Some Words About Star Wars

I just recently rewatched the eight main Star Wars films and Rogue One in preparation for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker. I think it was helpful to do so, since the separate trilogies are so far apart.

The original Star Wars film debuted in 1977, and for all intents and purposes, was meant to be a standalone film. George Lucas had no way of knowing what kind of a gargantuan movie franchise he had on his hands—and frankly, neither did the studios that rejected him.

It's hard to believe now, but back then, Sci-Fi movies were far from mainstream. Prior to Star Wars, really, most Sci-Fi movies were relegated as B-movies—low budget, low quality, cheesy takes on the future, even if the novels they were based on were well regarded.

Those that weren't such fare were probably a little more high brow, more science than fiction, like Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. Until Star Wars, there wasn't a whole lot of in between that would appeal to the masses.

I suppose Star Trek should probably get some mention for helping Sci-Fi to become a little more popular, but the original television series was cancelled after three seasons and the movies didn't begin until 1979, no doubt thanks to Star Wars, and another film, Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

I believe the success of Star Wars, and the subsequent opening of doors for many other movies, particularly throughout the 80s, wasn't because it made Science Fiction cool somehow, but because it took elements of good story telling that can be found in virtually any genre, and then added all of the Science Fictional special effects and set pieces.

Luke Skywalker is a young man yearning for more than farming in the desert of Tatooine. He wants to get offworld, see the galaxy, maybe even fight against the Empire. He has no idea who he really is, or what he might be capable of.

Han Solo is a smuggler, living the exciting, on the edge life Luke is yearning for, but it has a price. It means being fast on the draw, and even a faster talker (for getting out of trouble). He has no interest in causes, except what might further his own. And yet, there is more to him than meets the eye.

Princess Leia is right in the thick of things, with the plans to the Death Star, being captured and tortured by Darth Vader, watching her home planet being destroyed, and then finding herself being rescued by the likes of Luke and Han. At a very young age she is independent, capable and yet has probably been denied much of a normal childhood because of who she is and because of the rebellion.

This unlikely trio ends up going on a grand adventure, which creates a buddy movie with a love triangle, with space and war as backdrops. The Jedi and Sith bring in a supernatural or fantasy aspect to it, but again, those serve as plot devices to what is a classic struggle between good and evil.

If anything, the original Star Wars and subsequent trilogy is character driven. We get to see Luke, Leia and Han all change. We grow to care for them because they are not only confronting larger than life villains and events, but also overcoming their own weaknesses and failings. As they do so, they bring others to their cause because of their own growth.

A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and The Return of the Jedi not only made Sci-Fi mainstream, they set the standard. Even for their subsequent prequels and sequels. Because that bar was raised pretty high, and because of a myriad of changes in culture and sensibilities, while still box office juggernauts, for many, even those who weren't even around until well after the original trilogy came out, Episodes 1-3 and 7-9 have not been able to live up to their predecessors.

For me, it's hard to measure the others against the impact of the originals. For the most part, to see the film you had to watch it in theaters. They became iconic without the help of the internet or social media, and they weren't really aided by home entertainment availability until five years after the first movie was released. The fact that there wasn't so much to watch and so many ways to watch it actually helped, too.

Now, there's so much competing for our viewing time, along with the ability to instantly say what we think about anything, the impact of the later films, particularly this final trilogy, is diminishing, regardless of how good the films may actually be.

We live in a time period now where snark is king. It doesn't matter how good something is—if there's a way to make a meme out of it and post it on social media, that's what matters. All of that takes very little effort or ingenuity. You can cast your aspersions, give your two cents anonymously, and move onto the next meme or short quip.

I find that to be the saddest thing of all.

The idea that good can overcome evil, even against rather long if not impossible odds, is very much a message I want to hear. The thought that ordinary people can do extraordinary things when they somehow muster the will and courage to see things through still inspires. Maybe we aren't nearly as innocent as we were back in 1977, but if there is a need for anything, there is a need for hope.

I believe the original Star Wars films were very much about hope. So is at least the sequels. The prequels may depend on your point of view, since they follow Anakin Skywalker's descent to the dark side. I think we will always need to know that good can triumph over evil, that such a struggle can be happening on the small stage of the mind, heart and soul, along with fending off galactic empires or would be first orders.

While the story of Skywalker may have ended, I hope there are more films like Star Wars to be made. We have enough anti-heroes. What we need are stories of hope, where overcoming the human condition might be part of the struggle, but without so much moral ambiguity. Life might be more nuanced and complicated than dark versus light, but that doesn't mean we have to aspire to life in the shadows and the grays.

_{Images source—Pixabay}