Star Wars Saga (OT/PT/ST) Discussion Thread

[Wor-Gar]

Never understood that show... but it was the first television world-building I can remember... somehow connected to Green Acres and other shows.

It was like TV's Rural World.

 

[JAWS]

Yes she is. So is that one tall brunette from that crazy hillbilly show, Petticoat Junction. Hated that show, loved that girl -- popping her head out from the water tower.

Yep! Nice shoulders

 

[JAWS]

I had to look it up. Lori Saunders is the one I'm talking about (middle)

There's the shoulders I am talking about.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Nice neck. I love long necks.

 

[a-dev]

Bravomite, I thought you were older than me for some reason.

Anyway I had typed up a whole big thing in response to your invitation about our first Star Wars experiences but when I previewed it it was a giant wall of text and I couldn't even bring myself to proof-read it

Dark_Knight brings up one thing I was going to bring up though

I was born in 1989 so wasn't around for the original releases. My Star Wars story began in Christmas 1995 when I was 6 years old and my parents bought me the 1995 THX remastered editions of the Star Wars Trilogy on VHS. With gorgeous artwork from John Alvin (that was only available on the releases here in the UK I believe), each cassette had a Leonard Maltin interview with George Lucas preceding the movie;

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It's funny because my Mum and Dad had never seen any of the Star Wars movies, but they bought them for me because they knew of their significance and thought it was important that I watch them lol. It's safe to say that I was hooked from the very beginning. I was completely absorbed into this entre universe and have been pretty obsessed ever since.

I bought so many of the 1990s Kenner action figures (with the muscle bodies!), lightsabers, ships, etc. I also had the great playsets released by Micro-Machines which featured a character's head that opened up into a scene. I have such clear memories of playing with the C-3PO head that transformed into the Mos Eisley Cantina;

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A Darth Vader head that transformed into Bespin;

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A Chewbacca head that transformed into Endor;

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I also had a Death Star that transformed into tatooine (with a Death Star docking bay);

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This post brought warm feelings to my heart.

Born in '82, I was too late to see the OT in their theatrical runs and I don't have a particular memory of the first time I saw them (except ANH because I saw that after ESB and ROTJ). Star Wars has been established my whole life, it was already a thing. I just remember really loving those movies.

The peak 'magic' of Star Wars for me was 1994-6. These were my VHS copies




and those Galoob Micro Machines you posted were my first Star Wars toys. I remember some incredible Christmases and birthdays getting the ships, the playsets and the little figure multipacks. Then came the Kenner POTF2 line which was my chance to have the toys my older brothers had had (but managed to mostly lose or destroy). I remember being astounded to go into the toy store and see that old X-wing and the Millenium Falcon on the shelf. Those were of course the pre-internet days (at least for most people?) so all toy-shopping was done blind.

 

[Khev]

This post brought warm feelings to my heart.

 

[Dark_Knight_89]

It was 1977 and I was a tiny lad in our first house. I knew Star Wars was a thing because my older sisters and all of the adults around me had already seen it, and I'd seen clips or commercials on television.

It must have been mid or late afternoon when my mother said "Your father's coming home from work and we're going to see Star Wars."

I was a little apprehensive in the car because I didn't know what to expect. It seemed like a big, noisy adult thing. Would it be scary?

(I have pretty accurate memories of conversations at the age of 3 and dreams from early childhood, so what I'm recounting is probably accurate, decades later.)

There were 'big kids' in the theatre lobby looking intimidating and cool, joking around. One of them was clowning around and yelled "Take me to your leader!"

I saw the iconic poster of the sandtrooper riding a dewback, which is what the kid was clowning about.

What I don't especially remember is how I reacted to the entire film. I missed Han blasting Greedo that first time, because I had to visit the washroom. When my dad returned us to our seats my mother leaned over and whispered "Greedo told Han 'Give me all your money' and he shot him!"

What I do remember is LOVING the climactic Death Star battle.

My parents asked me afterwards, was it okay, was it too 'noisy' for me? All I could say was: "I *liked* the noisy parts!"

(I think as a very little kid I equated 'noisy' with depictions of violence or jeopardy that scared me).

I had a lot of Star Wars toys after that. Got the X-Wing for Christmas, but also had the TIE, Cantina playset, Imperial Troop Transport, Landspeeder, Death Star playset, and Dewback, trading cards...my sisters had the board game but weren't much interested in action figures. Had the soundtrack LP. Neighbourhood kids and I would have EPIC battles, often playing the record -- our battles had high production value.

I remember meeting a very slightly older girl, daughter of one of my mother's friends, and being a little surprised she had action figures too. Girls would play Star Wars with us, but the toys themselves at the time were often the domain of little boys.

*EDIT: I should add that following Star Wars, Princess Leia became my second ever screen crush.

I did this too! Except I didn't have any of the soundtracks at the time, so I would put a VHS into my TV and play a scene so I had the music and sound effects to accompany my make-believe battles.

 

[Dark_Knight_89]

Bravomite, I thought you were older than me for some reason.

