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Star Wars is 30 Years Old

Posted by Zonk on Fri May 25, 2007 12:09 PM
from the how-old-does-that-make-you dept.
javipas writes "On May 25th, 1977 the first film of the Star Wars Saga was released to theaters. Thirty years later, and celebrations are being held all around the globe. Wired has a series of articles entitled The Empire at 30, and many fans are posting about this particular birthday. For example, you can see the best 30 clips made by fans to celebrate this anniversary. The BBC is chronicling the journey of one man who had never seen Star Wars before. IGN has a rundown on some of the highlights of the Celebration convention, running this weekend."
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  • by svendsen (1029716) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:11PM (#19272229)
    and like most of its fan base...still a virgin....
    • Ha (Score:5, Interesting)

      by Mycroft_514 (701676) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:16PM (#19272319) Journal
      On this day 30 years ago, I took a girl to go see it as my first date. We were all riding back from our high school senior picnic, and she asked about the book I was reading (the novelization), so I took her to the movie.

      The second movie I took my fiancee too, and by the third movie we were married.

      So much for your theory.
      • Re:Ha (Score:5, Funny)

        by heinousjay (683506) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:18PM (#19272345) Journal
        Why is it that people get so defensive about the fact that they have sex? I mean, congratulations, dude. You've managed to complete your default bodily programming. You win. I guess.
      • Wonder what would have happened had it been episodes 1 - 3 instead the 4 - 6 you borught her too.

        Episode 1: she just wants to be friends
        Episode 2: She will now only hang out with you in a group setting
        Episode 3: Mace + Restraining order
      • Re:Ha (Score:5, Funny)

        by HaeMaker (221642) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:26PM (#19272511) Homepage
        So, you took your divorce lawyer to the Phantom Menace?
      • Yeah, I took a date to it too. Our 29th wedding anniversary is on Sunday.
      • Re:Ha (Score:5, Funny)

        by jfengel (409917) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:39PM (#19272749) Homepage Journal
        And the way Lucas appears to be milking it, it sounds like the mourners will be able to catch it on the way home from your funerals.

        (Mazel tov on the 30th anniversary of your first date with her.)
        • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

          Still got my copy somewhere too. And Yes, it was a gold colored paperback.

          Oh, and yes, the opening credits in the first movie said nothing about Episode 4 in the original theather edition.
              • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

                The movie first appeared with its expanded title ("Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope") in its April '81 reissue (its first release after the initial release of Star Wars - Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back). It had been just plain "Star Wars" in '77 and in its '78 and '79 reissues, but from '81 every theatrical, home video and television presentation had it as Star Wars - Episode IV: A New Hope, until last September's DVD rereleases of the original trilogy with both the '04 DVD versions and the original t
  • star wars virgin (Score:3, Insightful)

    by stoolpigeon (454276) * <bittercode@gmail> on Friday May 25 2007, @12:11PM (#19272243) Homepage Journal
    that was pretty funny - but i'm having trouble believing that he not only hasn't seen the film but was so clueless about plot, characters, etc.
    • I don't see it that far. I just recently watched Planet of the Apes for the first time. Other then that the only think I knew about it was Ape men and a statue of liberity. And the name Dr. Zaion. From the simpsons Planet of the Apes musical. There are other movies that have influnced modern culture like Star Wars that a lot of people never watched. Or events that happened in real life that people missed and concepts become part of our lexicon but not knowing why. Terms like Drinking Koolaid.
      • And the name Dr. Zaion. From the simpsons Planet of the Apes musical.

        Except it's Dr. Zaius.

        You may hand in your geek card at the door.

    • Tony Long, over at Wired, posted a similar article [wired.com] that address those very concerns. From that article: To say I went into the movie clueless, though, wouldn't be accurate. You can't have lived in this world for as long as I have without being exposed to some of the fallout from this pop-culture phenomenon. Just like you can't avoid being exposed to radiation from time to time. ANYWAY!
    • Re:star wars virgin (Score:4, Interesting)

      by eln (21727) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:22PM (#19272427) Homepage
      I think this guy was a friend of the reporter looking to get himself in an international news story.

