When “Star Wars” was released in 1977, Jimmy Carter was president and Elvis was still (officially) alive. Pocket calculators? 15-cent stamps? Record players? It may not have been in a galaxy far away, but it was a long time ago …
’77: ‘Star Wars’
Length: 121 minutes
Movie budget: $11 million
What movie critic Roger Ebert said: “Reactivates old fears, thrills and exhilarations we thought we’d abandoned.” (4 stars)
What fans said: “Let’s go see this 40 times.”
Asking price for (basic, U.S.) poster on eBay: $15.12
Ranking by fans in Internet Movie Database Top 250: 12
No. 1 movie of year: “Star Wars,” $216 million (excluding rereleases)
Median household income: $13,572
Price of first-class stamp: 15 cents
Price of gallon of gas: 62 cents
Price of gallon of milk: $1.68
What was Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) doing? He wasn’t born yet.
What was Harrison Ford doing? Also making a TV movie that co-starred James Farentino.
’05: ‘Revenge of the Sith’
Length: 140 minutes
Budget: $115 million
What Roger Ebert said: ” ‘Episode III’ has more action per square minute, I’d guess, than any of the previous five movies, and it is spectacular.” (3.5 stars)
What fans said: Haven’t weighed in yet.
Asking price for poster on eBay: $8.99
Ranking by fans in Internet Movie Database Top 250: Not applicable
No. 1 movie of year: (so far) “Hitch,” $178 million
Median household income: Not available
Price of first-class stamp: 37 cents
Price of gallon of gas: $2.09
Price of gallon of milk: $3.50
What was Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) doing? Publicizing “Sith” and shooting a movie version of “The Decameron.”
What was Harrison Ford doing? Preparing another “Indiana Jones” film.
