The force was strong with George Lucas 27 years ago. Since the first shot of a massive Star Destroyer panning over the screen, Lucas was able to hypnotize an entire generation of fans with his futuristic films. Since then, the series has made billions at the box office and in merchandising.

But it has never been seen in one important market. One of the most requested DVDs since the format’s conception seven years ago is now finally being released — the original “Star Wars” trilogy.

Charles Silet, professor emeritus of English, says the trilogy captivated people because there was an unchecked desire for fantasy films.

“It tapped into all kinds of things,” he says. “We’re fascinated by myths and quests, those kinds of stories. [The trilogy] helped turn on a whole generation to science fiction.”

But what really influenced the movie industry and captivated an audience was the amazing visuals Lucas put on the screen, Silet says. A few films before, such as “2001: A Space Odyssey,” had heavy special effects, but it was “Star Wars” that showed the potential success of visual films.

“It simply proved the bankability of special effects,” Silet says. “You would have to spend a lot of money, but you’d get a lot of money back.”

The technical work Lucas put into the films was no doubt another reason people were captivated by “Star Wars,” Silet says.

“Suddenly, movies could do things that no movie had been able to do before,” Silet says. “Before, [most science-fiction] films looked pretty cheesy.”

Brandon Daiker, junior in English and longtime fan, says the trilogy had a basic story, but the simplicity helped keep it interesting.

“It was your classic good vs. evil story,” he says. “We always love rooting for the rebellious guys. Since it doesn’t bother too much with the small details, it was able to stay interesting.”

Daiker says his passion for the series has waned since high school. With the upcoming release of the trilogy DVD, Daiker says it will most likely renew his interest in the series, if even for a short while.

“It’s not as prevalent in my mind anymore,” he says. “But I’m excited about [the DVDs].”

And Daiker is not the only one looking forward to the release. Chris Johnson, store manager of Hastings, 620 Lincoln Way, says questions about the release have been a relentless barrage for years.

“People have been asking, and asking and asking about [Star Wars] during the past few Christmas seasons,” he says. “Now, we’re able to fulfill that want.”

In preparation for the release, Johnson says the store decided to hold a midnight sale Monday night so hardcore fans can get the trilogy at the first possible moment.

“‘Star Wars’ is a classic, a cult classic,” he says. “It’s been so anticipated and wanted. We want to be the first to be able to get the product out to the people.”

That’s not to say all fans are eagerly looking forward to this release. In 1997, Lucas went back to his films and altered some effects and added in new scenes, in the process infuriating some hardcore fans who prefer the original look.

“The film purist in me is very bothered by it,” Daiker says. “I can watch the old version with the crappy lightsaber effects and matte lines. I would like to see that preserved because that’s the original art of ‘Star Wars.'”

But Daiker also says he can understand the decision from Lucas’ point of view.

“If I were behind it, like Lucas, I’d want to make the films look as good as they could be,” he says.

While the devoted fans will spend countless hours arguing over the changes, Silet says the release will be a simple enjoyment for normal or casual fans.

“It’s a nostalgia trip, a chance for people to relive their misspent youth in the theater eating Jujubes,” he says.