Breathless

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.

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.

Fur Babies

As I flipped through my Facebook this afternoon, I came across a posting from Kevin Smith announcing the passing of his beloved pet, his "son", Mulder after 17 years of unconditional love and companionship.  My heart goes out to him in this time of sadness.  Not only because I'm a fan of Kevin's, but as an animal lover and a pet owner myself.  In the backs of our minds, as pet owners, we all know that we'll eventually have to bid farewell to our "fur babies", but somehow we tuck it away until it eventually comes to fruition, becoming overwhelmed with sadness, instead of preparing for it.

When I chose to adopt my boy, Monkey, I had to mentally prepare myself for that inevitable end.  I thought I could handle it, but since he came to live with me, nearly five years ago, I've come to realize that when that day comes, I'm going to be a complete wreck.  I love that cat more than I do anyone or anything else in the entire world.  I can only hope that he lives to be seventeen or eighteen years young, if not longer.

I recall as a young boy, my cousin getting himself an Irish Setter.  He named it "Sarge", which is a name he'd chosen years before and though (in my opinion) the name never suited the brownish red dog, his name was Sarge and that was that.  Sarge was "technically" my cousin's dog, but Sarge took to my uncle more.  All about the small town, my uncle could be seen driving his pick-up truck and there was Sarge, stoically riding shotgun.  That pick-up truck belonged to my uncle, but it also belonged to Sarge.  So much so, in fact, that no one could approach the truck when my uncle wasn't around.  No one including my cousin, the dog's rightful owner.

Eventually, my cousin grew older and left home, pursuing life's ambitions outside that small northern Saskatchewan town, leaving Sarge behind with my uncle.  They were virtually inseparable for his remaining years and eventually Sarge would pass away, leaving my uncle heartbroken.  The years since his passing, the subject of getting another dog has come up only to be stifled by my uncle, on the basis that he did not wish to go through the experience of losing another beloved pet.  I never fully understood that thought process until my boy came into my life.  Now I'm not sure I could ever replace him when he shuffles off this mortal coil.

My cat drives me nuts some days, from his nonsensical bawling to repeatedly leaving morsels of food scattered around the house or streams of projected vomit.  I've got an assortment of stains in my carpet that vaguely resemble the spots on a leopard's hide and deep scratches stretched across all my leather furniture and oak banisters, but truth be known, I would not trade a single annoyance for anything.  Every facet that drives me nuts, is also endearing to me.  Like I said before, I love that boy more than I do anything or anyone in my life.  Gun to my head, if I had to choose between my cat and the life of a (human) loved one, I can honestly say I don't know.  I'd probably choose my cat, as he's never deserted me, shunned me, judged me or given up on me.  The love of a pet is unconditional.  That means no matter what, they love you, where as I've found with my human counterparts, there's ALWAYS a condition.

For now, I'm going to enjoy every minute of every day of every week, month, year and (hopefully) decades of my time with that cat.  And if you're a pet owner, might I suggest you do the same.  I know that's what Kevin Smith has done with his pets and though his loss today seems insurmountable, he'll survive.  He's a strong fellow, who inspires me everyday in ways that I'm, consciously, not even fully aware of.  My heart goes out to him today.  CREDITS!

*The picture above is of Kevin Smith embracing Mulder.*
I dedicate this blog to them and to all pet owners who embrace the love of a pet.