Gire: All 'Star Wars,' all the time

Nothing but 'Star Wars'!

Why did the first "Star Wars" trilogy work for everyone around the world, but the second trilogy fell flat? I'll tell you the secret ingredient that made the difference in this week's Time out! Sunday.

Meanwhile, I'll also explain what the second trilogy lacked when I appear on ABC 7 during the 8 a.m. hour on Sunday, Dec. 13.

By the way, if you're going to see "The Force Awakens" on opening night, Thursday, Dec. 17, shoot me a short review at dgire@dailyherald.com.

40 years of criticism

Forty years ago Tuesday, I began my excellent adventure as a government reporter for the Herald newspaper. (It would become a daily three years later.)

Soon, I was transferred to the crime desk covering six municipal cop shops, the Illinois State Police and a regional task force targeting drugs in the Northwest suburbs. Next, I was assigned to the Metro Desk to cover the Cook County criminal courts Monday through Thursday, returning to the crime desk on Sunday nights.

In 1978, the Herald added a Sunday paper and created a Sunday arts and entertainment staff.

I got the job as film critic because I had taken college classes in cinema history and appreciation, plus written, directed, shot and edited two 16 mm movie shorts, one of which, "The Student Cops," shared a top prize at the 1976 Eastern Illinois University film festival.

I must confess that initially I was reluctant. But I couldn't wait to call my wife, Peggy, and tell her the news, that I would become the Daily Herald's first full-time film critic.

Dead silence on the phone.

She finally said, "Are you're even qualified to do this?"

So, I left behind the world of hard news to join the ranks of arts and entertainment writers.

And it has been a grand and excellent adventure, a dream job that has enabled me to hang out for a short time with mythic figures such as John Huston, Otto Preminger, Charlton Heston, Robert Altman, Bob Fosse, Lillian Gish, Lauren Bacall, Jack Nicholson, John Hughes, Spike Lee, James Mason, Chuck Norris, Bernardo Bertolucci, Francois Truffaut, Harrison Ford. Too many to list.

Of course, any arts critic is bound to attract feedback from an adoring public over so many years. I've gone through letters, emails and phone mail to compile 10 of my favorite expressions of public feedback. I hope you enjoy them here as much as I enjoyed first receiving them:

1. "I admire your work very much. I enjoy it. Perhaps it could be better."

2. "Please grow up and open your mind a little."

3. "I sent (your review) to a group of nuns who are praying for you."

4. "I began pondering how this Dann Gire idiot could review or see any movie with his head stuck so far up his (butt)."

5. "You'd better check yourself in somewhere."

6. "I am sure history will show Mr. Gire to be a pathetic, little man bent on not educating the public, but on being overly critical, vitriolic and nasty."

7. "I can't believe a newspaper would hire the likes of crud like you."

8. "Your arrogance is exceeded only by your blind obstinacy."

9. "I was published by age 15 and had more taste even then than Mr. Gire does now."

10. "You're the greatest film critic in the world! Next to Roger Ebert."

'Home Alone' hits 25

John Hughes' hit Christmas comedy "Home Alone" turns 25 this holiday season. The 1990 feature was shot at several Chicago-area locations, including a Winnetka house on Lincoln Avenue that became the home defended by little Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin) from two burglars (Daniel Stern and Joe Pesci).

While visiting the Winnetka set in 1990, I filed a news feature for WFLD Fox TV News. You can watch it at bit.ly/1IQ0fC2.

Film critics notebook:

• "Home Alone" will be shown at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Woodstock Theatre, 209 Main St., Woodstock. Admission is only $1! Go to classiccinemas.com.

• You can also see a free showing of "Home Alone" at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Elk Grove Theatre, 1050 Arlington Heights Road, Elk Grove Village. classiccinemas.com.

• "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" comes to the big screen once more at noon Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Catlow Theatre, 116 W. Main St. Barrington. Admission is $6. Go to thecatlow.com.

• A free showing of Jim Carrey's comedy "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" will be presented at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the Cinema 12 Theatre, 100 LW Besinger Drive, Carpentersville. Parents are advised to bring cameras, as St. Nick might drop by. Go to classiccinemas.com.

• The Tivoli Theatre's Annual Holiday Film Festival begins at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 13, with Nancy Meyers' "The Holiday." The R-rated action classic "Die Hard" follows at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 14, with "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 15, and "White Christmas" at 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 16, at the Tivoli, 5021 Highland Ave., Downers Grove. Early arrivals can enjoy a singalong accompanied by the Tivoli's famous Wurlitzer Theatre pipe organ. Admission is $5. Buy tickets at the box office or at classiccinemas.com.

• Yep, another free holiday screening! This one's for "Elf" at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, at the York Theatre, 150 N. York St., Elmhurst. Go to classiccinemas.com.

• Dann Gire's Reel Life column runs Friday in Time out!