This week I have seen british pop band Duran Duran in concert, and the latest episode of the Star Wars movies, chapter 3 “Revenge of the Sith”. And it struck me that there are so many similarities between Duran Duran and the Star Wars movies, that I just had to write about them. So here goes:
Number one: Started in the late 70s
Both started their lives in the late 70s. Duran Duran was founded in Birmingham in 1978 by John Tayler and Nick Rhodes. The first Star Wars movie had it’s premiere 25th of May 1977.
Number two: Success in the 80s
Both had tremendous success in the 80s. Duran Duran released their first single “Planet earth” in 1981, and made their last performance for years at the Live Aid concert in Philadelphia, July 13, 1985. They sold over 70 millons records and had a 18 Billboard hot 100 hits in the US.
Their biggest hits were:
- Girls on film
- Hungry like the wolf
- Save a prayer
- Rio
- Is there something I should know?
- Union of the snake
- New moon on monday
- The reflex
- A view to a kill
The first Star Wars movie is the most successful movie at the cinamas worldwide from the 70s and the 80s. It has made whopping $800,000,000! George Lucas made the smartest move so far in the movie history by getting the rights for merchandise. The Internet Movie Database (IMDB): “George Lucas insisted that he have merchandising rights to the film. Studio executives, seeing little if any profit from such merchandise, gave him the rights for free. Star Wars related merchandise has since generated many millions of dollars in sales, allowing Lucas to make movies completely independent of the studio system he decried. Merchandising rights are now a major part of any film contract.”
The Star Wars movies are:
- “Star Wars: A new hope” (episode 4) IMDB | Starwars.com | Amazon US
- “The empire strikes back” (episode 5) IMDB | Starwars.com | Amazon US
- “Return of the Jedi” (episode 6) IMDB | Starwars.com | Amazon US
- “The Phantom menance” (episode 1) IMDB | Starwars.com | Amazon US
- “Attack of the clones” (episode 2) IMDB | Starwars.com | Amazon US
- “Revenge of the Sith” (episode 3) IMDB | Starwars.com
Number three: Gained weight
Both have gained weight. Lead singer Simon Le Bon is not the slim, sexy guy he was in the 80s. Of course he isn’t. The man is almost 48, but tries hard to still be 25. He calles himself “the sexiest singer in the world” when presenting the band members at the end of the concert. Not. But he has a charm and an appeal that still is there, even though in a more “Harry” way. He tried two spins on stage, and didn’t try number three, as he was close to falling on the second.
The first Star Wars movie were made with small models and layers of celluloid. In the battle scenes you see a couple of space ships at the time, or maybe 15-20 if they’re far away. The whole movie has “only” about 200 FX shots. And there’s even a potato and shoe used as asteroids. The movie costed about $18,000,000 to make.
In “Revenge of the Sith” (episode 3) you see like 2 000 space ships outside Akakin and Padme’s penthouse everytime you see a window (which is about all the time). And in the battle scenes there are literally thousands of elements whoosing around, making your head spin almost as nice as Simon Le Bon does. The movie has about 2 200 FX shots and costed $115,000,000 to make.
Number four: The 80s were the best
Both have a history of albums/movies ranging from the 70s to this day. But most fans and critics would rate the albums made in the 80s highest, and the two Star Wars from the 80s highest. On the IMDB top 250 list, the first two Star Wars movies are rated 8.7 out of 10, at 8th and 10th place. “Return of the Jedi” is number 127 with 8.1 out of 10. Episodes 1, 2 and 3 are not on the list.
The new Duran Duran album Astronaut has got some nice reviews, but nothing similiar to the reviews and sales of the golden 80s.
Number five: Both feature a wookiee
Chewbacca and Andy Taylor. Say no more.