In a theater real, real close

Scripps Howard News Service: It is the end of the beginning or maybe the beginning of the end or maybe the end of the middle or whatever, but today the final installment of the six-film, 28-year "Star Wars" epic, "Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith," comes to theaters nationwide.
We'll leave it to the "Star Wars" buffs, and there are millions, to put the episodes in the proper order; rather perversely, the cycle began back in 1977 with Episode IV. And we'll leave it to the film critics to evaluate "Revenge," although the early reviews are highly favorable.
A child who saw the original would be 35 now, likely married and surely taking the children to share in the thrill when the title music swells and "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away ... " scrolls up.
Part of culture
President Ronald Reagan's Strategic Defense Initiative was quickly renamed "Star Wars" in the press. (Those who detected bias had clearly never had to write a headline.) Reagan himself may have nodded to the movie when he dubbed the Soviet Union the "evil empire," "Star Wars" having implanted the idea that empires are necessarily evil. The sinister "Empire March" is now part of the repertory of every college marching band.
When the British fleet set out to retake the Falkland Islands, a newsmagazine bannered its cover, "The Empire Strikes Back" (Episode V, if that's important).
For some, "May the Force be with you" is still a benediction. And in situations where there are unsettling vibes, people are still known to observe, "There's a disturbance in the Force." Just a few days ago, USNews.com referred to a journalist who had left CNN to go into public relations as "crossing over to the dark side."
Hollywood being incorrigible, some film executive will eventually propose a remake. Until then, the "Star Wars" cycle will live on endlessly in video and inexhaustibly as toys, T-shirts and lunchboxes. And as long as there are Halloweens there will be a Darth Vader.