Why people see decades old movie classics on the big screen again after so many decades is a question I have never had to ask. The answer is obvious.
Sure, they can watch them on their VCRs at home, but the experience is different seeing it inside a dark auditorium watching a newly refurbished print of the film in digital stereo surround sound. When the words “additional footage,” “director’s cut,” or “Special Edition” are mentioned, the statement is more than enough to bring curious moviegoers to the box office.
Such was the case in recent months with the re-releases and box office successes of the Star Wars trilogy and “The Godfather” (1972) which was enjoying a limited run in one theater in forty cities nationwide that included Dallas.
In some twisted way it seemed, “Don” Vito Corleone, as played by Marlon Brando, had some sort of moral standards even if he was a gangster. Yes, he gave the public what they wanted when it came to prostitution, gambling, and alcohol but drugs was another matter. Don Corleone wanted no part in the business because the illegal product would be sold to children. A wise but fatal decision that made all the dominoes fall for this criminal enterprise.
Seems the Corleone's were the heroes or anti-heroes of the film and the drug dealers and the “five families” who were the villains. This “Dark Side of the Force” that’s constantly referred to in the Star Wars trilogy.
Society battles this “dark side” every day. We see it in the newspapers and on the nightly news that cover stories about terrorism, murder, greed, etc.
“Is the dark side stronger,” Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) asks his mentor Yoda, the green pointy eared goblin with the voice of Grover, dark blue monster Muppet from Sesame Street (1969) in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
“No,” the wise old Jedi master says. “Quicker, easier, and more seductive. But beware, anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
How will Luke know the difference between the good side and the bad? The answer is vague, but Yoda tells him he will know.
“NO. Do or do not,” Yoda tells Luke. “There is no TRY.”
And if one doesn’t believe he or she can finish what they set out to do? They can simply refer back to what Yoda said to Luke after using “The Force” to manually fly his X-wing fighter from the swamp.
“That is why you fail.”
Perhaps people wanted to see “The Godfather” again not just because it had a great story and astounding performances. Maybe it is because they can relate to the wedding celebrations and first communions the Corleone family held at the beginning of every film. Maybe it is those Sunday dinners the family held with all the relatives in attendance. Perhaps it is the fact brothers Sonny, Michael, Fredo, their sister Connie and adopted brother, Tom Hagen, all looked out for one another. Or maybe it is because people wished their families had the same traits and traditions.
Aside from the engaging story of good versus evil in the Star Wars trilogy and eye-popping special effects, the question still remains. Is the force still with us after twenty years? Barbara Walters asked Harrison Ford who played Han Solo in the classic trilogy the same question on Oscar night last month.
The answer Ford gave, much like that mystical “Force” director George Lucas created, was unique. We all have a hidden “force” in ourselves.
"When it was fashionable to say, "May the Force be with you," I always said, "Force yourself," Ford said. "I'll say it again then, "“The force is within you. FORCE yourself.”
It was, after all, Darth Vader who said never underestimate "the Force."
©4/23/97
Sure, they can watch them on their VCRs at home, but the experience is different seeing it inside a dark auditorium watching a newly refurbished print of the film in digital stereo surround sound. When the words “additional footage,” “director’s cut,” or “Special Edition” are mentioned, the statement is more than enough to bring curious moviegoers to the box office.
Such was the case in recent months with the re-releases and box office successes of the Star Wars trilogy and “The Godfather” (1972) which was enjoying a limited run in one theater in forty cities nationwide that included Dallas.
As I watched “The Godfather” and in particular, “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) known officially as “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” last month, I realized something more about these movies I didn’t notice watching them all those years on video. Both films’ underlying themes apply today.The theme “The Godfather” got across in all three films that was especially apparent in the original was family. I am not talking about the Mafia though that was the central part of all three films. It was that this Sicilian crime family was so close knit.
In some twisted way it seemed, “Don” Vito Corleone, as played by Marlon Brando, had some sort of moral standards even if he was a gangster. Yes, he gave the public what they wanted when it came to prostitution, gambling, and alcohol but drugs was another matter. Don Corleone wanted no part in the business because the illegal product would be sold to children. A wise but fatal decision that made all the dominoes fall for this criminal enterprise.
Seems the Corleone's were the heroes or anti-heroes of the film and the drug dealers and the “five families” who were the villains. This “Dark Side of the Force” that’s constantly referred to in the Star Wars trilogy.
Society battles this “dark side” every day. We see it in the newspapers and on the nightly news that cover stories about terrorism, murder, greed, etc.
“Is the dark side stronger,” Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) asks his mentor Yoda, the green pointy eared goblin with the voice of Grover, dark blue monster Muppet from Sesame Street (1969) in “The Empire Strikes Back.”
“No,” the wise old Jedi master says. “Quicker, easier, and more seductive. But beware, anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny.”
How will Luke know the difference between the good side and the bad? The answer is vague, but Yoda tells him he will know.
Could it be then the difference between the good and the “dark side of the force” has to do with morals and how people are brought up by their parents?On the other hand, this “force” could be interpreted as the desire to have confidence and the belief in oneself. The belief you should finish what you started. If you want to lose weight, finish college, or whatever, one shouldn’t say they’ll try.
“NO. Do or do not,” Yoda tells Luke. “There is no TRY.”
And if one doesn’t believe he or she can finish what they set out to do? They can simply refer back to what Yoda said to Luke after using “The Force” to manually fly his X-wing fighter from the swamp.
“That is why you fail.”
Perhaps people wanted to see “The Godfather” again not just because it had a great story and astounding performances. Maybe it is because they can relate to the wedding celebrations and first communions the Corleone family held at the beginning of every film. Maybe it is those Sunday dinners the family held with all the relatives in attendance. Perhaps it is the fact brothers Sonny, Michael, Fredo, their sister Connie and adopted brother, Tom Hagen, all looked out for one another. Or maybe it is because people wished their families had the same traits and traditions.
Aside from the engaging story of good versus evil in the Star Wars trilogy and eye-popping special effects, the question still remains. Is the force still with us after twenty years? Barbara Walters asked Harrison Ford who played Han Solo in the classic trilogy the same question on Oscar night last month.
The answer Ford gave, much like that mystical “Force” director George Lucas created, was unique. We all have a hidden “force” in ourselves.
"When it was fashionable to say, "May the Force be with you," I always said, "Force yourself," Ford said. "I'll say it again then, "“The force is within you. FORCE yourself.”
It was, after all, Darth Vader who said never underestimate "the Force."
©4/23/97
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