The
plot mainly focuses on a galaxy that is at civil war with the Rebel Alliance
fighting against the Galactic Empire.
Spies for the Rebel Alliance have stolen plans of the Galactic Empire's
Death Star, a heavily armed space station with the power to wipe out a whole planet. The rebel leader, Princess Leia played by
Carrie Fisher, has these plans, but her ship is captured by the Imperial forces
under the command of Darth Vader. Before
her capture, she hides the plans in the memory of R2-D2 along with a
holographic recording.
R2-D2
and his counterpart C-3PO escape to Tatooine and end up being sold to moisture
farmers Owen and Beru Lars and their nephew, Luke Skywalker played by Mark
Hamill. Later when Luke is cleaning
R2-D2, he accidentally triggers Leia's message where she asks for help from
someone named Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke knows
of an old hermit named Ben Kenobi and R2-D2 goes out looking for him.
Luke
goes out to find R2-D2 and ends up meeting Ben Kenobi played by the legendary
Alec Guinness who later reveals himself to be Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan tells Luke about his history as a
Jedi Knight who once fought in the Clone Wars with Luke's father, Anakin
Skywalker, before the Jedi were purged by the Empire. Obi-Wan says that Anakin was killed and
betrayed by Darth Vader, who was Obi-Wan's student before he turned to the
"dark side of the Force". He
also explains the mysterious ways of The Force and gives Luke Anakin's lightsaber.
Obi-Wan
and Luke listen to Leia's whole message pleading with Obi-Wan to bring the
Death Star plans to her home planet of Alderaan. Obi-Wan asks Luke to go with him to Alderaan and
learn the ways of the force and Luke initially declines. However, after Imperial stormtroopers burn
down his home, killing his aunt and uncle, he decides to go with Obi-Wan
because there is nothing left for him.
We
meet the smuggler Han Solo played by Harrison Ford and his co-pilot, the Wookie
Chewbacca when Obi-Wan and Luke hire them to transport them by their ship, the Millennium
Falcon. However, they discover that Alderaan
has been destroyed by the Death Star and they rescue Leia. Obi-Wan engages in a light saber duel with
Darth Vader voiced by James Earl Jones and dies in a metaphysical way rather
than a physical way. The rebels manage
to destroy the Death Star and Leia awards Luke and Han medals.
In the article, "Star Wars: A Myth for Our Time" from the academic journal, Literature Film Quarterly, the author, Andrew Gordon, writes about why the Star Wars saga is indeed a myth for our time. He goes into great detail explaining how the plot, characters, concepts, and themes in the Star Wars saga were influenced by other books, shows, and movies in pop culture and why it resonates with audiences. The author goes into describing how the Star Wars saga is representative of a space opera and epic myth and how Luke's character develops.
I
agree with the author that the director and writer, George Lucas, was inspired
by the Flash Gordon movie serials when
making Star Wars because I have heard George Lucas himself say it in numerous
interviews. George Lucas decided to
start the saga with episode 1V because he doesn't like exposition and likes to
start in the middle of all the action. This
is similar to two of his other movies, American Graffiti and Indiana Jones. He still had to write the back story though
and this later turned into the basis for the prequel trilogy.
However,
I didn't know that he was also inspired by Edgar Rice Burrough's John Carter of Mars series of
books. Now that I think about it the
setting of Tatooine looks very similar to the desert planets in the John Carter
and Dune movies. I also found it very
interesting that Star Wars shares many of the same elements with The Wizard of
Oz with Star Wars characters representing The Wizard of Oz characters. The two lead characters are also alike
because they are both held back by their aunt and uncle at a farm and defeat
wickedness.When the original Star Wars movie came out, the response was overwhelming. Nobody had ever seen anything like it before. It revolutionized pop culture. Star Wars went on to become one of the most financially successful movies of all time, which remains to this day, and was critically acclaimed by both film critics and audiences. It won 6 Academy Awards and is honored has been honored by both the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress and American Film Institute.
One
of the most memorable premieres actually happened in San Francisco at the
Coronet movie theater on Geary Boulevard at Palm Ave. in the Richmond District,
a few blocks away from where my dad used to live. I believe my dad went to one of the first
screenings at this historic movie theater, possibly even the premiere. Here are some pictures from that
unforgettable premiere. This beloved
movie theater has actually come to be known by Bay Area fans as the Star Wars
theater as huge groups of Star Wars fans have always traditionally camped
outside for the premieres of new Star Wars movies. Unfortunately the Coronet movie theater was
demolished in early 2005 before the release of Star Wars: Episode III-Revenge
of the Sith.
Do
you think Star Wars is a myth for our time?
Leave your comment below.
Yes the Star Wars is a myth.
ReplyDeleteI think in the near future it will be a real thing that occurs maybe not quite like the movie but I do think in the future if we increase our ability of space travel it will become reality.
ReplyDeleteMaybe there is a Star Wars universe a long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... We just don't know it.
DeleteYes, Star Wars is still a myth. No one would fight with light sabers when we can just kill people with a gun.
ReplyDeleteLight sabers. An elegant weapon for a more civilized age.
Deleteyes it is a myth. I don't believe in aliens
ReplyDeleteYou don't believe in aliens. Hmmm...ever heard of E.T.?
DeleteYes it is a myth, we might be able to travel in the future.
ReplyDeleteWe are already able to travel in space right now, but who knows what the future will bring.
Delete