It’s time to polish your “X-Wing” and put new batteries in your “Lightsaber,” because the “Star Wars” movie franchise is coming back! Granted, we did get an animated movie and a couple of TV series a few years ago. But now we get not one, but three new films!

“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” is the seventh film in the franchise and the first in the new trilogy. The film follows the new heroes Finn, Rey and Poe Dameron. But we get to see some of the classics like Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia and Luke Skywalker.

In “The Force Awakens,” our heroes face the new Sith Lord, Kylo Ren, who plans to finish what Darth Vader started in the original trilogy. Though we have trailers and clips of the new movie, it doesn’t seem like the plot will be leaked until the film is in theaters or we get more trailers.

Some are leery of the new films because of the prequels, but J.J. Abrams is directing the film. Abrams has been successful with the Star Trek film reboot so there is hope for “The Force Awakens”. Regardless of doubts, the film has already made $6.5 million in ticket sales alone.

On the day the new movie’s merchandise got released, Disney made over $3 billion. So no matter how well or how poor the film does, it has already made over its initial cost of $200 million. But regardless of this, it seems like “Star Wars” will always be a staple of movie world.

It seems that every few years we either get a new television show or new movie that is direct to disk. We also see families passing down the films from generation to generation.  My parents were never into “Star Wars,” but it was my cousin Gabe who started me on the path of the force.

He gave me a Jar Jar Binks glow in the dark stencil and it was all downhill from there. I started to watch the movies and buy the toys and games. I would pretend to be a Jedi with friends when we would play outside. So when the trailers and merchandise came out, I jumped on it. “Star Wars” become a global phenomenon.

But why is that?

Is it because of the visual effects, or maybe the plot? Maybe it’s the crazy fight scenes or character development? Whatever it is, it’s done right.

The franchise is more than just films, games and toys. “Star Wars” is its own life force. It has brought people together through conventions, chat groups, and even themed weddings. “Star Wars” is almost a way of life.

What I love the most about “Star Wars” isn’t the movies or toys. It’s that it brings families together. Gabe is passing down his love of the franchise to his two boys. Because of this I’m making a strong bond with his sons and I too hope to pass on something “Star Wars” to them like their father did to me.