Star Wars: George Lucas’s Star Wars film franchise is a landmark in cinematic history. It was an innovative film, not just for its time but also – and more importantly- since it established high standards to which others have been judged or judged by ever since; whether they were made in homage (The Princess Bride) dreaded because it would be expected at this stage (Fight Club). The science fiction films of the past were typically B-grade material, with poor use of special effects rather than being credible.
One film stands out among all others when it comes down to blockbuster movies. Damnation Alley was a film about a nuclear apocalypse that inspired many individuals and companies. If you compare this movie to Star Wars, you can understand why they invested so little on production value. 20th Century Fox cost the film $17 million, which is a lot in comparison. The current estimates of LucasFilm are at 170M or less. The making of Damnation Alley was not without the difficulties. The most significant issue was that post-production adjustments caused massive damage that was difficult to reverse in the prior to the invention of videotapes.
This is an excellent illustration of the power at work. While the tone of voice should remain professional, I am going to diverge from the topic for a mere 2 minutes. Star Wars’ impact on the film industry and cinema is unlike any other movie. Star Wars not only promoted merchandising as no other movie has done (even though lightsabers were added), but also made these gadgets so popular that employee ownership skyrocketed.
The lightsaber fashion that swept the nation like wildfire brought new markets to the market and drove major sales growth. Because of the popularity of these toys among kids across the nation, retail prices continued their upward trend. Master Replica’s FX Force Lightsabers became perfected versions and were soon available in America.
What is it that makes the lightsaber an extremely popular toy? There were a lot of different Star Wars toys to choose from after all. This one was different because it evoked olden memories in us, when knights rode along on horses, swinging swords like Excalibur (although this is not how it happened). Lucas made the Jedi Order of Knighthoods a committed organization that was able to defeat evil with lightsabers. There is no doubt about it you can’t beat the old school.
The lightsaber’s coolness factor and the unique feature that it can be expanded to become an extension of your self through Force is what made it stand apart from other sci-fi weapon. This blade makes you one. The mythology is similar to Samurai warriors who were forced by their parents to have skilled hands and feet. The blades need a certain level of skill to be used effectively.
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