Survey: Why Star Wars?

[huttslime]

What caught you onto Star Wars or what was the first thing that you heard about/knew about it? Did you see it in 1977? Where in the VHS generation? Or are you a Prequel guy?

I think the first time I heard of Star Wars was in 1999 with TPM. After that I saw AOTC and then I got more into the OT and EU. In the end there was ROTS and here I am now. Sucked in.
I remember that that cinema that I first saw Star Wars in had a large model of the Millenium Falcon hanging there. Probably 2-3 meters wide. I didn't know what it was back then, but now I do.

I feel like I studied Star Wars like one of my school classes in 2004.

[Fallen One]

Late eighties I remember seeing the trilogy but that was it I was not into it what so ever I did not see TPM, AOTC or ROTS when they came out I did not understand SW and didnt care til one late night about 7 months ago ROTS came on HBO. Nothing was on I remember hearing this is where Anakin becomes Darth so I said what the hell. I was so Blown away by it I watched it again the next night it came on I recorded it on DVR and Have watched it at least 13 times. I then went out bought the whole deal all six, Ep3 game for xbox, Kotor, Kotor2, ep3 graphic novel, clone wars comic series tons of other things. I'm just completely ate up with SW, ROTS really help me understand the story and is credited with giving me a love for SW.>

[huttslime]

What a story! Did you buy all that at once?

[Fallen One]

What a story! Did you buy all that at once?Over two weekends:lol:I told you ate up with it... The graphic novel of ROTS is tremendous...

[Sarah-Leia]

One day my mum said (this was at the very end of '05) 'Do you want to watch Star Wars' and I'm like, 'Fine." So I watched them in the real order, 4,5,6,1,2,3 and I loved it!!! I begged my mum to go out and buy the ROTS DVD the moment AOTC was over.
But I didn't like EP I.
So I'm the Special Edition generation.

[Jedi Master Harrison]

I can't remember which way around but I saw ANH on TV, probably when I was 5 or 6 and quite enjoyed it, I saw TESB at the cinema, when I was about 6. And that did it for me, I loved the Snowspeeders, Taun Tauns, AT-ATs and most of all Luke's ability to make objects come to him. So from that time on I collected as many figures as I could. My Dad spent hours trying to find the ones I didn't have in London toyshops! :)

I also saw ROTJ in the cinema but was a bit disappointed as I find that the Jabba the Hutt scene goes on for just a bit too long (rather like the race in TPM). But I still loved the characters. I suppose then I would have got into my teens and lost interest in collecting figures and would have only occassionally watched the films when they were on terrestrial TV.

Then, years later out came the PT. I went to the cinema to see TPM but it left me feeling disappointed and I think it is hard to get to grips with so many new characters after one watching, but I didn't go to see it again as it didn't excite me first time around. I nearly didn't see AOTC at the cinema but went in its last week of being on and loved it so much I went 3 more times that week! Apart from love scenes that were just vomitous, SW was really back! When ROTS came out I went 5 times in the first week and felt so satisfied that the story had been completed after 22 years for me!

In 2006 Sky TV showed each film 4-6 and then 1-3 during six weeks and I watched them all tons of times. Initially I was really interested in understanding the politics behind the PT and understanding the characters. Then my love of the OT re-blossomed. Every time I hear the initial sequence music I get a shiver down my spine.

Now, I am just SW mad, I just love how it entertains me, how it makes me think and having joined the GS, how it brings people together. So I am now starting to read EU books to hopefully heighten the experience. Recently I watched the entire Saga in one sitting and it was a great day. Whatever anyone says I will still always hope that the films 7-9 will be made, as I heard GL had ideas for 9 films when I was very young. So the short answer? Because it is GREAT!

[huttslime]

I agree with the jabba scene, it seems like half the movie. I wish that I had been alive in 1977 to see the original, but now I have the O-OT. I hope you have fun reading the EU books, there is so much to read. It would take quite some time to read it all!

