I've been a fan of Star Wars since day one of my life. When I was born in 1980, my older brother was already a fan of the movies, toys, and games. Ever since those days back in the early 80's, I've been a huge Star Wars geek. I can say with complete accuracy that I've watched the Original Trilogy movies over 100 times each. Star Wars is an unforgettable part of my youth, and continues to be a major interest in my adult life.

I'm therefore a little saddened by the end of the Prequel Trilogy, Revenge of the Sith, hitting theaters this May. It's the end of a long road, and now we will know the full story behind Darth Vader and the rest of the Skywalker family. It's the end of an era really; and although many new books, toys, fan films, and fan fictions are yet to be crafted, somehow the whole experience won't really be the same. George Lucas is officially hanging up his Star Wars movie hat after ROTS, and it's the reality of the whole thing that has me bothered.

I guess the anticipation of the Prequels were much greater than any movie could ever live up to, so it's no wonder that critics have bashed Episodes I & II. Now with III coming out, that element of anticipation will be over, which is a new thing for Star Wars fans. All long time Star Wars geeks, like myself, have always had a reason to obsess over the Original Trilogy movies: there was so much more of the story to be told. In two months, the rest of the story will be finished, whether we like the result or not.

As I write this, I realize that it's very depressing and defeatist. I didn't intend it to be. To end on a high note, I would say that Star Wars fans will now have to look forward to a new era. An age where no more movies are in the works, but also an age where we can rejoice in having the whole saga in front of us. It's a time when what makes up a Star Wars fan will change, and I'm excited to see how the fan base will evolve of the next 20 years.