What does Star Wars mean to you?

War among the Stars.

Not like Morgan Freeman fighting Christopher Walken, but the other kind.

 

I've got . . .your cowbell . . . right here oleman.

Wow big question. I remember being 8 or 9 and camping out in my friends backyard and we went through what we remembered as the full dialouge of ROTJ.

If I said more about what it means to me personally this would descend into religious and political debate.

 

no Movie has effected me quite like Star Wars. its personal. its deep. we all love it, and that community gives us the opportunity to love it all the more. i may have simplified it here. I find it dificult to put into words how much it really means.i know you all feel the same.

 

When RotJ came out, my mom took me to Ontario place. It was a really big theatre.....I think the biggest there was at the time. It was an all day event, showing all three movies. Breaks in between to go on the rides. She took me to buy a Chewbacca figure the next day. My mom is still awsome (tear runs down cheek).

 

It was the first film I remember ever watching. It was a great part of my childhood,and it still is a film series I can be passionate about.

 

Star Wars has been a constant for me in my life. It's not just a film for me. It's my hobby. My hobby is watching and dreaming about Star Wars. I watch at least 1 of the 6 every week without fail. People come and go but Star Wars has always been there for me during tough times and during great times. When Anakin went from being this goofy kid (not unlike me) to being a serious guy who was considered successful it reminded me that I could do the same and I could be just as good and successful as he was (minus the killing people and stuff). Everytime I watch the original trilogy I am brought back to the Millennium Falcon sitting with Han Solo, Chewie, Luke, Obi-Wan, and C-3PO and R2D2 on the way to Alderaan. Everytime I see the "I am your father" scene I get goose bumps. It's amazing how well these films aged. I love the franchise because it is one thing that I love that so many other people love and it's so easy to share that love for the films with other people who enjoy them just as much.

I've been obsessed with Star Wars as long as I can remember.

 

We're starting with memories?

So, I was born in '79, which is frustrating. It's been there for me my whole life, but I wasn't part of the people lucky enough to see any of the films in theaters, and didn't get that until the '97 special editions.

My first Star Wars memory is going to sound like b.s., but when I was 3 or 4, I lived in the Portland (Oregon) area, and my parents went to a friends house. To entertain me, I was placed in front of a tv and set up with some "sword and sorcery" movie. Whatever it was (I think "Excaliber," '81), it scared the hell out of me, so they put on another movie for me. Mind you, this was '83 or '84, and Beta/vhs weren't that common yet. The second movie was Star Wars (No number), and the scene that is forever etched in my mind was R2 and Threepio walking by the skeleton in the desert. The odd part was that I always remembered seeing Luke looking up at the Battle between the Tantive 4 and the Star Destroyer, as well as scenes with Biggs as Toshe Station. Growing up, it always bothered me that I remembered those scenes, but never saw them again.

I hate to admit it, but even though I was a Star Wars nut (I had all the little-kiddy movie/books on tape), and got whatever Star Wars stuff I was lucky enough to find at garage sales and Thrift shops (even in the mid-late 80's the used toys were selling for a premium), I was more of a G.I. Joe fanatic--better articulation. My collection obsession did not start until around '96, with Shadows of the Empire, but dwindled pretty quickly due to what I perceived as pretty spotty writing, thought I liked some of the books. Some were a major turn-off. The articulation in those toys sorta sucked, too, but I still have 'em. It was Phantom Menace that really got me going though, and getting a "Preview" STAP with a battle-droid that kicked off the buying spree I maintained until 2008 or so--over 100 clone and storm troopers (over 200 figs in total), and all of the most iconic ships. I finally calmed down, when I realized I was hooked on "plastic-crack," and only buy a few figures a year now, if that.

I also love the Dark horse comics (buy them in omnibus of graphic novel form), and the tech manuals... god, I love those, and Wookieepedia.

What's it all mean, though?

It's a escape, to me. It's a Galaxy where bad stuff still happens, but good people can stick by their guns and make a positive change. It's a place where redemption happens, and love can conquer all. It's exciting, both visually, and mentally; it's a place where I can dream using a format others share. In a lot of ways, it shaped me being a writer, and made me get into film.

Like PoeReymi said, it's a place I can go when I am having tough times.