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GeekDad had the chance to chat with a number of awesome Star Wars–related celebrities at the recent Star Wars Celebration VI. We asked each of them the same "Five Force-Full Questions" about growing up as fans and sharing the saga with the next generation, and we'll share their answers here.
Marc Thompson has narrated Star Wars audiobooks for the Legacy of the Force, Fate of the Jedi and The Old Republic book series. He's also a voice actor and geeky dad to two boys, ages seven and nine.
Booth: What's your favorite Star Wars movie and why?
Thompson: The answer is probably the most obvious and typical: Empire Strikes Back. Yoda is my favorite character, and I love Luke's training and the description of the Force. Really, why I'm a Star Wars fan is the mythology behind the Jedi, and I just love that.
Booth: What do you remember most strongly about the first time you saw Star Wars?
Thompson: I can't honestly remember. I think I may have seen Empire first, because I do remember seeing it in the theater. But I don't know if Star Wars was on TV at that point - or did they have VHS tapes at that point? I must have seen it. There's something about lightsabers and laser swords that is just incredibly enchanting. It just captured my imagination. And you know, I guess I'm old enough now, that looking back I can talk about it more articulately, but it's just that idea of the struggle between good and evil. I love the heroicness of it.
I remember being in the theater for Empire, and I remember being so enthralled with it. In the scene where Luke lands on Dagobah and Artoo falls into the swamp, and he's going around, "Artoo! Artoo! Where are you?" and I was so into it that I just screamed out "He's in the water!" I was young enough to not know that was not the right thing to do.
Booth: What was the best Star Wars toy you ever had and why?
Thompson: The Obi-Wan Kenobi that had the lightsaber that went inside his arm. That was just cool. That was revolutionary technology back then!
Booth: The next generation: What's the plan for introducing kids to Star Wars?
Thompson: My kids did a really weird order. I was really struggling with that choice. I really wasn't sure what to do, and then I think they watched... I wanted to go (Episodes) 4-5-6, 1-2-3, but I think they saw 4, but then they jumped ahead to 1, and then they did 2 and then 6 — I was giving them too much permission! But they got it all, and they're huge fans.
Booth: Why are we still talking about this movie 35 years after its initial release?
Thompson: That's the million dollar question, right? Why it resonates for me is the spiritual aspect, and again, that idea of good versus evil and the nobility of sacrificing. That choice that Luke has to make: Am I going to go and save the galaxy or am I going to just say home in my farm town and do what's comfortable? There's just something magical about that.
And the special effects are very cool.
Check out the other responses to our Five Force-Full Questions.
