This will be a day long remembered

It may not be an IT topic, but all computer geeks should appreciate this milestone: today, March 14th, marks the tenth anniversary of the theatrical release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: Special Edition, the last in a series of re-releases that cleaned up the presentation of the twenty-year-old trilogy. The Special Edition did more than just modernize the three films' special effects, though (and I don't mean making Greedo shoot first). Before 1997, an entire generation had experienced Star Wars the only way it'd been possible: on the TV screen. Reinstating the story to the medium in which it was meant to be delivered -- the big screen -- gave millions of fans the opportunity to be reminded why they were drawn to this saga in the first place.
 

At its core, Lucas' yarn is one of good vs. evil -- a tale as old as time. But it arrived at the same time America when fantasy escapism was at an all-time high, thanks to the introduction of worlds from Dungeons & Dragons to Zork. Star Wars rode that wave to capture by Force the hearts and imaginations with its heroes, villains, and scoundrels who blend the mysticism and magic of Lord of the Rings with the action of gladiatorial combat, Western showdowns, and far-flung science fiction. Such memorable moments are now indelible elements of not just Americana, but global culture, inspiring legions of ardent dreamers to heed the call of the Force, applying their computer geekery in ways both professional and personal.

Fanboys with their hopeful dreams have grown up to earn their living and our respect playing in Lucas' sandbox, sharing their fantasies with us in the form of novels, cartoons, and video games. Spoofs and homages have combined Star Wars with everything from Cops to Titanic, from Shakespeare to supermarkets; each three-film series has even been condensed into a ten-minute summary.

Star Wars has not limited itself solely to the province of science fiction. Observe its influence on art and religion: there's a full musical score, should anyone ever wish to bring a galaxy far, far away to Broadway. And though "Jedi" may not be a recognized religion in the UK or Australia, despite attempts to manipulate census data, a famous Sith has nonetheless insinuated himself into the fixtures of a major cathedral.

Say what you want about the quality of the prequels, or Lucas' extortion of fans with multiple formats, releases, and special editions. You wouldn't be wrong on either count. But you can't deny that the modern myth of Star Wars has a resonance that extends beyond nostalgia of what life was like thirty years ago. It's a story of second chances -- an example of how things can go wrong and how they can be set right again... granting a new hope.