Like, a long time.
We've been through seven Presidents Of The United States in that time, four different James Bond actors, the entire runs of TV shows like Breaking Bad, The Sopranos and Law & Order in that four decades of time. So many people have come and gone, so much has been lost and gained, but there Star Wars stands, like a lighthouse in the fog of reality, always standing, always shining, always providing clarity even in the midst of tragedy. It's always residing there as this pop culture institution children love and adults will enjoy both watching on its own terms and similarly enjoy passing onto the next generation.
It may sound like I'm being overly hyperbolic but I'm seriously amazed at the stamina this series has provided over the years. Sixteen years pass between Return Of The Jedi and The Phantom Menace and not only does the fandom not diminish, it grows through one generation passing the torch to another. Despite the hugely negative reception the Prequel trilogy garnered, The Force Awakens managed to be one of the biggest movies of all-time and a glorious treat that worked like gangbusters instead of just being a quick nostalgia buzz. Why is that? Why has this universe endured for so long while other seemingly unstoppable at the time pop culture juggernauts have languished in obscurity and/or derision?
I think it's simple really; Star Wars has gone beyond just being a movie. These characters have resonated with people on such a deep level for decades now that they've become more legendary figures akin to figures found in Shakespeare or classic literature than just fixtures from a 1970's sci-fi movie. And why wouldn't they be? The best individuals in these features are so well-formed and so interesting that they go beyond just being a funny robot or a smart-aleck space pirate. In a universe of crazily stylized battles and gadgets, there are human beings at the center of the best Star Wars movies. In the very first one of these Star Wars movies, maybe my favorite moment illustrates this point clearly.
The moment I'm talking about comes just before the Rebel fighters are heading off to take down the Death Star. R2-D2 is firmly placed in Luke Skywalkers ship, ready to help him with any combat that lies ahead. Right before they leave though, C-3PO walks up to the ship and calls to R2-D2. "You be careful out there R2. You wouldn't want my life to get boring owuld you!" After a whole movie of these particular two characters engaging in humorous bickering, we get to see the way C-3PO cares for his little robotic companion which gets only further illustrated in a touching moment later on after the battle and see's a damaged R2 and passionately offers any of his own parts to help fix his buddy. That's the kind of nuanced realistic friendship, one filled with joking insults, strife and dedication to one another, that makes the world of Star Wars such a captivating place to be.
The fact that the two most recent Star Wars movies (The Force Awakens and Rogue One) have been able to craft their own newly created and engaging characters is a major reason why those new films have been able to catch on with a public that mostly forgot all about the Prequels and their disposable at best characters the moment they finished watching those movies. Rey, Jyn Erso, Chirrut Imwe, Finn, Poe Dameron, Bodhi, K-2SO, these are names people already not only recognize as Star Wars characters but can recite their favorite lines of dialogue these individuals had in their respective movies and what particular moments they were involved in that touched them on an emotional level. I know I sure can!
I got to experience the phenomenon of these new Star Wars characters already having etched a place in the heart of a new generation on my screening of Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2 three weeks ago today which was preceded by a trailer for Star Wars: The Last Jedi. The first second Rey showed up in that trailer, a little girl towards the back of the theater excitedly yelled "IT'S STAR WARS!!!". If that ain't heartwarming, I don't know what is. A brand new character like Rey is already not only the face of Star Wars for a whole generation of kids but a face they're oh so eager to see. That's what happens when you make well-rounded individuals like Rey that adhere to the sublimely crafted and relatable characters found in the best Star Wars movies, which place individuals we can all relate to and find engaging in situations and locations filled with science-fiction wonderment. Those are the kind of elements that keep a series like Star Wars in people's hearts and minds for 40 years now and countless decades to come.
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