Movie memories.(editor's note)(Editorial)

Summer is officially here. The season means many things to many people: for children, ending the school year; for teens, starting a summer job; for adults, taking that long-awaited vacation. It is a time for picnics, family cookouts, and sports events--from Major League Baseball games to those played by Little Leaguers. It is also a time to beat the summer heat and head to the air-conditioned theaters for the highly anticipated action/adventure/suspense movies.

Ever since Jaws broke the $100 million threshold for ticket sales in 1975, studios began re-evaluating release schedules, realizing that viewers were quick to flock to theaters from May through August to see spectacular pictures, that is, those with big budgets, big action, and big effects. In addition to reaping over-the-top box-office revenue, the studios want these films to be memorable, particularly when it comes to Academy season. And indeed, quite a few of these summer movies--at least certain lines or scenes--are ingrained in our memory. In fact, the mere mention of one of these titles can bring back personal memories of a long-forgotten event or period in our lives--more or less insignificant happenings, but those that make us smile.

Let's start at the beginning, with Jaws. I am sure there are more than a few of you who, whether you will admit it or not, looked twice before diving into your clear, chlorinated pool to make sure there wasn't an unexpected fin cutting the water surface. Two summers later, a new cultural phenomena was born when George Lucas introduced Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Darth Vader, and Yoda, and in the process, redefined the science-fiction genre--a trend he continues to this day with the upcoming Clone Wars, scheduled for August. Throughout this nearly 30-year span, how many young boys were recruited as lightsaber-wielding Jedi, ...