In a Galaxy Far, Far, Away

If you were to ask me what my favorite film is, without any shred of hesitation, I would tell you: Star Wars. 

And when I say Star Wars, I mean Star Wars--the genuine, original trilogy. 

It was one of the first movies I ever remember seeing. I'm an only child, so I grew up experiencing both my mother's and my father's interests. My dad taught me all I needed to know about G.I. Joe, Indiana Jones, He-Man, Star Trek, and, of course, the original Star Wars trilogy. 

We started out with A New Hope (something that my parents constantly chastise me for saying; back in their day, until '81 with the theatrical re-release, A New Hope was only known as Star Wars).  I don't remember seeing it for the first time, but I do remember asking to watch it all of the time. For a few years, I believed this was it. There was A New Hope and nothing else. A stand-alone movie. When I became old enough (ie. I could tolerate the scary Hoth monster and the Rancor), my dad introduced me to Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. I remember my excitement. I remember gearing up to watch the new films and being filled with a kind of energy sugar couldn't provide. 

There was such a magic to Star Wars that I haven't experienced with any other film, and maybe that's just the nostalgia speaking, but genuinely, I can't think of any other movie that makes me feel the specific way Star Wars does (nor can I quote any movie like I can the original Star Wars trilogy; I practically have the script and sound effects memorized).  Sure, I've experience deep-rooted emotions towards other films. Some of my other favorite movies are Stand By Me, Dead Poets Society, When Harry Met Sally, A River Runs Through It (as you can see, a lot of these are emotionally-driven; I like movies that will make me cry). I never cried with Star Wars, but it was somewhere I deeply, deeply wanted to go to.  There hasn't been anything else that compares with the feeling that Star Wars gives me. 

Quite honestly, the cinematography of the Star Wars original films is unlike any other. One of my biggest wishes is to be able to watch Star Wars without any of the George Lucas alterations, which is damn near impossible. I'm not sure they have the original versions released anywhere. Maybe there's a few clips on YouTube, but the quality is ultimately terrible.