Anyway I had typed up a whole big thing in response to your invitation about our first Star Wars experiences but when I previewed it it was a giant wall of text and I couldn't even bring myself to proof-read it

Dark_Knight brings up one thing I was going to bring up though



This post brought warm feelings to my heart.

Born in '82, I was too late to see the OT in their theatrical runs and I don't have a particular memory of the first time I saw them (except ANH because I saw that after ESB and ROTJ). Star Wars has been established my whole life, it was already a thing. I just remember really loving those movies.

The peak 'magic' of Star Wars for me was 1994-6. These were my VHS copies

View attachment 501429
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and those Galoob Micro Machines you posted were my first Star Wars toys. I remember some incredible Christmases and birthdays getting the ships, the playsets and the little figure multipacks. Then came the Kenner POTF2 line which was my chance to have the toys my older brothers had had (but managed to mostly lose or destroy). I remember being astounded to go into the toy store and see that old X-wing and the Millenium Falcon on the shelf. Those were of course the pre-internet days (at least for most people?) so all toy-shopping was done blind.

Those multipacks were so great. It was annoying when you got a figure with a Lightsaber that was all droopy though lol.

I didn't get internet until about 2000. Before that, I remember picking up the actual paper catalogues that Forbidden Planet used to have and eagerly flicking through to see what figures were coming out, circling the ones I wanted and calling them to find that they were all gone.

 

[Dark_Knight_89]

OMG I still have the Head playsets -- all of them!

They were so cool. Chewbacca's face always looked odd to me lol;



I remember it being really morbid how the Death Star set had a section outside the Lars homestead that you could flip over to reveal Owen and Beru's charred remains;

 

[Wor-Gar]

I remember it being really morbid how the Death Star set had a section outside the Lars homestead that you could flip over to reveal Owen and Beru's charred remains;

That was excellent.

 

[a-dev]

Those multipacks were so great. It was annoying when you got a figure with a Lightsaber that was all droopy though lol

I remember being really jealous of my friend at the time who managed to snag loads of Stormtrooper sets to populate the various head playsets with. Think I only ever found one.

I didn't get internet until about 2000. Before that, I remember picking up the actual paper catalogues that Forbidden Planet used to have and eagerly flicking through to see what figures were coming out, circling the ones I wanted and calling them to find that they were all gone.

Oh yeah, forgot about those Forbidden Planet catalogues - yeah I remember one of those was where I first saw the McFarlane Movie Maniacs 4 T-800 and T-1000 from T2. That was pretty exciting for me as I'd wanted proper figures from T2 for almost 10 years by that point - I was gutted when the final T-800 figure was stripped of any likeness to Arnold.

The other way we found out about what new figures were coming was the backs of figure boxes or those leaflets that'd come with vehicles - I actually still have a few of those from the POTF2 era.

They were so cool. Chewbacca's face always looked odd to me lol;

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I remember it being really morbid how the Death Star set had a section outside the Lars homestead that you could flip over to reveal Owen and Beru's charred remains;

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I still have my micromachines but they're all in the attic. I took them down to test what they'd look like on display and I honestly I felt they looked way too childish. My nostalgia for them seems to be limited to just the memories of them from back in the day.

 

[xipotec]

Who was your first screen crush? Jeannie? Mary Ann?

Daisy Duke


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[Dark_Knight_89]

It was Jessica Rabbit for me.

 

[Prime Clone]

I think most of the folks on here are of a certain age and the OT is their starting point. Everything else is viewed through that filter.

I wouldn't have been as interested in the PT, or the ST, if not for the OT.

 

[Wor-Gar]

Daisy Duke

Understandable. You are younger.

It was Jessica Rabbit for me.

And even younger.



First crushes are very telling about a man's viewing preferences. Because they place him in time.

 

[Dark_Knight_89]

Understandable. You are younger.



And even younger.



First crushes are very telling about a man's viewing preferences. Because they place him in time.

It's funny isn't it. Nowadays I can see a lot of first crushes being some overly-entitled Tik-Toker who wants instant fame or fortune by making stupid and attention-seeking videos. I realise how bitter I sound, but it's true!

It would be interesting to see how an individual's Top 10 favourite movies vary depending on age, for example. Although, it also depends largely on upbringing too. As a 31 year old man born in the late 80s and growing up in the 90s - I may fit a particular "mould" or stereotype of what many may expect in terms of interests/attitudes etc, but my Dad brought me up on a lot of old movies in addition to contemporary features. As a child I spent as much time watching the Marx Brothers, Universal Monsters and Hitchcock (where appropriate) as I did watching Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Batman!

In fact, I watched so many old movies as a child that my second screen crush was Ava Gardner;

 

[xipotec]

Understandable. You are younger.



And even younger.



First crushes are very telling about a man's viewing preferences. Because they place him in time.

I think we are only a few years apart, but when it comes to hormones, those are some very formative years.......

I forgot I Dream of Jeanie ......that show was exhibitionist as hell.


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[TheDucky]

As a slight tangent, but still relevant to this all encompassing PT/OT and ST (peeyousey) thread. I'd be interested to hear everyone's first experience of Star Wars, in particular those of us here who are the younglings and were not luckily enough to experience the OT in the cinema.

For me, I distinctly remember reading this rubbish young kids novel called 'The Wednesday Wizard'. It was about a sorcerer's apprentice who accidentally magic'd himself into the 'future' (it was classic fish out of water adventure story... very high brow stuff). One of the scenes involved the modern day kid sitting the wizard kid down in front of a tv and what should come on but this amazing space adventure called Star Wars. The book went on to describe moments from A New Hope from the opening crawl to the star destroyer and vader and then the heroes. I was reading this thinking 'holy smoke batman' but this Star Wars story sounds amazing and better than this trash I'm reading! It was meta guys you will have to trust me.

My mum was really into me reading stuff because I was slow to engage with reading and writing and preferred to run around in circles playing with toys (nothing has changed). So she would ask me questions about the books I was reading to check I was actually reading them haha. Well I got onto describing this Star Wars adventure in the book and I distinctly remember saying to her that it would be amazing if that was real (thinking it was made up for the book). And then just like Vader revealing to Luke that he was his father, my mum revealed to me that Star Wars was a thing ... I mean what the hell, how'd I get that far through my life not knowing about it haha.

As you would imagine, I was desperate to see Star Wars and as luck would have it the SE were just about to be released in the cinema so my mum took me to see ANH and my life changed (I still remember the roar of the Falcon which literally shook our seats). We managed to obtain the original version of Empire and Jedi on VHS and I watched them until the tapes disintegrated.

Until the PT came along I consumed all of the EU Star Wars novels (which you know pleased my mum because I was reading books haha) and I still have them. Kenner POTF2 toys were my life (but I had to be real choosy because my parents could not afford many, Jedi Luke, Han, Fett and imperials were my bag).

When TPM came around I was super excited. I must have been the right age because it just came together for me and I loved it. I even had my hair cut like padawan Obi haha (although I wasn't allowed those braids and pony tail bit thank god). And much like the Harry Potter films, the PT seemed to grow with me getting more adult with each instalment and seemingly complimenting my age at the time of release.

To the pure OT'ers this might be hard to understand but the PT and OT are equal to me.

It would be cool to hear others experiences and share what drew you into this crazy world from a time long ago in galaxy far far away

Saw TPM in theaters as a kid before seeing the OT. My mom brought me because it was a big event. She wasn’t even a Star Wars fan, although she watched the OT at drive ins, so she kind of knew a little. Didn’t really get it and neither did she, didn’t have anyone who could really explain it. Watched them all again, starting with Episode 1, in like 2006, when I saw them on TV, and loved them. Probably helped that I was older. Immediately bought the DVDs and watched them all again. Then I watched them again. Bought toys, video games, books, and comics and consumed everything I could. Loved reading the Dark Horse Republic/Clone Wars comics, Republic Commando Series, and other Clone Wars novels. I still remember opening up the huge box from BBTS early in the morning and ripping through dozens and dozens of figures... probably one of my most vivid memories.

Thankfully I got in when all the ROTS and 30th Anniversary Figures were releasing. Then came all The Clone Wars stuff and TVC stuff. Was so much fun shopping for new Star Wars figures. I’ll never forget how excited I was when freaking Kohl’s of all places had all the new waves of TVC stuff in. Ended up spending hundreds there. Then the same day Toysrus had their exclusive wave in and I lucked out and got that wave too. Still were a bunch of video games out at that time, loved playing Lego Star Wars TCS, Force Unleashed, Battlefront, etc... and all the Dark Horse Comic series. It’s probably why I love the PT so much because it was my first experience with Star Wars, it was what a lot of the merchandise was focusing on, I read all the PT books and comics first, etc...

Then started collecting 1/6th around 2014 I think... First purchases were SSC Vader and Yoda 1/6.

 

[Wor-Gar]

As a child I spent as much time watching the Marx Brothers, Universal Monsters and Hitchcock (where appropriate) as I did watching Star Wars, Raiders of the Lost Ark and Batman!

In fact, I watched so many old movies as a child that my second screen crush was Ava Gardner;

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Wow, that is not your usual young man's crush. If I go back it was always a toss up between Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Of course there was also Raquel Welch when I was very young, she was basically the Jessica Rabbit in real life at one time (I think the movie was 1M Years BC -- which was already 10 years old by the time I saw it on TV). Also that damn Catwoman, Julie Newmar... actually I think it was Newmar first, and then I actually thought Welch was Newmar at a certain age.

 

[The Buffinator]

Wow, that is not your usual young man's crush. If I go back it was always a toss up between Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn. Of course there was also Raquel Welch when I was very young, she was basically the Jessica Rabbit in real life at one time (I think the movie was 1M Years BC -- which was already 10 years old by the time I saw it on TV). Also that damn Catwoman, Julie Newmar... actually I think it was Newmar first, and then I actually thought Welch was Newmar at a certain age.

Grace Kelly was on my list, especially after seeing her in Rear Window for the first time. And of course there was lovely Raquel. 1M Years BC is better known, but watching her in Fathom on late night TV is what I remember rather fondly.



The other one that did it for me was early 1950s Liz Taylor. I never understood her popularity when I was young, then I saw her in Ivanhoe