Since its release in 1977, "Star Wars" has become an institution. It has defined and shaped, perhaps more than any other single film, pop culture of the last 20 years.
The original "Star Wars" was such a success that movie studios have been trying to make blockbusters in its image ever since -- some more successful than others.
"Star Wars" was also a pioneer in film marketing. Sure, film companies have been hocking movie paraphernalia for as long as they have been around. But Director George Lucas took his magnum opus much further.
Let's face it, "Star Wars" is a cash cow. There are action figures, models, books, TV movies, videos, comics, games, soundtracks, keychains, pajamas, and countless more products associated with "Star Wars."
Recognizing the huge potential for more revenues, most other blockbusters have jumped on the bandwagon. Toy stores are stocked with action figures from the latest summer event movie.
Now, 20 years after the original release of "Star Wars," we are told that a new trilogy is in the works, to be released in 1999, 2001, and 2003. But before reaping in the ridiculous profits those movies and its products are bound to make, Lucas has decided to beat the "Star Wars" pinata one last time to see if any more money will fall out. Undoubtedly, it will.
To be fair, this "Star Wars" is different. It is, after all, the "Special Edition." To be honest, however, not that much has changed.
There are two new scenes, and one scene has been significantly altered. The first new scene is a scene between Jabba (previously seen only in "Return of the Jedi") and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Originally, this scene was shot with a human stand-in. Lucas planned to add an animatronic Jabba later, but budget and time constraints prevented his doing so.
Enter the computer wizards at Industrial Light and Magic. They have ingeniously drawn a computer generated Jabba over the stand-in from the old scene. Jabba looks younger here and is uncharacteristically ingratiating to Han. Computer effects have come a long way, but living creatures, including this Jabba, can still sometimes look fake.
Lucas has also added a scene between Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his friend Biggs. In many "Star Wars" drafts, Biggs featured prominently, but by final shooting he became only "Red Three." The added scene uses no computer magic, but does put a bit of personality to one of the pilots who bravely dies in the Death Star assault.
Perhaps the most hotly debated change, however, is a alteration of Han's confrontation with Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina. Lucas always wanted his characters to be "noble heroes." In the original "Star Wars," he felt that Han's murder of Greedo did not fit this mold.
This time, Greedo fires and inexplicably misses from point blank range, so Han's shot becomes self-defense. This is perhaps the only true disappointment of the "Special Edition." It simply does not belong.
There are other small changes to the film, such as computer generated animals in Mos Eisley, and updated Millennium Falcon lift-offs, but they are so seamlessly added that you will hardly notice them.
All in all, what you are getting is "Star Wars" on the big screen for the first time since its initial release. It is nothing short of awesome. The print is gorgeous, the sound effects are top rate, and the feeling of excitement is contagious. Effects like the X-Wing Fighters swooping down into the Death Star trench are unbelievable in the theater.
Perhaps "Star Wars" is such a success because it encompasses so many aspects of humanity. There are themes of patricide and retribution found in many Greek tragedies. It is history and political background parallel that of ancient Rome. The spiritualism of "the Force" is similar to that of many world religions. And the story of friends who succeed despite adversity and who come of age together is universal.
But the real reason we love "Star Wars" is because it is so much fun. Scene after scene leaves us on the edge of our seat, and by the end, we can't help but walk away smiling, as if we ourselves had destroyed the Death Star. Do not miss this amazing big screen return.