      2 and a half minutes into the movie he says he gets his first glimpse of the droids he ALREADY KNOWS are called C-3PO and R2-D2, but he doesn't know which is which. So obviously he's had at least some exposure to Star Wars before, even if just through pop culture references. However, I have a really hard time believing that he was able to glean the (rather cryptic) names of two droids from pop culture, but didn't know that Vader was Luke's father (he ends the article apparently still under the impression that Vader killed Luke's father). After all, what reference is more prevalent in pop culture, the droids or "Luke, I am your father"?

      I think this guy knows more about the franchise, but is concealing that knowledge to make for a better story.
      • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

        I don't know about that. People are frequently floored when I tell them that I don't know who movie star X or pop singer Y is. Its possible for people to be disconnected from certain spheres of popular culture if they simply don't have any interest in them. Additionally, I can't recall Star Wars being often quoted outside of nerd culture, despite it having mass appeal.
      • > First of all, Hand was presented the obvious love interest for Leia,

        No offence, dude, but Carrie Fischer was hot enough in the late '70s that NOBODY would have thought that the hand-solo was her primary sexual outlet.

        I'll bet she could've even gotten a rise out of that pansy droid, '3PO.

  • by packetmon (977047) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:16PM (#19272323) Homepage
    You trying to jedi mind trick me to believe I was a kid when this came out... We'll I've been using wifi since... since... since... [slashdot.org]
  • Star wars (Score:5, Insightful)

    by ghaltmann (998674) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:16PM (#19272327)
    Aside from any witty comment or terse flame I'd just like to say that I'm very happy to be a Star Wars fan.

    Star Wars has been such a great story and adventure since I was a child and I hope to continue that legacy. I still remember seeing the movies for the first time and the magic I felt.

    Lets forget all the weird flames and just think about what a great adventure Star Wars has been.
      • Yeah, but no spoilers please!

        C3PO is Luke's mother, and the stormtroopers are all Boba Fett's natural children. (He's an inspiration to us all.) Obi-Wan Kenobi thinks all astromech droids look alike (thus demonstrating a soft bigotry against mechanical beings). Darth Vader was incredibly angsty and annoying as a teenager. ("KHOOOOH... HSSSS... I don't wanna clean my room! KHOOOOH... HSSSS... You can't make me!") Killing a hundred sand people doesn't make you a bad person, because they look like mummies, even their children. The emperor's complexion has actually improved with age, IMO. Either that, or in his old age, he wanted a more natural look and stopped getting Botox.

        I could tell you more, but I don't want to completely ruin it for you.
  • by iknownuttin (1099999) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:18PM (#19272349)
    The Cult of Leia's Metal Bikini

    Who knew a slave-girl costume could cause such a stir?

    It wasn't the slave girl costume. It was the girl! The girl was built like a girl: not some emaciated waif. Carry Fisher had this cute tummy and hips and real boobs - not a body by Joe Schmoe, MD, Hollyweird, CA!

    Geeze! And the irony is that, IIRC from one the Star Wars behind the scenes DVD extras, the producers wanted to or did send her to a fat farm.

    • Leia's Metal Bikini (Score:5, Informative)

      by thewils (463314) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:21PM (#19272419) Journal
      Yikes, there's even a site [leiasmetalbikini.com] devoted to it...
    • The girl was built like a girl: not some emaciated waif.

      Yeah, but this is Slashdot. Few slashdotters are familiar with such esoteric concepts as girls. Fewer still are familiar with how girls are shaped.

      This is not the specialized knowledge you are looking for...

      ...laura

      • Yeah, but this is Slashdot. Few slashdotters are familiar with such esoteric concepts as girls. Fewer still are familiar with how girls are shaped.

        Actually, I suspect more slashdotters are familiar with how girls are shaped (or at least a subset thereof) than they are with the concept of actual girls.

