10 signs of the Star Wars craze

UNLESS you have been living under a rock, you would have at least noticed the sudden Star Wars craze that has swept the world in anticipation of the new Star Wars movie, Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

Starting with Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope in 1977, the widely successful media franchise that emerged after the film’s release can be considered an international pop culture phenomenon.

We all undoubtedly have big Star Wars fans who walk among us, so here are 10 quirky signs that some of our friends are more than just a little excited about the new Star Wars flick.

1. Movie marathon

An obvious sign is pestering friends to join in a movie marathon of the existing Star Wars films. Just you, them, and all six Star Wars films in all its glory, be it in a collector’s edition box set or even a pirated copy (We know you have them!). If you’re going for one, better stock up on snacks and drinks, schedule those toilet breaks, and be prepared to sit through the entire 13 hours and 11 minutes of running time.

2. Attempting mind tricks

Any Star Wars fan worth their salt will remember the iconic scene in Episode IV: A New Hope, where Ben Kenobi says “These are not the droids you are looking for” to a Stormtrooper patrol. But please refrain from trying Jedi mind tricks in real life. We accept no responsibility if you get into trouble trying to go through a security checkpoint saying “You don’t need to see my identification”.

3. Walking encyclopedia

Most people who have watched the movies can maybe recall the names of iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Master Yoda, and Luke Skywalker. But a Star Wars know-it-all could name more than 30 Jedi characters off the top of their head with an accurate memory of each character’s species, home planet, and favoured form from the seven forms of lightsaber combat. If you are that good, George Lucas can be proud of fans like you.

4. Having a collection

Big fans of Star Wars are very likely to have a big collection of Star Wars merchandise. Framed posters, figurines, scale models of Star Wars spacecraft, a lightsaber replica complete with sound card, a film-accurate Stormtrooper costume – you have it all. It is surprisingly common for dedicated fans to spend thousands of ringgit just to possess such limited-edition goods.

5. Obsession with soundtracks

For a devoted fan, any time is a good time to listen to music from the Star Wars franchise. Your entire music playlist for this past month has been nothing but music from the films. You hum The Imperial March as your boss or lecturer walks by. The more dramatic Duel Of The Fates is a great song to listen to when stuck in traffic. However, you might be pushing it a little if Across The Stars is your choice of background music for a dinner date at home.

6. More than the movie

For you, watching all six Star Wars films is not enough to consider someone a “fan”. This incredible franchise has spawned animated television series such as The Clone Wars and Star Wars: Rebels, more than 100 video game titles, and countless novels and comic books. A lot of fans must have been making good use of this past year to catch up on any of these things in anticipation of The Force Awakens.

7. Attending events

Some fans spend so much time going for every single Star Wars-themed event across the country that they have made names for themselves in the local (and sometimes international) Star Wars fan community. From attending film screenings to roadshows and charity events, their dedication to the franchise is unmatched.

8. Acting like the characters

A person’s level of passion for Star Wars can be measured by the number of movie quotes they use on their friends in a week. Surely some of you have used asthma or the haze as an excuse to walk around in public making Darth Vader’s iconic breathing sounds. Please avoid annoying others by addressing younger people as Padawans. Speak backwards like Yoda, you must not!

9. Using the Force

The fact remains that most (if not all) humans do not have telekinetic powers like the Jedi and Sith in Star Wars. However, some fans like to live out their fantasies by pretending they are opening elevator doors, automatic sliding doors, and automatic gates with a wave of their hand. Do feel free to indulge in this harmless gesture; it will probably get a few laughs out of friends.

10. Practising lightsaber moves

The Star Wars hype has this effect of turning its biggest fans into the galaxy’s master swordsmen overnight. Umbrellas are meant for sheltering people from rain, not for practising flashy lightsaber spins. Instead of potentially taking someone’s eye out with a broom or badminton racket, you could instead consider buying your very own custom-made polycarbonate LED lightsaber, which can now be obtained locally from as low as RM200.

¦ Special thanks to the Force Arts Stunt Team for their assistance.