In just two days, an era will come to a close for me and thousands (if not millions) of other Star Wars fans. More than likely, we’ll never see another new Star Wars film. With the viewing of Revenge of the Sith, the story of Luke Skywalker and the rise and defeat of the galactic empire will be complete.

It sounds a bit silly to say, but I think I may have a hard time really looking forward to another movie for a long time. The original Star Wars was, for me at least, the beginning of the really big Hollywood blockbuster films on the late 70s and early 80s. Maybe I’m getting old and a little jaded, but they just don’t make movies like they used to. Sure, there are still movies that I anticipate and look forward to seeing. Sometimes, I even pay some money and brave the annoying cell phone-addicted theater-goers to check these movies out on opening day. But, overall, there are no big summer films that draw a crowd and create long lines outside of theaters. The last movie that I remember waiting in a long line to see was Independence Day!

Where are the Lucases and Spielbergs of today? Where are the Close Encounters of the Third Kind, the E.T.s? How about the Raiders of the Lost Arks?

I’m sure I’ll overcome this depression because movies just don’t have the same impact on my life that they once did. But, I wonder if this is because films and film-making have changed or if me or my lifestyle have changed. In any case, a little chapter of my life will come to a close on Thursday afternoon. This makes me a little sad and a bit excited. Perhaps now, the part of my mind that’s devoted to thinking about Star Wars can be freed up making room for remembering things like putting down the toilet seat or taking my keys out of our front door after I enter the house.