    • by GuyMannDude (574364) on Friday May 25 2007, @01:06PM (#19273205) Journal

      It wasn't the slave girl costume. It was the girl! The girl was built like a girl: not some emaciated waif. Carry Fisher had this cute tummy and hips and real boobs - not a body by Joe Schmoe, MD, Hollyweird, CA!

      My personal opinion is that this was so iconic because of how dignified Leia remained even in such a degrading and revolting situation. This is a princess and leader of the rebel alliance. A gangster has essentially stripped her naked, put her in chains, and routinely licks his lips with his revolving, rotten tongue. And through all of this, she remains cool headed, keeping her mind of the mission and playing her part. When Luke shows up at Jabba's lair, Leia gives him a look that doesn't convey embarrassment or anger but almost a sense of amusement as though only she and Luke are in on the joke that Jabba's about to fall for.

      That was an unusual amount of strength for a woman to show in the 80s. Hell, even nowdays the movies show tough women as having a huge chip on their shoulder. Leia simply got the job done without worrying how she looks and she was willing to sit through anything. It's a bit interesting to compare how she faces adversity in this situation versus the trip to trash compactor in the original movie where she's nowhere near as calm and confident. Everyone focuses on how much Luke changes during the original trilogy, but Leia changes just as much.

      Sure, there's a sexual aspect to the entire situation as well, but I don't think that has much to do with Leia's body. Quite frankly, it's fairly unremarkable. It's the fact that Leia remains calm and collected even in such an awful situation that makes her sexy, not her body. You can see better looking women every day just walking down the street. But how many everyday women would be able to act as heroic as Leia did?

      GMD

  • by morari (1080535) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:21PM (#19272403) Journal
    The films have at least aged rather well. The effects and general cinematography don't feel all that dated. Of course, I tend to think that the sloppy CGI in the "special remastered" version is what looks old. Then again, I'm one to shun CGI in almost any instance, so biases persist.
  • In the beginning, you take a sip of it, and find that it is pleasureful, subtle, and full of aroma.

    Next, you have a bottle of the same vintage and let it age 20 years. It is suddenly a whole new wine, with greater complexity, and a much sharper taste.

    Finally you decide to finish off that old bottle that has aged another ten years... too bad it has turned to vinegar...

    Now Star Trek: TNG -- that is like Guiness. Great at any time! Always aged to perfection!

    Firefly is kinda like Jack Daniels... Really good, but hard to follow up with anything else ;-)

    Thanks George,

    Sincerely someone who saw Episode I 5 times in the first week trying to find some of the greatness that I saw in the originals.
    • Now Star Trek: TNG -- that is like Guiness. Great at any time! Always aged to perfection!\\

      yes, exactly the same thing...every.single.week. Cold and bitter.
      • yes, exactly the same thing...every.single.week. Cold and bitter.
        Then eventually consume enough that taste no longer matters.
      • Maybe you should try Guinness, it's smooth and creamy unlike that cheap misspelled impostor.
      • yes, exactly the same thing...every.single.week. Cold and bitter.

        Well, right there's your problem. ST:TNG is best enjoyed tepid, just like Guiness. That way, you actually get to appreciate the flavor, which the slight bitterness accentuates. When you drink it cold, all you can taste is the bitterness.

        This is why American-style lager is best served ice-cold -- so you can't taste it.

        So, to bring this back around to Star Wars, I'd say that it's less like a fine wine and more like bourbon. A young bourbon

  • by Duncan3 (10537) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:25PM (#19272485) Homepage
    If you're old enough to remember Star Wars coming out, you're too old to think anything right now except "30 years, wow I'm old". If thoughts of action figures pop into your mind, or if you're still living in your mom's basement, SEEK THERAPY IMMEDIATELY.

    It was a movie, and a good one, but move on!
  • Action figures (Score:3, Interesting)

    by quokkapox (847798) <quokkapox@gmail.com> on Friday May 25 2007, @12:29PM (#19272569)

    Ah, nostalgia. When I was a kid, my little sister used to break the heads off of my Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker action figures. I chewed on their retractable lightsabers too, I think, but I grew out of that phase.

    My friends and I got even by playing badminton with the severed heads of her Barbie dolls (which aerodynamically resemble shuttlecocks).

