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The End of Star Wars
Contemplating the Impact of The Saga at Its Close
Eleven years old. It’s summertime. My best friend’s older brother takes us to see this new movie people are talking about.
In a nearly-packed theater, we must change seats just before the lights go down. Someone nearby cracked a stink-bomb, ew.
Forced down near the screen, on the lower right side of the house, we are positioned so that, after the movie’s opening crawl, the two spaceships appearing seem to come roaring in from above our heads!
I am enthralled, transported for the next two hours to Tattoine, on board the Millenium Falcon, to the Death Star, and the moon, Yavin IV.
This sort of space fantasy adventure is new to me at the movies. I’ve begun reading science fiction and loving it. Seeing it portrayed this way is a huge affirmation!
Eleven times. I’m going back and seeing the movie, again and again — my friends and I all keep track. This is before Netflix, before Cable was widespread, even before most people had VCRs, really. Movies come around on second and third runs — popular movies come back to theaters for additional runs. When Star Wars returns, we go back. Multiple times.
I am engrossed, transformed by the film, and as an already voracious reader seek out…
