There are certain films that are, for lack of a less pompous phrase, cultural touchstones. "Star Wars" is one of these movies. You'd have to be living under a rock in the deepest part of the Amazon to have never seen a single "Star Wars" film.
Or, apparently, in the halls of Hogwarts. Because Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, has never, ever seen a "Star Wars" film.
"I know," he told Moviefone. "Yeah, I know. It's really bad."
To be fair, Radcliffe has seen "Star Wars: Episode One -- The Phantom Menace," but that doesn't count. That's just an empty, noisy sci-fi film if you've never met Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, or Darth Vader. Without "No, Luke -- I am your father!", the prequels mean nothing. Poor Radcliffe. Even he knows what a crime against nerd nature this is.
"I was 10! I didn't know any better!"
Nevertheless, Radcliffe rallied to try and explain how he thought "Star Wars" and "Harry Potter" were alike. And he got it right.
"Any kind of a franchise where a world is created will then engender a generation of nerds," he said. "I mean, I do think of 'Potter' as being this generation's 'Star Wars.' It's something that an entire generation as lost themselves in and it's a meticulously created, detailed world. So I do think that's the closest thing to compare it to."
Well said, Mr. Radcliffe! He continues by making a rather controversial point: "Where they differ, I think there is a -- and this is my perception, I may be completely wrong -- I think there is a slightly more balanced split between the sexes in the fan base of 'Potter.' I associate 'Star Wars' as being a predominantly male thing."
Someone accio a set of Star Wars DVDS for this boy – preferably the pre-Special Edition, unaltered versions – stat. He's been at Hogwarts too long. He doesn't know what he's missing.
