the opening of The Empire Strikes Back we found our home became a haven of star wars figures, aircraft, monsters, fighting vehicles & light sabers…and as of now..well, yes I own all the VHS & DVDs.



When Episode 1 opened in 1999 here in NE Ohio, I had much nostalgia as I went the first day & wished I could be sharing this with Jeff.. Alas he lives 500 miles away & now has his own family.

When that wonderful blast of music & the Opening Scroll of “A long time ago, in a galaxy etc” burst onto the sceen....I...I...

I began sobbing.

I freely confess. . I never realized how powerfully this would affect me. A couple folks my age sitting near by patted me & nodded, understanding. At the end of the movie, everyone jumped up & clapped. The critics didn’t give it top reviews.. but we fans did.

I may not be around a whole lot for next ??? hours.. depends on how many showings I am able to get tickets for today. I will be there after midnight for the initial public showing.

And I hope that all visiting will realize this is NOT the thread for flaming & critical political commentary on the stars & crew.

Now please pass the popcorn...

[kassie]

;)


Anything for a fellow Texan!

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

Well, we're going to become "Ladies who Lunch" this summer......... ;^)

[kassie]

Oh yeah... Can't wait.

[WhyisaTexasgirlinPA]

But no red hats or purple dresses, ok?

[kassie]

Oh well, ok.

[tame]

Mornin' tame.

good morning, mama bear!

re your list, i loe the following:

The Graduate, Amadeus, Shawshank redemption, braveheart.

There are soooo many more. i may make a list sometime :o)

[LadyX]

Refreshing my memory as to the exact year, my Consultant, Jeeves of ask.com, provided it without fail:
"since "Star Wars" premiered in 1977, ....."

[ With great relief, it proved my Memory Bank has not been utterly depleted. - hooray!!.:)) ]

Dolly, I was living then in Winston-Salem (in Salem Meadows) and a neighbor couple went with us to see the debut.
Going early, anticipating the long lines and wait to get in, we were rewarded with seats in the center, second row from the front...

Welcome to the then new SURROUND SOUND!! -- the seats literally shook beneath us, and the flying objects veered over us and then back to the screen..:))

While a marvel of special effects and the depths of imagination, I'm more a terra firma type....saw the 2nd one on TV and none since.

Mind you, in my childhood we did not even have TV - went on Saturdays to the matinee (IF we cleaned our bedroom well) and cheered on the guys in the white hats (Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, etc.) and booed the bad guys in black hats - easy for a kid to grasp the "Good and Evil" Concept...

Went downtown to the Olympia Theater to see The Wizard of Oz and of course loved it.
Nearly every Saturday I trekked to the Coral Gables (Florida) Public Library with my two older sisters, who'd had me reading books by myself at age 4 - totally hooked on books, I loved historical things --

That leads me to sayng in the 2nd grade I went to see Gone with The Wind!!
At age 11, I read the entire 1,000 page book (in later years, 3 more times), enthralled with the wealth of history in it describing the time of The War of Agression..:)) - -
my own Southern history was expanded, and I became aware of the lack of power over their own lives women all over the world had in those times.

Who can forget these?!

- -

I love lighter fare - romantic comedies, and obviously things like Shenandoah, Braveheart, The Patriot and movies like The Ten Commandments, Spartacus, etc. - and have the DVD of The Passion of The Christ to enjoy at home.

Like Lakeside, it is not physically possible for me to go to theaters, but I do not miss that at all!
Since seeing the very revolting and disturbing Oliver Stone liberally slanted Platoon
in 1986, I have not since set foot in any movie theater.

With its drug-loaded anti-war propaganda, it after 18 years brought up all kinds of suppressed feelings, as the total opposite of the experiences of my brave and noble warrior husband fighting in Southeast Asia (all over, including NORTH Vietnam, the team he led dropped in the jungle for 3 days to look for survivors and make sure a downed F-111 had self-destructed) of that time (+ Korean Conflict combat and being a POW then) --

A Good Thing, actually, allowing me to come to terms with the horrible things done to him (by both the North Koreans and our country upon his return --) -- and to heal and forgive....

From that point on, any movie I wanted to view eventually came to television or could be viewed on tape, watching it from the comforts of home.

Excuse me...think I'll go whip up some fresh popcorn and load it with melted butter!!
Will enjoy it every bit as much as this fellow..:))

[Aquamarine]

If you two liked Amadeus you should enjoy Immortal Beloved. Amadeus was about the life of Mozart while IB is about the life of Beethovan. The soundtrack is awesome plus there is an interesting storyline about a mysterious part of his life.

(The English Patient was one of my fav's also)

[Mama_Bear]

(The English Patient was one of my fav's also)

I am not at all surprised. Knowing you, I would have guessed that would be one of your favorite movies. :-)

I will put Immortal Beloved on my "to see" list. It sounds good.

[LadyX]

"I like romantic comedies, and war movies, and even TV movies like Lonesome Dove. I don't like slapstick, horror, or sci-fi. :( "

Not :( --
I second the motion..:))

Never watch any slapstick, horror or sci-fi things,
preferring realism and idealism --
and things that make you smile and laugh.

[Aquamarine]

I am not at all surprised. Knowing you, I would have guessed that would be one of your favorite movies. :-)

You know how much a good soundtrack means to me, that's how you knew. That movie had alot going for it but a good soundtrack is what made it so special.

IB was even better than Amadeus, just wish you could have seen it on the big screen the way I did. It was one of those movies that wasn't played in many theaters, we had to go to Lenox Square in Atlanta to see it which was the only theater it played in this area.

[Aquamarine]

Gone With The Wind...another great movie with a great soundtrack! Thanks for the memories Lady.

Off to till the garden before it rains here.

[LadyX]

Heading to The Great Out of Doors meself, Aqua..:))

Will return here this evening...

[DollyCali]

I have always like Ford also Pip..

All, a recommendation.. If you have never seen any of the Star Wars movies & are a tiny bit interested DON"T START WITH THIS ONE.. I think Lucas did it right.. things unfold slowly storyline was in first 3 movies (from 1977) and if you see this one first there will be a lot of holes & probably you will re-convince yourself you DONT like Sci Fi.. See them in the order they were released. And see them with a young person.. you will love watching their "awe"..Others who have seen all the flicks.. what is your take on this?

I saw your lists.. Gone With the Wind.. what a joy that flick was.. and I loved Gladiator, the (First) Inlaws, Braveheart, Patriot, Sixth sense ; Ghost, The Arnold in True Lies, Robt Redford in Sneakers.. so many great ones.. some of the independents are quite memorable. Downfall of late was a marvelous flick, but sad on the last days of Hitler.. Born into Brothels, last years foreign winner was good.. both of these are okay for home viewing. Big screen not necessary.

And Maggie , you are right about the sound...I don't have a great home sound system.. (and I am half deaf).. I really do think Lucas company does the best.. WE too saw Star Wars in Winston Salem. would have been funny if we were in theater together, close by.. small world indeed.

JV, I think Natalie Portman is a very attractive gal & great actress. this movie did NOT show off her talent.. movie like Closer did.. She needs to hook up with a great Conservative guy to get her politics "straight"

Need to run for now..

[pookie18]

[WVNan]

I'm afraid I'm with you LUV. Give me Jane Eyre or Wuthering Heights, or the movie of all movies, Gone With The Wind. I'm an incurable romantic. All that space stuff leaves me yawning.

[WVNan]

How is the "drinking" going? I am........

[WVNan]

"Gone With the Wind" movie and book is my all time favorite. I loved the classics too. Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre. I loved "The French Lieutenant's Woman", "Braveheart," "The Patriot," and some off the wall movies like "Raising Arizona" and "The God's Must Be Crazy".

[WVNan]

Ha! I knew we would like the same movies.

[DollyCali]

Hmmm.. wonder what that is all about.. she is gorgeous without hair though. Heard On Laura Ingram this AM she is seeking folks who will shave head in solidarity with her once she begins chemo.. Wonder if Natalie did that with someone in mind. Knowing her politics, pretty sure it is NOT Laura.