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The Dark Side pays a visit to Welland; star wars legend still very much alive in Rob D'onofrio
GREG FURMINGER
Saturday, May 26, 2007
Local News - It happened a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but the legend of Star Wars is still very much alive today in Rob D'Onofrio.
"To me, it's not about the movie or the action figures, it's my childhood memories and feelings when I'm surrounded by this stuff," the 42-year-old D'Onofrio said, standing in the midst about one-quarter of his movie memorabilia.
"If somebody gets that out of today, that's a great thing," he said. Yesterday, the city building inspector put on a public screening of Star Wars inside the civic square community room, to mark the anniversary of its May 25, 1977, debut.
It produced heroes in Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia. It also introduced the villainous Darth Vader.
It yielded classic lines such as "May the Force be with you" and "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."
Originally released in just 32 movie theatres, today Star Wars stands as the second-highest grossing film of all time, behind Titanic.
"Making movies and special effects - what they had to do was phenomenal back then," D'Onofrio said before he rummaged through a box of assorted collectibles brought in by an older gentleman. With disinterest he quickly pushed aside anything Star Trek-related.
Some of his friends have told him his obsession with all things Star Wars is "geeky" or "cool to a certain point."
He said he's trying to change that attitude.
"It's a hobby - stamps, coins, dolls. I just think this is more interesting. It has so many more characters and figures and items."
His favourite is a signed Boba Fett bounty hunter figure, one of only 2,000 produced and for which he paid $500.
Lucas 'made a fun film'
It was on display yesterday, along with the Millennium Falcon, stormtrooper figurines and, from sequels, Jedi Master Yoda.
John VanOphem, dressed as an X-wing pilot of the Rebel Alliance, was 13 when he was introduced to Star Wars.
"When I first saw that film it got me interested in computers, it got me interested in space, it got me interested in astronomy," the St. Catharines resident said, today a 42-year-old computer repair technician, and a member of fan organizations including Young Jedis Niagara.
One of the appeals of the movie was "the whole good versus evil thing," he said.
Star Wars was also an escape from post-Vietnam War movies of the time, such as The Deer Hunter, and lighter than other fare.
"Thirteen-year-olds didn't want to go see The Godfather," VanOphem said.
In Star Wars, "They hadn't had films like that in a long time," he added.
"George made a fun film," he said of writer-director George Lucas, who soon after Star Wars' release became a household name.
The film gave rise to actor Harrison Ford, delighted audiences with the antics of R2-D2 and C-3PO, and wookie Chewbacca.
John Williams' score today remains instantly recognizable, from his opening them to his upbeat cantina music that was the backdrop to an assortment of kooky creatures at the Mos Eisley space tavern.
So significant is the movie that the U.S. Postal Service yesterday released a set of Star Wars stamps.
About 100 or so people turned out at city hall yesterday to watch the film, have foam light sabres signed by Lord Vader, the Jedi fighters and a stormtrooper, and eat 30th anniversary cake donated by Welland Bakery.
Among moviegoers were students from Ken Longo's Grade 2 class at St. Andrew School.
They stopped by as part of their "community day" field trip that also included a visit to the library, meeting the mayor and picnicking on Merritt Island.
"I just thought the kids would get a kick out of meeting Darth Vader," said Longo, 35, who remembers seeing the first Star Wars movie at the drive-in.
Perhaps it's because of the recent release of the three prequels to the Star Wars trilogy, but all his youngsters know about the characters, despite the fact they were created nearly a quarter-century before Longo's students were born.
"One of the girls in my class said, 'This is the best day ever,'" Longo said.
"To see that kind of excitement in the girls, as well as the boys, I just thought that was incredible."
