Star Wars - Where Science Meets Imagination: review and photo gallery

by Erin Rice

I knew my geek side would not be able to rest until I had tripped over to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History to check out Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination. At last, I can be at peace knowing I shelled out my $15 (ok, my parents' $15) to see some key pieces of movie history. The force is now at balance with this one.

Though priced a little steeply, I definitely recommend this exhibit for anyone who's a fan of either Star Wars or just imagination coming to life in film. I was expecting simply to see costumes, models, and explanations of them, but I was surprised. The exhibit did a very thorough job of tying what was seen in the film to its real life influences. Broken into two basic sections, the first part, Getting Around focused largely on some of the different planets in the Star Wars series, including Hoth, the ice planet, and Tatooine, the desert planet, and the types of travel used. Screens were set throughout the area explaining the conditions and forms of life found on the planets, and then would point to a location on earth that is very similar and draws various conclusions. Also spread throughout were learning stations, where kids (and some adults) could learn about the forms of travel on the planets and what types of technology exist now that inspired the fictional machines. Most of the stations were hands-on, allowing learners to try to put together their own magnetic hover vehicles or even pretend to outsmart Jawas.

The next half of the first area was more concerned with the modes of interplanetary travel, with models of an X-Wing Starfighter, the Millenium Falcon, and more. Throughout this section there were no real stations that I can remember, but the models themselves were fun to peruse and learn more about.

The second area, Robots and People, focused on the droids and the robotic technology behind them. In this section, there were some costumes including Leia's famous white, draping number ("Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope,"), and Han Solo's snazzy earth-toned, ragtag ensemble, but the people weren't primary. Detailing a wide range of how droids were used in the trilogies, the models ranged from R2D2 and C-3PO to medical droids and pit droids. Of course, there was the ever-famous, man-machine himself, Mr. Darth Vader. Towards the end of this section, there were a number of stations that compared the movie droids to earthly robotics, talking about issues facing robotic engineers such as bi-pedal walking, balance, and sensory capabilities. The tour itself ended with a 10-minute movie discussing the different advances scientists are making in getting closer to the Star Wars ideal of an R2 or 3PO.

While I enjoyed the exhibit I will provide the following criticism. I would like to have seen more movie memorabilia. I'm one of those Star Wars fans, that while not completely obsessed, definitely notices when key pieces of the puzzle are missing. For instance, despite some explanations of the organic characters in the first section of the museum, there tons of figures missing. A nice life-size Jabba the Hut would have been pretty cool, or even the creepy little laughing guy at his feet that my brother could frighteningly mimic to sheer perfection. I would have liked some mention of the planet Bespin and the Cloud City where Lando Calrissian resided. And I have just two, made-up words: Boba Fett. (To be fair, this is exactly how I felt with the X-Men movies too. Where the hell was Gambit for crying out loud? Not once in three films? Was it because he's French? So disappointing.)

Granted, a museum exhibit to fit in everything Star Wars would take up a large warehouse, so I can't complain considering the pieces that I did get to view today. We also did not spring for the guided, palm pilot tour, where you could listen to additional interviews with the creators of the film and the associated technologies (I will keep that $5, thank you very much). A bright light in the exhibit are the learning stations, which certainly make it something you can bring the kiddies to that will keep them entertained. That way, you don't have to admit to being a complete nerd; you can write it off as an educational experience for the who-o-o-ole family. Yeah. Right. Whatever, nerd.

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