The Force is Strong in This One

Been wondering about the enduring appeal of the Star Wars films. Not everyone loves them of course but they still have a fascination nearly 30 years after they first hit our screens. I remember seeing the first one in 1976 and being physically shaken by the appearance of the giant space cruiser rumbling into the top right of the screen in the opening Scene. Such pleasures are almost unimaginable now. How often do we really see a special effect and think "Wow, that is special!" But despite our jaded palates, the Star Wars films still appeal and with The Clone Wars TV series and the Disney re-boot, the franchise continues to re-invent itself. Yes, it's a triunph of marketing but I think it also tells us something about the power of Story (with a captital S)and the enduring appeal of mythic battles between good & evil (even with some hokey philosophy thrown in). Let's face it, a franchise that can survive the awfulness of a character like Jar Jar Binks, has got to have something pretty special.