May this be FORCED on you

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April 30, 2009
Filed under News Briefs

As the scene fades black, my final chances to switch the movie off dissipate. The first beats of a universally known song by composer John Williams resound from the speakers. They are orchestrated in correspondence to the stilted text that has begun to crawl up the screen. My stomach twists into knots as I unwillingly read the coined phrase, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…”

Before this last week of April, I was a proud Star Wars virgin. I reveled in my ignorance of the sci-fi phenomenon. When people would question my faith, I’d happily answer, “I am Jasmine McMasters, I am 16, and no, I have never, not ever, seen Star Wars.” Their disbelief and raised eyebrows always made me grin.

Now, nine hours and Star Wars Episodes VI, I, II, and III later, I am aware of what I was missing out on. I can hum the Imperial March, prophesize Luke and Leia’s family ties, and describe how sickeningly sweet the Ewoks are to you. And it’s not just the fact that as of recently I’m knowledgeable in Star Wars, it’s that I enjoyed the process of gaining that knowledge. To admit that is a blow to my pride. I believed that Star Wars was for geeks, and I was a dork. We we’re parallel lines that were never meant to cross.

Apparently, I was wrong, but despite my liking for the movies, the journey has still been a head trip. I mean, in less than seven days, I saw innocent Anakin Skywalker grow up, fall in love, take on the character of Darth Vader, have his morals laced with the dark side, and finally watched as he was cast from his evil garb to reveal a beaten man. While all the rest of the nation had the years from 1977 – 2005 to recover from the shock factor, I took it all in one dose and ended up in a Jedi-induced coma. I’ve had ten days to recover, and I still feel like I’m on the verge of vomiting green and blue laser beams.
But, in the end, it was worth it. Despite my protests, I’m happy someone took the time to force feed me the film culture I was missing out on. Let it be known, though, that I’m not trying to say I’m a die hard fan of the series now. The natural fondness for these movies has lain dormant in my mind for so long that I’ve got to give it time to set in. I’ll be honest, my liking is shallow.

I’m still iffy on the political points. And maybe there was still that time I thought Queen Amidala was actually supposed to be Queen Armadillo. And I could have possibly once confused the identity of Billy Dee Williams with Samuel L. Jackson’s. And I might have had to use Google and Wookiepeedia to make sure my facts were right while writing this blog. And it could be said that when that didn’t work, I had to enlist the help of Star Wars guru, Gregory Uribe, to nail down the final details. In the end, it’s still a liking nonetheless, and hopefully it will last until I’ve completed the series with Episodes IV and V.
Before I was just another blissfully oblivious teenager, but now, feeling much like Admiral Ackbar, I’ve been trapped in the space continuum.

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