In your opinion, why is Star Wars the greatest?

It’s just fun. Enjoy it, don’t overthink it. Laugh at the silly parts, gasp at the exciting parts, enjoy the effects, and most importantly, PAY NO ATTENTION to the people who will tell you how stupid it is, or how much better this episode is than that one.
Go to town, have a binge weekend, make some great snacks, and settle in for an iconic film experience!

It’s a lighthearted retelling of classic fairytales in a sci-fi setting: princesses, knights, villains, jesters, rogues, wizards, little people, etc. The characters are fun and the acting is great. There is a ton of imagination that went into the universe with lots of delightful details. What’s not to love? Ok. the prequels were a letdown, but even those had great moments.

It is my understanding that Lucas created the concept of the “used future.” Prior to Star Wars movies set in the future (ok so technically Star Wars took place in the past, but whatever) always had this new and shiny feeling to them. Lucas recognized that just because something is futuristic doesn’t mean it wouldn’t be dirty, have wear and tear, or other signs of use. That’s one of the pioneering aspects to the series.

It is not. Star Trek beats the shit out of it. There are single Trek episodes that are better than the entire cinematic body of Star Wars.

Oh, and you’ll discover that lots of people want to compare Star Trek and Star Wars, even though the only connection between the two is the word “star” in the title. It’s like comparing apples and sofas.
@RandomlyRandomJunk, just enjoy!

It’s an amalgam of stolen scenes from much better science fiction stories by much better writers.

But yeah, Carrie Fisher is awesome.

I hate sand.

So did Paul Atreides. At first.

It’s fun for what it is – fantasy set in space. What it is not, however, is terribly original (it’s basically another retelling of ages old motifs that has been done a million times in various ways). Nor is it science fiction. Even the “a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…” bit spells out the fantasy/fairy tale nature of it. That part is basically their version of “once upon a time”.

A lot of us who have a certain fondness for it grew up with it. If you didn’t then you might not get the same feeling from it. That’s cool. Ether you like it or you don’t, not a big deal ether way.

Oh, but whatever you do – do not start with the prequels. Save those for absolute last if you must watch them.

@Seek Nice reference. I wonder how many people got it at first read?

Couldn’t say, @Rarebear, but when I think of a young man with mystical powers who lives with moisture farmers on a desert planet in a corrupt imperial galaxy, I think of Muad’dib.

@Rarebear, probably fewer than didn’t get it, at this point.

Hug Soft fluffy kittens

Anyone who knows “the base of the pillar” got that reference to the air to house Atreides. Best novel, but not the best film. Serenity was the best film.

I was 14 years old in 1977. The opening of Star Wars with the imperial ship going on and on and on and on was the most entertaining thing I have seen on a screen. Ever. The audience freaked out every time I saw it that summer (three times, at least)

It really was entirely different. I was a nerd kid, and I’d seen 2001 Space Odyssey half a dozen times. That was mind-blowing, too.

But Star Wars was on an entirely different level.

I don’t see the attraction for the novels and action figures and cosplay and the prequels and all that. I am not a Star Wars dork. But the original movie was really, really a big deal.

I am Jay’s age and I agree. I stood in line for hours.

Hey @Seek Check it out. (Unless you’re on my geek list then you already know)
http://boingboing.net/2017/02/01/arrivals-denis-villeneuve-to.html

@Rarebear

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…........................I’ll be in my bunk.

I think Star Wars is great when it presents an exciting and interesting adventure that conjures another galaxy full of interesting different things that are self-consistent and immersive. I think the first film did the best job of that, and the later films suffered from some issues, including struggling with perceived expectations, and eventually losing track of what made the first couple of films seem more real.

I think the original trilogy, and especially the first film, work very well.

I think the prequel trilogy makes many blunders, and is often painful to re-watch. Not too bad for just “more Star Wars” if you can manage not to pay too much attention to the flaws. But not really so good either, unless you’re just into Star Wars enough to overlook or delude yourself about the flaws.

(And then there’s the latest main film, episode VII, The Force Awakens, which is a weird reboot rehash of the first film but in a modern style that doesn’t care about timing or things making much sense, which drives me crazy that it doesn’t bother everyone as much as it bothers me… egad.)

@Zaku If they blow up yet another “Death Star” in VIII or IX, I’m probably going to have a rage-induced stroke.

Because they’re mighty fine comic book films & have no real competition, Trek is pure shite.

It needs m0ar xenomorph.

Loli the grump is correct. Star Trek is much more satisfying intellectually, but absolutely no sci-fi film before it can stand up visually to the first Star Wars movie. For codgers like myself who’ve spent a lifetime worshiping movies, it is impossible to relate the impact of that film when viewed for the first time. For those who’ve come of age or developed a passion for movies subsequent to the film’s release, I can tell you that the older I get, the more amazed I am to discover there are some unforeseen peculiar benefits that come with age. And from my point of reference no film in my lifetime has had a greater influence on the elevation of visual production standards than that single motion picture.

Awww, @ragingloli, I prefer Star Trek too but I feel no need to discourage Leah from watching Star Wars. Each show has its own pleasures, and to each his or her own taste, right?

What young people don’t understand is how profound Star Wars changed us back in the ‘70s. Even Star Trek had a quaintness and at that time was dead. It was just in reruns.

Special effects nowadays are cheap and everywhere. The original Star Wars was all done with miniatures and was the most spectacular thing I had ever seen.

It was like listening to ‘60s folk rock and the Beatles and then hearing Led Zeppelin 1 for the first time.

Okay, I’m old. But you get my point.

Because, you know, her question details were just chock full of requests for Trek/Wars comparisons. ~

Wrath of khan, the only real star trek film that came close to what the original star wars did.