Warning: this one gets a little gushy!
Since being acquired by Disney, Star Wars has become even more of a giant commercial beast with many pros and cons attached. I saw both sides on my visit to the Disneyland Resort (Anaheim) this week.
The set design/staging for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge, which joins themed areas like Tomorrowland, Fantasyland and Frontierland at Disneyland in Anaheim, is amazing beyond words.
Standing underneath a life-sized replica of The Millennium Falcon was a real WHAAAAAAT?? moment. I couldn't help but be awed by the skill and vision of the people who put together the landscape and the authentic props - not that I've ever visited the Black Spire outpost, on the remote frontier planet of Batuu yunnerstan.
The fact that it was raining at the time we were visiting just added a perfect detail to the alien landscape. With many of the people wearing hooded ponchos, it made me feel like an extra in a Star Wars film!
The Star Wars characters wandering the streets of Batuu added a great dimension - whether it be the Mandalorian, R2D2, Chewbacca or storm troopers with Kylo Ren - they each add an effective touch which also suddenly jolts you into a confusing zone of realism. Yes, it was a tad scarey for some (one little kid in a push chair cried as storm troopers and Kylo approached in character).
That's the pro part.
The con (pun intended) is in the type of merchandise being hawked in the shops at Galaxy's Edge. It seems the powers that be have decided their target audience is either those who want to dress up as a Star Wars character (Rey and Lord Vader by far the most prevalent) or else those who want to celebrate the child in their nature (I'm being charitable). I'd call this the Ewok impulse.
T-shirt design was heavily accented towards the young cutesy market too, i.e. not me.
The 'serious' Star Wars collectors (comics, books, models etc) are not really catered for - some busts of Last Jedi era Luke and Darth Vader being the only things I could see that appealed.
Did any of that commercialism detract from my experience? No chance!!
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Outside of family reunions in Bury and Brentwood, Galaxy's Edge joins Tintagel Castle and Amoeba Records as the overwhelming WOW moments of my trip.
I absolutely loved it, along with the whole Disney experience.
It is still, and will forever be, the happiest place on Earth!
May the force be with you, always - Adson Purwa (Jedi master)
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