Hey Everyone, I just wanted to post about something thats been troubling me a lot lately and i wanted to talk about it and get everyone's opinion. Ever since Ive been a kid i have always enjoyed and rewatched the star wars movies, especially ROTS, so many times and never got bored. But since becoming older and now 18 ive started to noticed a reoccurring theme with me when watching star wars movies. Nowadays whenever i watch a Star Wars movie, i am constantly distracted by intrusive thoughts that constantly tell me that i dont enjoy these movies and am only watching it to be part of the star wars fandom or that im bored when in reality its just my thoughts telling me that and as result i usually just stop watching them. On Rare occasions, specifically one time when rewatching Phantom menace a couple weeks ago i noticed that when not acknowledging these thoughts i thoroughly enjoy myself when watching star wars and get that nostalgic feeling i had as a kid. I wanted to know if anyone else suffers from this same problem and if anyone has any recommendations on solutions to prevent and negate these thoughts. I wish to love star wars as much as i did between 7-16 years old but i find it very hard because of this and would love for people to share their thoughts. Edit: i also just wanted to add that a common intrusive thought that i have that prevents my enjoyment of these amazing movies is the fact that if i dont cry in a sad scene i must be a fake fan.
You're not a fake fan. I'm into Star Wars and I hadn't seen a single movie since The Last Jedi, and Kenobi was the last Star Wars TV show that I watched recently. xD And not all viewers have the same reaction. Like I get Revenge of the Sith is supposed to be tragic, but I wasn't crying throughout the whole Order-66 montage, and the big duel on Mustafar. I was going, 'Damn, that really sucks...' Honestly, the fact you felt like a kid again when watching The Phantom Menace without acknowledging the thoughts should tell you something. You are a fan, and your thoughts are just that. Thoughts. BS thoughts. There isn't a 'fan test' to prove your worth, nor should there be. You don't have to be a die-hard fan buying every book, every comic, every toy out there. And if you're not as big into Star Wars as you used to be, that's OK too! I used to be a big fan of Dragonball Z as a child, and sure I'll buy the odd Dragonball game here and there and read the Viz online manga of Dragonball Super, but beyond that, it's...eh, whatever. I still like it, I have fond memories of it, but I'm not voracious about it as I used to be. And the same is true for Star Wars. You're not a 'fake', a 'traitor', or whatever. That's just your brain being a big bantha poo-doo.
Thanks Man That really does help a lot and im happy to see that you believe that being a fan is up to you and if you do or dont like it is your choice. Ill try and take this with me and try to see these thoughts as mere obstacles that try to stop me in allowing myself to just have fun.
I also think it's important to remember that there's no such thing as a "fake" fan - if you like a franchise and consider yourself a fan, you're a fan! You don't have to like everything, and you don't owe anyone an explanation of why you like or dislike certain movies or shows or whatever I can tell you from experience, it's a LOT easier to enjoy something when you take the fandom out of the equation. It's just you, the movie, and nothing else. That's all that exists. You get to forget your worries and the real world, and you can immerse yourself in whatever it is you like in the way you enjoy the most. It's great!
Hear hear! Life's a lot easier when you remove the fandom aspect from the equation. Sure, I come here and chat about Star Wars, but I don't feel like I owe anyone anything. I come and go at my leisure -- the only thing that I have no choice over is, well, my day job. I have to show up there whether I want to or not. But a fandom? It should be more of a personal thing -- and there'll be times when you're just not into the franchise, and that is okay. We'll be here for ya no matter what. The mods will still keep this forum up and running.
When I was younger, I'd watch a Star Wars movie every weekend, without fail. In between, in the evenings after school, I'd often just watch my favourite scenes (mostly the lightsaber duels) instead of gaming or playing. I watched and watched and watched, until I knew every line, every sound effect, every freakin' frame. I did so in relative isolation (there were online forums around at the time, but they were in their infancy, and I was scared of 'em) and kept doing so because I wanted to. Fast forward to today, and I have to pick my moments. I sit down and properly re-watch the saga once every couple of years, and will occasionally drop by YouTube to watch the odd scene or compilation. Sometimes, when I do start a re-watch, I'll get halfway through a movie and, like you, get those intrusive thoughts; I think about behind-the-scenes information, or a negative reaction video I saw once, or other external critical factors. It shatters my immersion, and prevents me from enjoying the movie for what it is. So I stop, immediately, knowing that I'll be able to come back and try again someday, when my head's in a better place. Because I can have those enjoyable viewings, and frequently do (just like you did with The Phantom Menace a couple weeks ago). I just have to be a little sharper about picking my moments, y'know? And I reckon that's naturally part of getting older. The more we know, and the more self-aware we become, the more we think... and thinking is the enemy of escapism, which is a crucial part of nostalgia. Anyway, I'm rambling. My point is, try not to worry. Everything you've said sounds pretty natural to me, so you're not alone. Just learn to space things out, and to savour each moment for what it is, rather than what it represents on the internet. You'll recapture those feelings. I cried like a baby when I watched Revenge of the Sith for the first time, but then I didn't for a long while afterwards, even when obsessing over my DVD copy. Nowadays, every couple of years, whenever I watch the film in full, I cry. I cry a lot. Heck, I cry more than I used to, at points I never understood when I was a kid, thanks to additional context and broader understanding. Oh, and others have said this in other ways, but it's worth repeating: the only person, and I mean the only person, qualified to pass judgement on your own personal fandom is you. If anybody tells you otherwise, they're the ones with the problem.
