In A Galaxy Far, Far Away – Growing Up with Star Wars
By Samera Iqbal
It is no wonder that series like Harry Potter have changed the lives of many people. Especially years after its release, in a time when film and TV dominate our lives. 20 years later, Harry Potter still affects us all. Yet every individual has that certain character or certain film that has changed their lives. For me, it was Star Wars that made me the sci-fi fan that I am today.
I remember my dad dragging me to watch one of the prequel movies as a child. Back then, I just enjoyed the stories and I liked the action. Star Wars was full of that, and it gave me a connection with my dad that no other movie could do.
What most attracted me when I first watched the entire series, and still does, is probably the fictional world it is set in. There is a clear sense of good and evil, with the Jedi and the Siths and the customs play a large role in the stories itself. Every detail required a lot of creativity and effort, like a novel. The fact that George Lucas has managed to maintain this throughout the series, with decades between each trilogy, is commendable. Now as I write sci-fi, I look back at Star Wars to see how each story has been crafted into the fictional world, so that I can try to create something as believable.
A fact about the originals – the designer created tiny spacecrafts and paintings to trick the viewer into believing life-size characters were battling in space. Although now there are clear differences, it has made me appreciate the determination to push the limits of the cinematic world. Not just because the story would be told for generations, but because Lucas created it with limited recourses compared to today. It goes to show that nothing is impossible with the right mindset.
Ultimately, Star Wars is a franchise that will capture the hearts of sci-fi fans for eternity. Now, as the recent trilogy continues, my siblings get an opportunity to connect with generations before them.
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