[sharyntyre]

I saw the orginal in the theater back in 1977, Darth Vader was twenty feet tall, me a runny nosed kid sitting front row. (yes I am that old, just young enough to still remember it, barely) I was hooked from the opening scene.

TPM bumbed me out, it was what all sequels hope not to be, I wanted to throw up when they kept calling Skywalker ani. While Maul looked cool, he was not fit to polish Vader's boots. The other two prequels were much better, I got tired of the love scenes, but I do think they were important to the story. I saw ROTS 3 times in the theater.

I love most of the EU (minus comics) but I only read the first couple of NJO books, so far. Stay way from the courtship of princess leia and splinter of the minds eye. IMHO the worst of the EU offerings by far, Darksaber was weak too.

I am still a rookie at the whole SW Fanfic and RPG, but it is very exciting to be dabbling in that 'reality' after years of writing in pure fantasy and Wheel of Time settings. Makes me wish I had started with the Star Wars sooner.

[thepepgal]

I saw SW in the cinema back in 1977 as a 9 year old. From that point I was hooked. My parents didn't approve of SW toys so I wasn't allowed to have any but I was allowed the novels since reading was good.

I was teased as a kid for being a female who liked scifi. So I rarely discussed my love for it. It was only when the special editions came out in 1997 that people wanted to discuss the films with me since I was seen as the expert.

My husband encourage me with my collection because he believe I should enjoy my interest. So in 1991 I finally got my 1978 remote controlled R2D2 that I wanted as a kid.

My collection is so big now I have 1/3 of a floor in my house to show it off. :happydance:

[92se-r]

I remember watching RotJ at the theater. That got me hooked. granted I was only like 5 or 6, but my cousin and I had all the books with records, yes LP's, and toys and everything else. Darth Vader has always been my favorite character.

through the years I have seen all the changes to the stories. From watching the movies on VHS to the re-release of the Special Editions. I went to go see the PT's in the theater and about cried during RotS. (and getting me to even begin to tear up takes a bit.)

I have recently started writing fanfic for the first time, and have been doing more research into the SW universe because of it.

[Jedi Master Harrison]

My husband encourage me with my collection because he believe I should enjoy my interest. So in 1991 I finally got my 1978 remote controlled R2D2 that I wanted as a kid.

My collection is so big now I have 1/3 of a floor in my house to show it off. :happydance:

Remote controlled Artoo? Cool!

Have you got any pics of your collection, I think there's a thread for that but I don't remember seeing your collection in it?

[thepepgal]

Remote controlled Artoo? Cool!

Have you got any pics of your collection, I think there's a thread for that but I don't remember seeing your collection in it?

I actually have 2 remote controlled R2 (the 1978 and the new 2006 one).

As soon as I finish organising it into an order I like, I will take photos. I still have boxes to open where they have been stored.

[flo fett]

I got into Star Wars way back in 1982. I was only 4 and my two male cousins who I used to hang around with were into it big style having seen the first two films at the cinema. They had cool toys and I was allowed to join in, they went a bit posh and got a video player and I finally got to see the first two films a few months before ROTJ came out. I went with them to see it in the cinema (it was my first ever trip to the movies) and I was captivated. I was a tombiy anyway so my mother didn't bother when I wanted SW toys instead of dolls and my obsession was shared by my cousins so there was plenty of lightsabre duels going on. I've never had anyone make fun of me because of it, most guys through my life have thought it was cool, and most girls have thought it was the least weird thing about me. I was intrigued by the bountyhunters straight off but my obsession with Boba Fett really took off with the comics and a mail away boba fett figure I was given by a friend.

I've never looked back

Boba Fett for ever!!! WOOT! :w00t:

[Ripley]

I don't really remember when I started watching Star Wars, although I have a preschool memory of becoming quite angry when the library's copy of Return of the Jedi broke. I started reading the EU some time in sixth or seventh grade, but starting seeing major holes in the novels late sophomore year before I essentially stopped reading them the beginning of senior year (the likely soon to be English major in me recoils in terror at the memories of clunky exposition, gimmicky writing, and full names). The comic branch got me into that medium, and I still read them from time to time- although I do not follow them religiously.

