THE CONNECTED LIFE

You’ve likely heard that Star Wars will be re-released in a digital movie collection on Friday (April 10th), finally allowing people to legally own and enjoy all six of the films (or at least enjoy four of them, tolerate Episode II and just agree to disagree on most of the filmmaking decisions from Episode I ) on a host of devices wherever they are.

Finally, you can agonize over whether or not Han shot first while lying on the beach and deconstructing the film on your phone! Or be free to ogle Slave Leia while sitting on the subway commuting to work with your tablet! And groan over each line of Jar-Jar’s why-did-you-do-this-George?!? dialog while flying with your laptop! The Force is now strong in its ability to let you enjoy the Star Wars saga wherever you like! The films can be purchased a la carte for $19.99 each or in a packaged bundle currently on sale for $89.99.

I personally have a long history with the Star Wars films and have seen and purchased them numerous times over my life starting in 1975 1977 when I watched the film in a small theater in Carmel, California with my cousin while my parents shopped. (When the movie was over, we walked out of the theater, told my parents how amazing the film was, and then turned around and walked back inside to see it again!) I was also fortunate enough to see the original film at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Sadly, the thing I remember most about that experience was the stomach ache following eating an entire box of Red Vines along with a theater-sized Coke…

The first time I saw Star Wars outside the theater was in 1982 when my dad rented a VCR along with the movie. For an entire weekend, Star Wars was all mine to watch as much as I could stand. And it turns out that a 12 year old boy can stand quite a bit.

Since Jedi in ‘83, I’ve camped out in line to see every film—and every re-release on opening day. I’ve also had the privilege of seeing a Star Wars film in the Stag Theater at Lucas Ranch. (Granted, it was Episode I , but one doesn’t look a gift horse in the mouth when the opportunity arises to see a Star Wars film at its birthplace. Right next to the very chair George sits in to view the films.) I’ve bought the trilogy on Beta. Then on Special Edition VHS. Then on Special Edition Laser Disc. Then on DVD. Then on Blu-ray.

But as much as I love the films, and as a Disney shareholder like the circular idea of giving money which in a way kinda comes back to me, I think I’m gonna sit this round out. Especially since I’m sure there will be a new, absolute-reference-must-have 4K edition coming at some point…

For those of you choosing to make the plunge, the digital versions include a host of special features including some never before seen content. Full information can be found at StarWars.com. Let me know in the comments if the Force is strong with you buying this release.