Actually, I have a hard time understanding how a blind person could
appreciate Star Wars. The writing was poor. The dialog was stilted. It
was on the level of a Buck Rogers comic strip. I am very glad that I saw
it before losing my eyesight though. The special effects were absolutely
fantastic. Visually it had to have been the most spectacular movie I
have ever seen. And no amount of description can possibly convey that
visual experience.
On 8/14/2016 11:09 AM, Carl Jarvis wrote:
Kenny Baker, who played the beloved droid R2-D2 in the "Star Wars"
films, died Saturday after battling a long illness,
according to reports.
He was 81.
This news caused me to think back to the afternoon I took my two
youngest children to see Star Wars. Cathy was ill, so I figured she
could use a little peace and quiet. We walked down the hill to the
Roxy Theatre in the heart of Renton. I realized I was in for a real
thrill when the curtain rose and the surround sound came up with
amazing volume, causing my ear drums to tingle. The kids were
thrilled. An evening with Dad...actually it was the hot buttered
popcorn, the ice-cream bonbons and the several trips to the rest
rooms.
I remember thinking at the time that what I was being subjected to was
a Grade B Western set in the future. But I basked in the thrill and
excitement of my youngsters.
It wasn't until long years later that I understood what was really
bothering me about Star Wars and it's several subsequent clones. It
was this portrayal of a future that was even more messed up than the
world I was now living in. At one level Star Wars was just good fun.
But at another level it was a warning of what we might expect if we
continued down our present road, and survived. We could expect to
find dictators, royalty, good guys in white, and evil guys in black.
Nothing had improved, except the tools with which we wiped one another
out.
Well R2-D2, may you rest in peace, and may we never see that wild
imaginary universe in which you lived.
Carl Jarvis
