Star Wars for the First Time: Kind of...

Have you ever watched Star Wars (Episode IV, if I must clarify) with someone who has never seen it before? I don't mean with your eight year-old, though I am sure that holds its own special significance. I mean with a mature, intelligent viewer?

Certainly, the first question that comes to mind is "What semi-intelligent human being has never seen Star Wars?" I never really thought that I would have to ask that question myself. The film and its offspring are so pervasive today, and since it was available on home video 20 years ago for that matter, that I am just flabbergasted at the thought that there are actually a decent number of people that have missed out on the experience. But despite that, I lived with a guy last year that had not seen it. I lived with him for 8 months and somehow we didn't sit down and watch it (that may be because we spent the time watching the entire run of Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman and almost ever Nicholas Cage movie ever made).

Ok, so one guy hasn't seen it. Oh well. This year I have come to a new school and have a new group of classmates, all of them very intelligent. One young lady has seen every episode of Friends and can't have a movie conversation without bringing up Hook, but she has never seen Star Wars (or The Goonies!!!). It became my mission to change this. When the film came up in class one day, I jumped at the opportunity. I just threw out the unsolicited observation that ______ _______ had never seen Star Wars. After the prof recovered from shock; he declared such gross ignorance "Just plain un-American!" So then my mission became his and he set up a screening for the class.

Unfortunately, only four people showed up for said screening, but at least ______ _______ was among them. I made a big stink out of watching the theatrical editions, which I consider superior to the updates, so I provided the film and the prof supplied snack food. After _______ _______ prepared herself by collecting about a dozen mini-Snickers, we were on our way.

I had never watched the film with such attention to what someone else might think of it. I just kept thinking to myself "What if she doesn't like it?" It wouldn't change the fact that I think the film one of the most important productions and well handled stories in film, but it may just slightly tarnish that myth (if it is so) that "Everyone like Star Wars." This would kind of ruin the magic a bit, to have someone you know really well not be caught in the same allure. Could you imagine, all of the built up excitement you have while you watch the film with your kids for the first time only to have them turn around and say "Meh"?

I had never watched the first 2o minutes with such intensity. The droids are landing in the desert, and then just rolling around in the desert, and then rolling in the dessert in a big transport. Oh no, is she going to be thrown out of this already? At the same time, I am realizing that the droids are much more than the humor roles they are often made out to be (even by Lucas in the prequels, in large part). First off, they are a decoy. Not for the Empire and their quest to squash the Rebellion, but for the audience. Their importance is thrust forward early and often, making it seem as though R2-D2 is the boon, or object of the hero's quest in the story, even before we meet said hero. When we do meet the hero, the role of the droids quickly changes. Now R2, because of his message from Princess Leia and association to and locating of Obi-Wan Kenobi, becomes the source of the "Call to Adventure" for Luke Skywalker. And just then that role is expanded even further. If the events do not unfold in just the way we witness them, or R2 if the droids are destroyed, or if R2 is not as stubborn as he is, then our hero does not recieve his call. Fate, in the form of these two droids, makes Luke's journey a possibility. Their role certainly doesn't end there. In fact, the droids save our adventurers from their most helpless moment, when they are trapped in the trash compactor.

It is sometimes easy to forget the Seven Samurai mentality that went into designing the heroes of the film (in fact, there are actually seven of them). This is mostly because the central heroes, in this case Luke, Obi-Wan, and Han Solo, are so darn cool. But the journey could not have been completed without the strength of Chewbacca, the headstrong ingenuity of Leia, and the efforts of the two droids. It is difficult to keep that in mind, even though we have seen this film dozens of times. I noticed a lot of little things watching it this way. Most of them are aesthetic patterns and thematic niches that are subjectively interpreted, but no less interesting. A pretty big one that I never caught before is Han's line just before the attack on the Death Star is launched. He tells Chewie, after one of the Wookie's inperciptible growls, "I know what I'm doing." What does he mean here? I know I am going to get rich and pay off Jabba so he doesn't send more bounty hunters after me? I know I am going to help with the attack despite my claims otherwise? I know that my fly is undone?

Despite my concerns, _________ ______ liked the film a lot. Her only comment other wise had to do with the lack of emotion that the characters show when they experience great loss. Leia loses her whole planet. but a few hours later doesn't seem to be too effected, Luke is ready to go pretty quickly after the loss of his aunt and uncle. Those of us that have seen The Empire Strikes Back, and she isn't one of them, know that most of the emotion of the trilogy rests in that film. I think it is fair to say that these emotions, though inaudible in this film, seep into that one and are easily identifiable. This film is all about the moment. Look how quickly Luke goes from a farm boy to Jedi in training to war hero!!

All in all, it was a great experience to watch the film with a trilogy-virgin(?). We were able to discuss a number of elements of the film after the viewing, and being new and unaware of the follow-ups she had some interesting insights. We also discovered, through self-disclosure, that the night that our prof saw Star Wars for the first time was also the night he became a man....



Yea, it was quite awkward.