Star Wars

Title: Star Wars (a.k.a. Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope, 1977)
Director: George Lucas
Starring: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness
Rank: 13

To all of you out there who are over twenty-five and still get a rush of glee at the thought of adding another piece to your action figure collection, to anyone who makes electronic sounds as they mime swordplay, to anyone who has ever been called a scruffy-looking nerf herder- you owe a debt of thanks to George Lucas.

I know there are several people out there who would throw out AFI's list without hesitation had Star Wars not been included. Of course, it's on there, and in the top 15 nonetheless! And with good cause, too. Any self-proclaimed film buff, sci-fi fanatic, or cultural history major would be mocked if they had never seen at least one (often times, if they had not seen ALL) of the films from the Star Wars franchise.

But what makes Star Wars such a cherished piece of cinematic history? Several things, actually. It could be the epic battle scenes in space, the hot princess, the clever dialogue, or the memorable characters and special effects. Really, though, Star Wars is great because it's a story about the underdog defeating a monster much bigger than himself by just having faith.

Underdog stories are always a hit, especially when the underdog comes out on top, because we all feel like we are the underdog at times. The world is big, and we are just one person, and sometimes it may feel like we make no difference. Get up, go to work, come home, go to bed, get up, go to work, come home, pay taxes, go to bed. Lather, rinse, repeat. We are just one little, replaceable cog in the wheels of the world. But when we see someone who is, as we often feel ourselves to be, an unlikely hero stand up for what is truly right and come out ahead, we feel hope, and a deep satisfaction that someone was able to "stick it to the man." I know I don't need to tell any of you what happens in Star Wars (and if I do, then it's time to take a day off work and watch the films, but don't worry I won't tell anyone), I'm sure many of you are more familiar with the details that I am.

Not only is it an underdog story, but Star Wars also has a political consciousness. The Rebels fighting against the Empire is essentially the "everyman" fighting against the corrupted government. Especially with the current state of things, the government has always taken criticism from the citizens. The government is big and powerful, and often it feels as though we just have to sit back and take whatever they decide to dish out. But, like Luke, Leia, Han Solo, and the rest of the Rebel Alliance, we do have power. Binding together and standing up for what is right is one of the most amazing things a group of people can do. Even the little things can make a difference in morality, and encourage us to never give up.

Star Wars also deals a lot with faith in oneself, in the form of the Force. Luke cannot defeat the Death Star with the computer, but when he closes his eyes and takes that leap of faith, he is triumphant! It isn't until we believe in ourselves that we can accomplish anything. If you believe you can do it, then you can, regardless if anyone else believes you can. As Yoda said "Do or do not; there is no try."

Star Wars is a legacy to film and fandom. No other series has been admired, parodied, or referenced in other films as much as Star Wars films have. I could list pages of projects that have taken inspiration from the Star Wars franchise (Spaceballs, anyone? Or how about FanBoys?), endless arguments of Star Wars vs. Star Trek, and hundreds of thousands of people out there who share the hero's name that have constantly heard the line "Luke, I am your father" throughout their lives.

Thank you, George Lucas, for making it cool to be a nerd. And to all my readers out there, may the Force be with you!




Movies to Go: 79

Jaws

Title: Jaws (1975)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss
Rank: 56

Jaws Theme Song sound bite  Jaws sound bites

Fear. We all experience fear. What makes Jaws so scary is the fact that the antagonist of the film isn't actually doing anything wrong, and since it is acting upon its instincts there is no reasoning with it. If you're swimming nearby and it wants to eat you, you're going to be eaten! There is no begging a shark when they attack, no pleading for mercy, or hoping that it might be a vegetarian. The shark is only doing what it needs to survive, and eating the human swimmers is no different than a giraffe eating leaves off a tree. Except with the shark, it is devastating to the families and loved ones of its victims, whereas few people will grieve over the leaves the giraffe eats. Jaws is on AFI's list because it is so good at playing into fear.

Every person fears at least one thing. Sometimes our fears can be paralyzing and make us act irrationally. Chief Brody (played by Roy Scheider) fears the ocean, and refuses to go in the water or on a boat if he has any other option. When a twenty-five foots shark comes swimming into town, killing any of the leisurely swimmers it can get its jaws on, Chief Brody must take action. With the town council and the mayor working to keep the beaches open with the intention of safeguarding the town's revenue, Brody must take matters into his own hands. Brody faces so many of his own fears while fighting the shark alongside Matt Hooper (Dreyfuss) and Quint (Shaw). It is something that many people admire but seldom have to do- face their greatest fear and overcome it just as Brody did. It doesn't necessarily have to be the fear of a man-eating shark, snakes, or spiders, but it can also be a fear of failure.

