The Force is Strong with this One

In a galaxy far, far away, in a shrouded corner of an alien world, as ‘The Force Awakens’, the dent is etched on this side of the universe too, for it marks the renaissance of the beloved inter-galactic, science fiction series – STAR WARS. The Wookie costumes are back, and the tropes are doing the rounds of social media as fans go berserk vying to become a part of this impersonal epic. 

Call it a Jedi Mind Trick, but the series has been gripping on to the geek-minds, and dominating this culture of modern myth-making despite a long absence from the industry. For the uninitiated who’re wondering what the hue and cry surrounding the return of Star Wars is all about, it’s akin to a Bradman or a Gretzky padding up for a game again in their respective sports. And that means you will have plenty of boyish anticipation mixed with adult despair, lining up to watch their teenage favorites on the giant screen again. 

It’s a fabulous move where the erstwhile fans, caged by nostalgia, reintroduce the franchise to their children, as they pass the baton in their bid to preserve ‘The Force’.

Star Wars has been a phenomenon, creating a culture of heroes and villains possessed with superhuman abilities, and perhaps, on the way, gifting us the most popular villain in the fictional entertainment segment- Anakin Skywalker…err, Darth Vader.

The series has simply changed the movie and cultural history, and has announced a new era of film-making after its arrival, heralding a new genre which matures with every superhero movie that gets launched. Yes, the same superhero movies which have made a giant leap in terms of content, from being merely discussion forum fodder to now an intricate nexus of multiverses. 

The last decade has seen solo franchises strengthening, and eventually assembling together to give the fans a cross universe platform as the act of storytelling keeps getting bigger and more abstract – sadly a tad inhuman. But that doesn’t steal the thunder from Thor & Co. err… I mean, Stark & Co. as fans brace themselves for eight more superhero movies said to release in the year 2016.

Lot of critics have turned up, including Spielberg, and have predicted the demise of this superhero era of movies. The rationale is too much content, the storylines becoming too big for assimilation by the average guy, and the obvious –the old making way for the new- theory. So should the Directors, who have already planned a gazillion such movies in the nigh future, just sit back and let a new genre take over?

Do... or do not. There is no try

I reckon, these movies still have quite a lot of juice left in them before they take that dwindling spiral and make an exit. We’re still on the rising curve, staring at potentially new and successful franchises. 

Come to think of it, the coming year is going to bring us the epic and long promised Batman vSuperman rivalry, and if that wasn’t enough it’s going to happen in the same year when Cap takes on Iron Man, which again if beyond the fantasy of the mediocre fan is going to happen alongside a Deadpool movie, as we also make room for the entry of the Eternal Apocalypse in FOX’s pocket Marvel-verse on the silver screen.    

On a close analysis, the revelation isn’t just about the sheer scale and frequency of content, which will help the superhero culture thrive for years to come. At a micro level, it’s the ability of these stories to satisfy our primeval urges and provide us with refuge and redemption, slake our needs which are further aggravated by the sort of times we breathe in. In an era when a bunch of lads, misled by religion and its fallacious understanding, can seize your city, the consequent lack of trust in the government and army pushes the ordinary mind to take comfort in the idea of superheroes who ride to their rescue in the nick of time.

And it is this culture of modern myth making which unifies this otherwise segmented world, and gives it a set of common Gods to look up to when in despair, unlike its traditional counterpart which usually turns people against each other in its age old, puerile conquest for religious supremacy.

These aren’t just movies, they are way more than that…