And you get to like any of the nine movies you want, OP. I'm personally a fan of Revenge of the Sith, Empire Strikes Back, and The Last Jedi. And you don't have to justify why to anyone, not even to yourself. @Happy Sando - Honestly, watching the Prequels with the added context really brings out the tragedy Lucas was trying to depict. Now, instead of 'Jesus, this sucks...', it's 'Jesus Christ, Anakin... You didn't need to do that!' The rest of the saga is basically everyone else paying for Anakin's choices.
Completely right! Everyone is entitled to like or dislike something, anything, without need for justification. It should be a basic human right. Me, I like ANH, AOTC and ROTS most, but that's just me.
For starters, you're not a fake fan. Enjoy them all, or enjoy a few, no one gets to gatekeep what determines your fandom, with one exception. If Attack of the Clones is your favorite, you will be mocked and ridiculed. Just ask @Sith Lord 2015 It's his favorite and he agrees the abuse is justified. I'm thinking you're experiencing a bit of burnout on Star Wars on the whole. I've been watching Star Wars movies and shows for 46 years. Boredom or burnout is bound to happen. It happens to me from time to time. I took a break from the boards for while due to it. It'll pass and the enjoyment will come back.
You aren’t a fake fan. But if the intrusive thoughts are invading Star Wars, you can always take a break and then return once it’s gone. Try to remind yourself it’s just your OCD questioning your fandom or your need to cry. As another fan with OCD, recognizing it and reminding yourself what it is can help start to rationalize the situation. You are a fan — the intrusive thought is just your OCD saying you aren’t or that you don’t enjoy them. The movies had an inverse effect with my OCD, in that when younger and as I got older, the movies offered escape. also — therapy helps too with OCD, so you could leverage that so that it doesn’t affect things you love like Star Wars.
At 18 you seem a bit too young to appreciate the artistic merits of the 6 Lucas movies. When you do you will enjoy Star Wars on a whole different level than you did as a teenager. All the historical parallels, the ancient literature parallels, and all the homages to classic films make them a lot more interesting. Youre probably also too young to appreciate the fact that Lucas had more control over his work than almost any other filmmaker in history which is what makes his 6 Star Wars movies so special. His 6 Star Wars movies are a true work of art that took him 30 years to complete. And the best part for you is you didnt have to wait that long to see all 6 movies. If you havent seen his audio commentaries you should listen to them. And a lot of fans would accuse Lucas of having OCD.
Considering Lucas nearly gave himself a heart-attack when filming A New Hope because he was trying to get things just so, yeah I'd agree. The man has OCD. He may have simmered it down with age, but he definitely has it.
I have OCD as well. For me it works a bit differently - I like to watch things through start to finish. I find this more satisfying. So I'll watch say Star Wars I to VI, for at least one trilogy at a time. Or maybe one of the Trek shows I like better right through start to finish. I watch the same things again and again, and people say to me why watch that show every year even though you've seen it dozens of times before and I say because I enjoy it. Often I'd rather watch something I've seen loads of times and love than something new that's mediocre, and let's face it there are plenty of mediocre movies and shows these days. And yes I think about behind the scenes tidbits I've heard when watching something. Movies are entertainment, they are meant to be enjoyed. If you enjoy it, watch it and watch it anyway and anyhow you like. If you don't enjoy it, don't watch it. Its that simple.
It sounds to me like you’ve just reached a point where you’re watching them more out of habit than enjoyment. That doesn’t mean you aren’t a fan, but I think most of us need some time away from it now and then. Personally I often have difficulty staying fully engaged with the movies due to my familiarity with them, so after a break I’ll usually watch the saga twice: once to get my head back into the world and then once again to really absorb the story. That may just be what works for me though.
This is next-level genius. Too familiar with a movie? Watch it twice! I'm not being facetious, by the way. The next time I find myself zoning out, I'm genuinely gonna try it.
