STAR WARS: The Force Awakens, is probably the most highly anticipated film of this century. The hype for this movie has been steadily building since it was announced that it was going into production. The excitement really hit it's pinnacle in the past couple of months, as the stars have begun promoting the film. Everyone has caught a scorching case of Star Wars Fever, for which there is no cure, but a $12 movie ticket. I'm not usually one to get all caught up in the excitement, like this, but I have to admit that I was infected, too. So when the opportunity arose to attend the very first showing, the day before the official movie release, I leaped at the chance.
I promise to not reveal any SPOILERS, in this blog entry, except that which is the obvious. This film is F*CKING SPECTACULAR!! For me, personally, it meant so much more than just another chapter in a story of science fiction. It was a revisit to a younger, happier self that was long lost to the annuls of time.
Last night I listened to a podcast where Kevin Smith describes the overwhelming experience he had when Star Wars VII director, JJ Abrams invited him to the set at the Pinewood Studios in Great Britain. Smith describes walking onto the set, which was by his estimate, about three football fields in size, and the entire area was decked out with practical scenery. Everything was actually built, all the buildings were real. Smith remarked that he walked up to one of the central structures and knocked his fist against it, smiling that he would remember months later when he'd watch the film, that he had knocked on that wall.
Last night I listened to a podcast where Kevin Smith describes the overwhelming experience he had when Star Wars VII director, JJ Abrams invited him to the set at the Pinewood Studios in Great Britain. Smith describes walking onto the set, which was by his estimate, about three football fields in size, and the entire area was decked out with practical scenery. Everything was actually built, all the buildings were real. Smith remarked that he walked up to one of the central structures and knocked his fist against it, smiling that he would remember months later when he'd watch the film, that he had knocked on that wall.
Smith had arrived just in time to witness the filming of one of the movie's epic battle scenes. He stood with JJ Abrams watching the carefully choreographed action unfold on eight video screens. Smith comments in his podcast, the irony of literally being a stones throw away from his childhood heroes and watching all the action on video monitors.
After calling "CUT!" and ending the scene, JJ engaged in pleasantries with the Clerks director, before asking his assistant if she'd taken Kevin to Studio M, yet. She said she hadn't and the two were immediately dispatched to do so.. Smith's description after this is what I identified with the most. He walked into the dark studio, not knowing what to expect and in an instant, the lights come on and he sees "her". It's the Millennium Falcon.
From working in the movie industry for over twenty years, Kevin admitted a little bias, knowing how sets can appear to be real, even though most are just artificial facades propped up from behind. It was when he was invited to actually step aboard the Falcon, is when he realizes that Abrams had an actual Millennium Falcon. With every step he took, he reverted back to his youth, finally stopping on that seven year old who sat in the theater with his family and looked upon those infamous words: A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away. Kevin admitted that he was overwhelmed with joy, so much that he was moved to tears.
I had a similar experience from the moment the dark theater lit up with those epic words written in gold: STAR WARS Episode VII. Although, I wasn't overwhelmed to the point of crying, I did recognize the significance of what I was witnessing. I knew from that point forward, I wasn't just watching a movie. I was experiencing a historic moment. My eyes were among a sliver of those who had ever watched the film. I was completely and fully invested. In fact, so excited, was I, that I never actually read any of the words scrolling across the screen. I was, instead, lost in the magic of STAR WARS. By the time I saw the first stormtrooper walk into the scene, I was that little boy again, staring up at the screen, in awe.
It goes without saying, this is a MUST SEE movie. Everyone will experience it differently. Some will laugh and applaud. Some may be moved to tears, just as Kevin Smith was on the day he visited the set. Some may simply experience the movie. STAR WARS has meant something different to everyone throughout the last thirty-eight years, and it's nice to see that it will continue to do so for another thirty-eight years.
It goes without saying, this is a MUST SEE movie. Everyone will experience it differently. Some will laugh and applaud. Some may be moved to tears, just as Kevin Smith was on the day he visited the set. Some may simply experience the movie. STAR WARS has meant something different to everyone throughout the last thirty-eight years, and it's nice to see that it will continue to do so for another thirty-eight years.
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