Word: starring
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1990-1999
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...fans were scooping up every toy their arms, or carts, could hold. But why would toys be enough of a draw for dozens of people to wait for hours in line for their release? The fact of the matter is that one of the most important components of the Star Wars phenomenon always has been and always will be merchandising. As one customer related to another in line, George Lucas actually gave up his cut for the first Star Wars film in exchange for the merchandising rights. It turned out to be a brilliant move...
...While Star Wars characters and logos now adorn nearly every type of product imaginable, one of the first and foremost products created for the original film was a series of action figures by a relatively small toy company called Kenner. Many stories surround the inception of the figures, but what is known for certain is that their small size (less than four inches) was a radical departure from the larger superhero figures of the late '70s. The figures' small size allowed Kenner to make vehicles and playsets that the figures could interact with easily but wouldn't take up half...
...Star Wars figures, with a price of less than $2, were a big sell for years, all the way through Return of the Jedi. Around the late '80s, the line began to die out, and Star Wars merchandise became fodder for liquidation stores and thrift shops--and wise collectors. The early '90s saw a wave of nostalgia for the Star Wars films, and the action figures, now no longer in general circulation, became a hot commodity. Dealers thrived until Kenner unveiled a second, brand-new Star Wars figure line in 1995. Cashing in on nostalgic fans and people excited...
...Star Wars, in conjunction with a few other collector-driven lines, has managed to pull much of the focus away from the intended customers (children); collectors, with hundreds of dollars to spend on figures and a much more vocal presence on the Internet, determine the course of several toy lines. While I have nothing against collectors, I question whether they need to have four of each figure, when they could perhaps just buy two. If the kids get the other two and open them, then the collectors' figures will be that much more valuable. But most importantly, the kids...
...absence of real conflict, leave it up to fans to create it. After all, Trekkers and Lucasites are some of the most discriminating fans around, and they need something to sate their belligerent instincts. Consequently, a natural rivalry has grown, and Star Wars vs. Star Trek has become the hottest debate since Coke vs. Pepsi. The Star Wars and Star Trek franchises have never openly been in conflict, and yet the legions of diehard supporters on each side have taken it upon themselves to draw battle lines and fight for the supremacy of their respective favorites...