Skipping a few years in our Movies of our Lives series, I fast forward to 1973 in order to discuss the movie that built an empire (pun intended): George Lucas's American Graffiti. Made for under $1 million, the huge success of this movie paved the way for 4 decades and counting of space ships and wookies.  But outside of the Star Wars context does Graffiti stand on its own? We discuss.