Friday, January 19, 2007

My Little Star Wars Fan

My son Jackson has been playing a video game called Star Wars Legos, which renders all the characters from the original trilogy -- Luke, Han, Chewy, Leia, Obi Wan, Darth Vader, the Emperor, etc -- and in fact, the entire Star Wars universe, entirely as Lego constructions. When a character dies, it shatters into a pile of Legos. Jackson has really taken to it.

Previously, when he was a couple years younger, I tried to watch the first movie with him. If you recall, it begins with a space chase. The tiny rebel ship is swallowed by the enormous Imperial Cruiser. The tense John Williams score pounds in your chest as the Storm troopers blast through the door, and the evil Lord Vader chokes a man who refuses to talk. Jackson made me turn it off.

But last night, his curiosity peaked by the events of the game, he finally watched it with me. He peppered me with questions, all the while. Are those bad guys? Are they dead? Where is his light saber? Where is Yoda? Is that Boba Fett? Is this where R2D2 gets hurt?

Does Obi Wan Knobie die? No, he just disappears.

Where does he go? He becomes a ghost and follows Luke wherever he goes.

During the dog fight scene, Jackson pulled his knees to his chest and smiled for most of the time, until he noticed that all the good guys kept getting killed. But when Han Solo saves the day and Darth Vader spins off into space, he was elated.

Afterwards, he took out the light saber we got him for Christmas, searched his feelings, and felt the force flow through him.

Ahhh.

On a separate note, I've decided to get behind my home team, the New England Patriots. Dallas is my favorite team, and that will never change. What got me thinking is that Jackson's school has a Patriots day for the kids. My son, both of them eventually, will naturally become fans, and I don't want to be cheering against them, or causing them conflicting loyalties.

So good luck this weekend Pats. Or should I say, continued good luck.

7 comments:

fakies said...

Good to know another has been corrupted. One by one...

My 16 yo nephew had never seen any of them until last year. I was horrified to discover this, so I sat him down with a tub of popcorn and we watched the original three. He was so excited about them, I heard about it for months.

Bailey Stewart said...

Ah yes, the passing of the light saber, a timeless tradition.

I think I'm going with New Orleans, the Payton legacy, the rising from Katrina thing. (They are still in it, aren't they? I admit I haven't been paying attention since the, you know, travesty.)

Natalie said...

That's great! Introducing something you love (even if it's the second try!) to someone you love is one of the best feelings I can think of. I hope he keeps an interest in the films, and even Sci-Fi. That's how a lot of us physicists got our calling...

Beth said...

I love when you write about your son. Brings me back to good times and warms my heart.

As for rooting for the Pats, why I oughtta!

From a DEVOTED COLTS FAN,

Beth =)

Tee/Tracy said...

I don't know anything about Star Wars. Never watched it and never had the slightest interest. LOL... BUT... I do understand the joy of one of your children enjoying a hobby/pastime/interest of yours. It's definitly a happy thing :)

Ultra Toast Mosha God said...

Once, whilst on holiday in a caravan in cornwall, The Lads and I reenactted the Death Star run with myself i the role of Luke and a few friends playing various other parts, R2, Darth and Gun Towers.

It is a memory that will stay with me forever, as it was one of the first times i ever got high.

The same night, we re-enacted Resident Evil. I was the gun-toting hero stalking round the darkened Caravan, and my mates played all the zombies - hiding in the few rooms littered with beer cans.

Ah.. Memories.

Like any drug, your earliest experiences with it are always the best, and you spend the rest of the time chasing those down, but failing to catch them.

fringes said...

Pick up Star Wars II Lego edition. You will not regret it. You'll be able to import your original characters from the current game you own. Plus, Jackson will have a ball creating new ones like Darth Leia and Boba3PO.