Tango Like a Jedi: Joey Fatone

Fatone knows well what hardcore fans are like, being one himself. Born the same year A New Hope debuted, it seems Star Wars fandom was always part of his destiny. "I was born in 1977, so it wasn't until I was a little bit older that I got to see Return of the Jedi in the theater," Fatone recalls. "I was fascinated by the whole thing and how awesome it was. Being a kid I would think about the stars and what it must be like to travel to different galaxies and believing that there was something else out there. It was an overwhelming experience to see the films as a kid. But then later as you grow up you really start to appreciate the saga more and more, and you still keep that wonderment you have as a kid inside."

As part of his appreciation, Fatone is an avid Star Wars collector. "My brother and I collected all the toys when we were kids but instead of keeping them in the box we actually played with them," Fatone remembers. "Now I have all different kinds of Star Wars items in my collection. From FAO Schwartz, I have a bronze statue of Darth Vader, of Boba Fett, and the rancor monster. And they're really heavy. I have the limited edition Queen Amidala dolls. I also collect the original speeder bikes that are still in the box; and a lot more. It really varies. I really like collecting all kinds of things that have to do with Star Wars. When Episode I came out with all the new toys I got a lot of those."

In addition to his collectibles, he also created a one-of-a-kind room to show off his love for the saga and watch the films at the same time. "In my old house I had built a Star Wars theater," Fatone says. "Right before you walked in the room, you put your hand on a handprint and the door would slide open. There was a medical droid to your right that would take your ticket. Then you would walk in and the door would close behind you, it was the Han Solo in carbonite on the back of the door. It also had a fiber optic ceiling and the projector was hiding inside the Death Star. But when I moved to another place I had to dismantle the room and put it in storage."

Fatone still manages to find fun ways to see the films with his friends and family. "I have a blow-up movie screen I sometimes put in front of my house and every once in a while I'll put couches out and watch a Star Wars film. I watched Episode I not too long ago and it was fun to see it again. It's the type of movie you'll never get bored watching over and over again. Of course, it was Return of the Jedi that really made me a fan. But to see them again nowadays you can't help but compare the experiences. It's so funny that so many die-hard Star Wars fans think that the prequels will never be as good as the originals. Considering the technology the films have now gone through, it's just amazing what they've accomplished with the prequels."

"They're all just feel-good, fun, heroic movies," Fatone adds. "It's the classic good versus evil kind of thing. In films you see how each side take wins and takes the balance of power away from the other. It also has a little bit of the love story, but also exciting battles. And believe it or not the whole story really is about R2-D2's life because he's in all six films and he's the only one who really knows everything that's going on."