The fear of failure is one of the most common fears (next to the fear of public speaking and the fear of dying), and understandably so when you look at it from the surface level. "Failure" is such an ugly word, and the definition (borrowed from dictionary.com) is "a person or thing that proves unsuccessful." No one wants to fail, which is why so many people tend to settle rather than take the risk of failing. It is so easy to want to settle in a career of being a desk-jockey, working the 9-5 hours, doing the busywork the boss gives you, rather than pursue those no-limit dreams we once had as a kid. (There is nothing wrong with a desk job, I only pick on it because I am not made to do it. There is no way I could work at a desk for the rest of my life, but that doesn't mean it isn't perfect for someone else.) I know when I was a kid there were so many things I dreamed of doing- being a famous comedian, being a famous singer, being a famous actress, becoming the CEO of the Disney Company- but over the years the dreams became smaller and much more "realistic." It made me sad, though, that I was denying my true passions and settling for something "easy" in comparison to those fabulous dreams I had when I was younger, and I have reverted back to pursuing one of those teenhood dreams, finally realizing what my passion in life is and ready to be the best I can be. Big dreams take big work, and failure is sure to come, but if you learn something from it and get back up, then it really isn't a failure. It can be hard taking risks- a risk is something that does not guarantee success, and there is always a chance of a failure- but taking risks and persevering through the tough times will all be worth it in the end. I know that I am not cut out to be a desk-jockey: I need change, I need challenge. What I want to do is going to take a lot of work, a lot of time and patience, and a lot of perseverance. I am worried that I will not make it, but I have to take the risk. Pursuing my dream-career is like Brody attacking the Great White shark: there is so much to fear, but it must be done to get the desired outcome. I remember this quote that has always stuck with me: "Courage is not a lack of fear, but action in spite of that fear."

There are several other factors that make Jaws such a great movie, and such a wonderful thriller. Music, of course, is one of those factors. (Another film with music by John Williams, my favorite film composer!) It plays into the fear of the menacing shark, and just hearing the theme song can bring back the memories of watching this movie. Jaws also brings out the fear of the unknown and the unseen- if we cannot see it, we tend to fear it more. Due to the animatronic shark not being so great, most of the shots of it are close up and only of bits and pieces, but it works so well. It makes the imagination go wild with dread. Combine all of these elements to create an amazing consternation within the viewer.

I happen to be afraid of sharks, and I am lucky that the weather is too cold to go swimming because every time I watch this film I can't bring myself to go in the water for a while after. Thanks to an overactive imagination, every time I see a shadow move in the pool after watching Jaws I make a hasty dash for the shallow end!

So tell me- what is your "Great White shark" fear that is holding you back from what you really want?

Trivia: (from IMDb.com)
•When Quint gets a call on the radio while on the Orca, the voice on the radio is Steven Spielberg.
•During filming of Jaws, the animatronic shark was nicknamed "Bruce," although Spielberg sometimes called it "The Great White Turd" when it would malfunction.

Movies to Go: 95

Raiders of the Lost Ark

Title: Raiders of the Lost Ark (also sometimes known as Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark) (1981)
Director: Steven Spielberg
Starring: Harrison Ford, Karen Allen
Rank: 66

Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, and I'm pretty sure that is why it is on AFI's list. It has everything: a sexy hero, beautiful and exotic settings, religious legends brought into reality, amazing music, fun dialog, and a terrible enemy.

Set in 1936, Raiders uses Nazis as the enemy. Nazis symbolize an unyielding evil and there are few people who would sympathize with a Nazi or anyone who follows Hitler. They are portrayed as mindless shells of men who are not quite human, have no consciousness of humanity, and are like programmed droids set to do der Fuhrer's bidding. When Indiana Jones fights the Nazis, we feel as though we are right there with him, giving evil a swift kick in the ass.

Spielberg does a fantastic job with this film. His use of shadows is brilliant, almost as though the shadows themselves are their own character. And the music! John Williams, who also composed for Spielberg on Jurassic Park, Jaws, and many other of Spielberg's films as well as composing for the Star Wars series and many other great musical works, has made for the Indiana Jones series some of the most memorable music in Hollywood's history. (He also happens to be my favorite film composer.)

I do believe that Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure, one that I can escape into easily any time I watch the film. The only thing that scares me are the snakes. "Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?"

Trivia:
•Currently in the works is Indiana Jones 5, and as of now the official title has yet to be released.

Movies to Go: 97

P.S.- Sorry for the delay in posting. I was without internet connection for four days. Looks like you will get a two-fer today because I watched the next movie last night and will hopefully have the post up this afternoon.