to see the new Star Wars. I've read a couple of reviews which make my wee heart go pitter-pat with excitement - where I actually remember what it felt like to see Star Wars for the first time. Oh my God ... could it be ... could it be that it will actually ... be good? The bitterness of the last couple years will die slowly ...
However: I'm with Michele. I'm a FAN, mkay? I'm a huge FAN, which means that I am also a GEEK and I don't care. Because I'm a huge fan, I am ENORMOUSLY forgiving. I don't hold a grudge. I just don't. In the same way that I don't hold a grudge against Tori Amos even though her last 10 albums have been ATROCIOUS and BORING and SELF-INVOLVED and SO ANNOYING I CAN BARELY GET THROUGH THE FIRST TRACK. I loved her first two albums so much that I will suffer through her feckin' years of self-expression, waiting for her to come home to roost and make the kind of music that causes the hairs on my arms to rise up. Now I won't do this for everyone. But if I love you once? With a passion? I love you always. And that's final. (The same is true for personal relationships in my life. I'm not a hot-cold "I love you, OOPS NOW I HATE YOU" kind of person.) I thought Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones sucked ... but still. STILL. I. Don't. Care. Such was the impact that original film had on me, first seen in 1977. That's IT, man. Put a fork in me, I'm done, I'm hooked, I'm on for the entire ride, come hell or high water. Let's mix some more metaphors, shall we ...
I'm on a Level 2 status of fan-dom. I know people who are Level 3 (ahem, not naming names) ... and I completely enjoy their insanity. Even if I do not share it. I am Level 3 in plenty of other obsessions - like: don't even try to pretend you know more about Lucy Maud Montgomery than I do. I won't believe you. Sorry. You lose ALREADY. That is Level 3. Star Wars, for me, is a highly emotional thing - I am very attached to it for many reasons, I have great affection for those movies - they were so formative, so much a part of my growing up. Nothing can ever change that. But for whatever reason, that affection has not translated into me camping out on the sidewalk for 2 months, waiting to get tickets, dressed up as a stormtrooper.
I haven't gotten tickets yet to see the movie, but I will probably go next week some time.
And here's the thing: I cannot WAIT. I will go with an open heart, and I will go prepared to love it. That's the only way. Maybe it will break my heart, shatter my expectations. Being an enthusiastic over-the-top fan requires commitment, freedom, and a willingness to look foolish. I have all of those things. If Lucas breaks my heart again, he breaks my heart. But I won't walk into that movie snarking about it. I will walk into it with anticipation, I will wait with baited breath ... I will forgive the film its faults. I will probably discuss the faults of the film afterwards, when my head has cleared, but I will not sit there with a checklist in my mind. Ain't my style.
I'm excited to see it. Critics be damned. YOU try to do what George Lucas has done!! And I say this - fully aware that Lucas has really pissed me off with the last two films. In a huge way. (You lost me at Midichlorians, George. Uhm .. the Force is somehow GENETIC? Are you out of your mind, George? No, really. I'm asking seriously. Are you out of your mind??) Not to mention the debacle of Greedo shooting first. I still have strong feelings about that decision of Lucas' - and it's on par with Spielberg going back and airbrushing out the cops' guns in ET. Like: come on, man. PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH A MOVIE I LOVE.
As I screamed a year or so back, when I inadvertently launched a Socialist revolution on Bill McCabe's blog: "Star Wars belongs to all of us, George." THAT'S what it means to be a Level 2 fan. You feel proprietary about the thing, you feel a sense of ownership ... the damn movie is IMPORTANT TO YOU, okay?? It has personal meaning. It has had an impact. Star Wars had as great an impact on me, personally, as - say - reading Wrinkle in Time, or Harriet the Spy. I went into those books one way, as a kid, and came out slightly changed, with a different perspective, a broader view. Star Wars did the same thing. It blew my mind.
Oh, and to the people out there bitching about Lucas' politics, and declaring they won't see the movie because of its perceived message? You're pathetic. Also boring and predictable. Fine, don't see the movie. Suit yourself. Be a whiny beeyotch and only see films which COMPLETELY align with your own narrow beliefs. Knock yourself out. Again: see Michele.
I can't WAIT to see this film. I'm ready to be dazzled, George. I really am. I'll go where you want me to go. I know the dialogue won't be great ... but it's not about the dialogue really, anyway. It's about the storytelling power. So I'm here. I'm ready. I'm willing!
Take me to the galaxy far far away!
Posted by sheilaErmm.. I'll just take this opportunity to apologise for that emailed review link..
I'm relegating myself to Level 1 status.
Posted by: peteb at May 18, 2005 11:46 AMTo me, Star Wars is like sex and Mexican food -- even when it's bad, it's still Star Wars.
I've never seen Episode I (I know. I KNOW. Liam! but I just never got around to it) but I thought Episode II was fine. Is Hayden Christianson the best actor in the world? No. Is Natalie Portman more wooden than my desk? Yes. But, three words: Bad. Ass. Yoda. How could you not be entertained?
Posted by: Lisa at May 18, 2005 11:46 AMYes, Lisa, knowing your fan-girl propensities in regards to Liam (yeah, you're on a first name basis - of course you are) - I am shocked you haven't seen it!!
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 11:48 AMI'm pretty sure Ms. Portman was cast solely on how she would look in a "conviently ripped" white jumpsuit.
Posted by: JFH at May 18, 2005 12:17 PMYou don't have to wait in line for months to get opening night tickets! That's the beauty of the Internet, my friends.
Midnight tonight, CST. Hells yeah.
And JFH, if that was the criteria for hiring her, you'll hear nary a complaint from me. Because, wooden or no, I love me some Natalie. If George put out a "special" edition of Ep.II (which I have no doubt is in the works) and had her reading the Naboo phone book for an hour and a half, I'd sit in rapt attention of her galactic hotness.
Star Wars fandom: Level 1.9
Nat Portman fandom: Level 3
Let us not denigrate the talents of Ms. Portman. She is actually a skilled actress when handled by a competent director and not asked to emote in front of a giant green screen.
Posted by: Bill McCabe at May 18, 2005 12:36 PMBill - exactly!! First time I saw her was in Beautiful Girls I think. She pretty much steals that entire movie from much older and bigger stars - she's 13 years old.
But still. If she's wooden? I still forgive her. She's a princess. She's stiff.
I'm in it for the creation of other worlds, pretty much. That's what I dig about the movies. If they do that, then I love them.
(That's one of the reasons why I hated the faux 50s diner in ... I think it was Clones. The robot waitresses, with their "kiss my grits" accents, and the rubber booths, and black and white tile was too much like our world. And therefore that scene, to me, seemed cutesy and too pleased with itself ... as opposed to other scenes where it seems that you are really seeing and experiencing another planet. I loved the water-covered planet in Clones. I loved the city in the clouds. I loved the snow planet. I just love all that shite.)
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 12:40 PM//To me, Star Wars is like sex and Mexican food -- even when it's bad, it's still Star Wars.//
Add the double play to that list and you've covered all the bases.
(Rimshot).
Thankyou. I'm here all week.
Posted by: Dan at May 18, 2005 12:58 PMNatalie Portamn rocked in Beautiful Girls and The Professional.
Posted by: Dan at May 18, 2005 1:00 PMGood rant, but I have to say...you know what? I can't even talk about it. It's too painful. TOO PAINFUL.
Posted by: Emily at May 18, 2005 1:14 PMEmily - I completely understand.
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 1:16 PMWhen I first saw Star Wars I went into a low-grade funk for what seemed like several weeks. I wanted so badly to go there, and I was convinced that real life could never be that cool.
I was a big big idiot of an Eeyore in those days, of course. It probably didn't help that it was the '70s; even then I knew it was a kidney stone of a cultural milieu, although I wouldn't have put it in those terms then.
Posted by: Ken Hall at May 18, 2005 1:51 PMI don't know if it was Berardinelli's review that got you stoked, but when I read it last week I felt feelings that I hadn't felt for...say, 25 years with the anticipation for "The Empire Strikes Back." That's the one that always does it for me, and that night my sons and I sat down to watch it for the...oh, probably 300th time. There's something about this one that makes me think it will approach those glories. God knows I'm hoping. But like you, if it doesn't, I'll still be there on day one when the DVD comes out.
Posted by: Jeff at May 18, 2005 2:23 PMJeff - It was!! The New York Times helped ... but it was Berardinelli that got me PSYCHED.
Empire Strikes Back is, perhaps, one of the best movies ever made. It's certainly on my immovable Top 5.
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 2:25 PMAnd I ask you, has their EVER been a greater scene than the one where Luke is thrust into the "carbonite room," the lights come on, the heavy breathing begins, and you hear "The force is with you, young Skywalker...but you are not a Jedi yet."?
Probably so, but not this week!
Posted by: Jeff at May 18, 2005 3:45 PMI'd recommend the review written by Stephen Hunter in the Washington Post. I heard him this morning on the Tony Kornheiser show (thank you internet radio), and he just reaffirmed my opinion of him as possibly the smartest man in America.
He certainly has a way of getting complicated things across beautifully with words, which I think you'll appreciate, Red.
And my own personal geekdom is a lot lower since my Millenium Falcon disappeared in my parent's basement years ago.
Posted by: skinnydan at May 18, 2005 3:52 PMLevel 3, here. Midnight show tonight with my friend Dev who I've seen every SW flick on the bigscreen with since '77. I took off from work tomorrow and will probably go again when I wake up. :) And, red, you know about the tatoos. ;) Do you remember me accosting Han Solo at school?
Posted by: popskull at May 18, 2005 7:12 PMpopskull - wait - I don't remember that!! Did you?? When he came and talked with us?
And of course I remember the tattooes. Your Star Wars tattooes are one of the most vivid memories I have of that first day in the round Martha Graham room. :) You were so intense.
Uhm ... were?
Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the movie.
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 7:15 PM"To me, Star Wars is like sex and Mexican food -- even when it's bad, it's still Star Wars."
Um, Lisa, good Mexican food is good, but bad Mexican food can easily cause death, or worse. Can't say that about sex or Star Wars...as far as I know, I mean.
Posted by: Dave J at May 18, 2005 9:18 PMWow, Dave. I had no idea Mexican food can cause death OR WORSE. REALLY???? (What's worse than death, I might ask ... hm.)
I thought Lisa's comment was comedic. Comedy trumps factual truth, every time.
But whatever, you're DaveJ. You've got to nitpick. You can't help yourself.
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 9:25 PMThat came out bitchier than I meant it. Sorry. But do you honestly think we don't know that bad Mexican food can put you in the hospital? I know that. It's missing the spirit of the comment to nitpick it. That's my opinion and I'm stickin' to it.
Posted by: red at May 18, 2005 9:33 PMI thought it was actually in the spirit of the comment to nitpick it like that. I hope you both realized it was completely tongue-in-cheek, as I forgot to put a ;-) at the end for onece.
Posted by: Dave J at May 18, 2005 11:47 PMThanks, that was great to read. I'm impressed that you're still filled with excitement even after what George did to you in Episodes 1 and 2. It's tougher for me.
Back in 1995 or 1996 I suddenly got a chance to go see The Who play Quadrophenia at Madison Square Garden. I *love* Quadrophenia and probably always will. Of course I accepted the offer, but with great trepidation: the band members are old, Townshend is half-deaf, they're probably just doing a few shows for the bucks. I really did *not* want to see them going through the motions on this album. So I was excited, but wary.
Well, thank God I went. Pete and Roger and John didn't let me down and the show was terrific. Let's hope George can come through for you (and all the rest of us.)
Posted by: David at May 19, 2005 9:36 AMObviously a different David. Was an early fan of the initial Star Wars. My experiences of the last few have been... mixed. I'll sit this one out, after reading reviews by some adults.
http://thirdworldcounty.blogspot.com/2005/05/venting-spleen.html
And yeh, I'll catch some hell from my resident Star Wars fan. Drop by my blog and flame me til I'm a charred corpse, if you want. I'm perfectly satisfied to wait for the DVD of this one after the last couple of yawners.
Posted by: David at May 20, 2005 8:58 AMGuess I'm a level 2 fan also. And it was an emotional thing for me as well.