126. The Star Wars Phenomenon

Star Wars is an American movie franchise that was first seen in 1977. It is possibly the most popular movie franchise in the history of the film industry.

It is possibly the most popular movie franchise in the history of the film industry. Although the stories took place thousands of years ago, the technology shown was more advanced than anything on earth today. It is spectacular! The space vehicles alone can travel between galaxies in the Universe, which is far beyond our present-day technology. 

The worlds depicted are pure fantasy, and are very popular with people of all ages. Star Wars was originally a low-budget film that almost did not make it to the big screen. Its creator had a hard time selling the idea to the large Hollywood studios, and was turned away several times before it was finally picked up. The franchise has become one of the most lucrative series of films in the history of Hollywood. 

It has spawned several offshoot products such as video games, comic books, short stories, clothing, and toys. The storylines are very simple. They all focus on good versus evil. The main characters have endeared themselves to the American public over the decades. Some of these characters are everlasting because of their dedication to good, and their continual struggle against the forces of evil. 

Star Wars was a pioneer film series that has been copied, but never with the skill of its original creator. Most Americans know these films very well and many of them grew up watching the franchise. The first film in the third set of movies is due to debut in 2015. 

It is becoming one of the most anticipated new movies in history. It is currently in pre-production, and will undoubtedly create an entire new generation of Star Wars fans in years to come.

Vocabulary Words

                                                           

No.	Word	Definition	Example Sentence
01	movie franchise	a series of films that share a universe or characters	Star Wars is an American movie franchise.
02	first seen in 1977	the year the original film was initially released	It was first seen in 1977.
03	most popular	liked or admired by the majority of people	It is possibly the most popular movie franchise.
04	film industry	the sector concerned with the making and distribution of motion pictures	...in the history of the film industry.
05	technology shown	the advanced machinery and devices featured in the films	The technology shown was more advanced.
06	travel between galaxies	move across the vast distances separating different star systems	The space vehicles alone can travel between galaxies.
07	pure fantasy	completely imaginative and not based on reality	The worlds depicted are pure fantasy.
08	low-budget film	a movie made with a relatively small amount of money	Star Wars was originally a low-budget film.
09	Hollywood studios	the major film companies located in the U.S. film production center	...the large Hollywood studios.
10	lucrative series of films	a collection of movies that produces a great deal of profit	The franchise has become one of the most lucrative series of films.
11	spawned several offshoot products	generated many related merchandise items or spin-offs	It has spawned several offshoot products.
12	storylines are very simple	the plots or narratives are easy to understand	The storylines are very simple.
13	good versus evil	the central theme of moral conflict between right and wrong	They all focus on good versus evil.
14	main characters have endeared themselves	the principal figures have caused the public to feel affection and liking for them	The main characters have endeared themselves to the American public.
15	everlasting	lasting forever or for a very long time, enduring	Some of these characters are everlasting.
16	pioneer film series	an innovative or original set of movies that influences others	Star Wars was a pioneer film series.
17	copied	imitated or reproduced by others	...that has been copied, but never with the skill...
18	due to debut	scheduled to be first shown to the public	The first film in the third set of movies is due to debut in 2015.
19	pre-production	the planning stage of a film before shooting begins	It is currently in pre-production.
20	new generation of Star Wars fans	a new group of people, typically younger, who become enthusiasts of the franchise	...will undoubtedly create an entire new generation of Star Wars fans.

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Comprehension Questions

                                                       

No.	Question	Answer
01	What kind of franchise is Star Wars?	An American movie franchise.
02	In what year was Star Wars first seen?	1977.
03	What is spectacular about the technology shown in the movies?	It is more advanced than anything on Earth today.
04	Where can the space vehicles alone travel?	Between galaxies in the Universe.
05	The worlds depicted in the films are described as what?	Pure fantasy.
06	How was the film described when it was originally made?	A low-budget film.
07	What two words describe the financial status of the franchise today?	Most lucrative.
08	What is one type of offshoot product that the franchise has spawned?	Video games / comic books / short stories / clothing / toys.
09	What is the main focus of all the Star Wars storylines?	Good versus evil.
10	What has the dedication of the main characters led to?	They have endeared themselves to the American public and are considered everlasting.
11	What is Star Wars called because it influenced other films?	A pioneer film series.
12	What is said about the skill of other films that copied Star Wars?	They were never made with the skill of its original creator.
13	How is the franchise connected to the childhood of many Americans?	Many of them grew up watching the franchise.
14	When was the first film in the third set of movies due to debut?	In 2015.
15	What stage of production was the new film currently in?	Pre-production.
16	The stories are said to have taken place how long ago?	Thousands of years ago.
17	The new film is anticipated to create what?	An entire new generation of Star Wars fans.
18	Why was the film almost not made?	Its creator had a hard time selling the idea and was turned away by Hollywood studios several times.
19	What does the text imply is the reason for the characters' everlasting appeal?	Their dedication to good and struggle against evil.
20	The spectacular nature of the technology shown is an example of why the depicted worlds are considered what?	Pure fantasy.