    Now I feel OLD.

  • You've given me much joy over the years, in fact I'm going to watch it tonight.
  • 30 years (Score:4, Funny)

    by Bloke down the pub (861787) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:33PM (#19272657)
    30 years - how many parsecs is that?
  • Ahh... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by u-bend (1095729) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:37PM (#19272709) Homepage Journal
    Another Slashdot Star Wars story. Full of regrets, memories, happiness, bitterness, fanboy defenses (in dwindling supply), and unmitigated acrimony. The inevitable TNG and Firefly comments are waiting in the wings. The virgin and lack-of-girls comments are prepared. A flame war is set up and somewhat monitored by our guardians. Aaaaaaaaand... ACTION!
  • by fohat (168135) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:42PM (#19272795) Homepage
    Lego Star Wars to come back with all six movies in one game [arstechnica.com]

    Caught the Lego story on Digg today. Nice timing. I remember the first time Star Wars was re-released to theaters. My brother got caught running a red light on the way to the Uptown. I told him that the force was not with him. He didn't think it was very funny, especially when the cop found out he didn't have his license with him...
  • A quick glance at the ol' wiki [wikipedia.org]:

    A Bridge Too Far
    Close Encounters of the Third Kind
    The Goodbye Girl
    High Anxiety
    Saturday Night Fever
    Smokey and the Bandit
    The Spy Who Loved Me
    Star Wars

    How come we just don't get years like that anymore?
  • 2 good movies out of 6. I want my money back. What's to celebrate?
  • Thirty years later, and celebrations are being held all around the globe.


    Seriously? I mean, other than PR operatives for LucasFilms and some paid Stormtroopers, does anyone really care enough to attend a "celebration"?

  • Just FYI for those who enjoyed "The Science of Superman", the same guy, Michael Dennin (a friend of mine from Church [Catholic if you're interested] will be hosting a show on the technology of Star Wars, Mon. May 28th 8PM on the History Channel.

    Here's a link: Star Wars - The Legacy Revealed [history.com]

    Michael is a professor of Physics and Astro-Physics at UCI and an all-around great guy.

    Cheers Michael, if you read /. Great work.

    Oh Yeah, that show kicks off the whole Star Wars History Channel event which starts at 9PM.

  • XM (Score:3, Funny)

    by Chysn (898420) on Friday May 25 2007, @01:00PM (#19273109)
    I heard an ad on XM Radio the other day about the 30th Anniversary of Star Wars. It wished Star Wars fans well with a phrase sure to draw their ire: "Live long and prosper."
    • by TheGeneration (228855) on Friday May 25 2007, @12:50PM (#19272953) Journal

      Who cares. Star Wars was great back in the day, Lucas ruined the Legacy, get over it. The same is happening to the Terminator, but at least you can't blame Cameron, as he has nothing to do with the ruining. Lucas on the other hand can eat dicks in hell.


      As a gay man who is excitedly anticipating his time eating dicks in hell I would like to file an official complaint that I would have to share the dicks to be eaten with that sloth fat ass Lucas. That Porker? would undoubtedly take more than his fair share of cock.
    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      Yes, but Lucas pretty much invented the phrase, "space opera" to describe the genre he was joining. It was deliberately supposed to be very much reminiscent of the old flash gordon serials and other mythologies.

      Get your head out of your arse. The films (IV..VI that is) were fun adventure films, and the special effects were just good enough to look realistic, without being too ambitious. (i.e., big scary space station? Show it from very far away so we don't have to model much, then show it from really cl
    • Re: (Score:3, Insightful)

      The whole Star Wars fandom thing is just a hobby, and not even the most expensive or anti-social hobby there is. I don't see the point myself (it's just a movie), but then I don't see the point of sailing single-handed around the world, or risking death just to climb some lump of rock that happens to be taller than some other lump of rock (nobody ever needed a costly, dangerous air rescue from a Sci-Fi-Con. Wanted one, maybe).

      I have to wonder who is in more need of a life: the fans, or people who feel the n