[nea200pl]

...In 2006 Sky TV showed each film 4-6 and then 1-3 during six weeks and I watched them all tons of times...

Same me :happydance:- my partner was going mad!
I saw Star Wars for the first time in 1992, when I was 12. It was a horrible copy on VCR with very bad translation but I was hooked straight away. I loved the story and all characters.
SW movies have everything I like: from action and romance to heroes, villains and secrets. Besides I was always keen on galaxies, space travel and technology.
Now 15 years on and I enjoy it more than ever - they are the only movies I can watch each time like for the first time.

[Salacious Crumb]

I got into Star Wars around 7 or 8 years old. A friend of mine brought the Millenium Falcon and I was dumb struck. I loved the whole secret smuggling compartment and the 'Jedi Training Ball?' thing. It was pure magic for me :)

My first film was ESB, again around the 7 or 8 years old mark I think. I was captivated throughout the film, from seeing the Taun-Tauns run across the snow to the 'I am your Father' climax. I still remember, that I kept pestering my parents days, if not months afterwards, wanting them to re-assure me it was a lie. I think I wanted Luke's Dad to be either Obi-Wan or Boba Fett.

I think I had to watch ANH on VHS tape. I loved everything about it. Especially the opening scene of the Tantive IV passing overhead and thinking, WOW this is great and then just 'flipping out' when the Star Destroyer came after it, about 4 times the size! :happydance:

The one I remember most vividly is ROTJ. My family went upto Odeon Marble Arch in London and booked tickets for our family and my cousin's. I loved that film too. The only disappointment was when Boba Fett died (sorry EU people, to me he's gone :wink:) in the Sarlaac so early. I also cried toward the end when I thought Luke was going to die, very upsetting for me, as I was still used to the '...and they lived happily ever after' type films. Those three climaxes for me, were such a fitting end, at that time for me, and I don't think I have seen any film do it better. The battle of Endor, Attack on Death Star 2 and the Final showdown in the Throne Room. Just pure cinematic magic, perfect end for me.

I collected all the toys I could. Thanks to having an Aunt who lived in Boston, I was lucky to get the American version of the X-Wing sent to me, with the red buzzer light on the nose and opening wings when you press R2 down. I don't think we ever had that initially released in the UK, could be wrong though.

I loved all the figures. I remember Bib Fortuna and the Gamorreon Guard were very, very hard to get. There was always a blank space on the rails where they should have been. I got them eventually though, alas I never kept the boxes though - there goes my pension fund - LOL. I remember having to cut out about 50 names on the boxes of figures and send away to get Niem Numb. Oh almost forgot the first character I got was Han Solo - Bespin outfit - I think they called it. The one with the navy jacket!

I still collect odds and ends now and know I will soon have to sll my figures, which will be a sad day. Kinda like saying goodbye to your inner child.

I buy some Star Wars PC games - hardly have time to play them though. Tried to get into SW galaxies, but after the initial wow factor of buying property on Naboo and getting married to a beautiful Twil'lek, I left.

I enjoyed the PT also. I wouldn't say I was 'blown away'. The disappointment for me was probably knowing I would never 'feel' like that little 8 year old boy again, ever, and I had to deal with that.

Star Wars will always be 'cinema' for me though. The characters, locations and battles were magic. Many will imitate, but I don't think any will better. Star Wars I salute thee :bow:

[Darill Cyllem]

I was 7 years old and ANH was on HBO and my parents wanted to watch it. That was it. I was done. I loved Star Wars.
A few years later, I discovered that there were MORE movies! ESB and ROTJ. It was like Christmas came early and we rented them both the same weekend.
I got hooked on the EU when Zahn's Heir to the Empire came out. I have read nearly all the (adult) novels (of course, some I like quite a bit more than others).
I went through a slump between TPM and AOTC and a bit after AOTC because I didn't like them as well as the OT, but then i got back into my fan fic and read the NJO series... and now here i am....
:yoda: