May the 4th be with you!

 

May the 4th be with you!
5 May 2014

Today is International Star Wars day.  A day dedicated to the brilliance that is George Lucas and the Star Wars phenomenon.  What’s not to love?

Firstly, it’s all in the pronunciation.  It kind of came about by accident.  On the 4^th of May 1979, Margaret Thatcher, took office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.  And in honour of this momentous occasion, her political party, the Conservatives, placed a big advertisement of congratulations in The London Evening News, that stated, "May the Fourth Be with You, Maggie. Congratulations”.  This is a documented and well known fact.

And somehow, that was all that it took.  Just like that – awareness was created.

And so, one can never say it’s the 4^th of May.  It sounds so arb.  So normal.  So earthly and grounded.  Instead, in a nod to the famous Star Wars line, “May the force be with you”, on the 4^th of May every year, people started saying to one another, “May the 4^th be with you!”.

I love it!  So quirky and funny.

It also just so happens that I’m a really big Star Wars fan.  Since I was just a little chillun and the Star Wars empire was born.  I’ve watched the various movies again and again.  The bit of eye candy on the side, also helped a lot.  Come one – let’s be real.  Who didn’t fancy Luke Skywalker?  He’s a bit of all right.  Is there really any coincidence that my eldest son is called Luke (a child who also happens to absolutely love the series)?  And the bad boy?  Well, everyone likes a bad boy.  A rebel, if you like.  No, not Darth Vader – perish the thought.  I’m talking Han Solo.  Liked him a lot too.  In fact, still do to this day.

I love the Jedi’s.  Their lightsabers.  The clothing.  The music.  The character names.  The little robots – R2-D2 and C3PO.  The wise Yoda.  Chewbacca.  You name it, I like it.

And big up to the creators of Star Wars.  They had serious long term vision.  Why else would they do the funny backwards-forwards thing with the movie series?  It’s actually pretty genius.  In the late 70’s and early 80’s, they released a trilogy of Star Wars movies.  Numbered from four to six.  Really weird.  But they clearly had a bigger plan.  Because in 2005, they released the first movie, from the second trilogy.  That actually came before the first trilogy.  Even though it was only released later. Written later.  With movies numbered from one to three.  Got it?  Very confusing actually.

Don’t know how they kept it together.  But it somehow worked.  And exceptionally well too.

Wonder if we’ll see a further trilogy in the future?  Maybe before the first?  Or after the second?  Or maybe even in between.  Nothing is impossible.

Anyway, even if they don’t, I still get enjoyment from the old old ones.  And the new old ones?  The cinematography for the whole series was revolutionary.  Creative.  Innovative.  And ground breaking.

Basically it was WOW!!!

 

And so, in time honoured Star Wars tradition, I’d like to say, “May the 4^th be with you!”.

Followed by a “Revenge of the Fifth tomorrow”.  If you’re a fan, you’ll most certainly understand.

(Btw – my computer was otherwise engaged last night, with our computer techie doing online updates etc., via his computer, and so I was unable to post my story on the actual 4^th of May.  And thus I’ve already been the “lucky” recipient of the “Revenge of the Fifth”.  Which is kind of funny in a way.  Or not!)

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