Star Wars Movies’ Legacy
Yellow words appear on an empty star field; “Star Wars: A New Hope“. This is how thousands of people saw the movie series in the theaters. George Lucas, the movie producer, started filming the Star Wars series in the year 1977. At that period of time, America was in a state of trouble and war. People were tense and worried about the wars happening around the world, as hardships and problems kept growing. Then, Lucasfilm shot a movie, called “Star Wars”, which would change the film industry and the world forever.
The Plot
There are a total of nine Star Wars movies, divided into three sections (the Prequels Trilogy, Original Trilogy, and Sequel Trilogy). The three trilogies focus on a character, part of the Skywalker family, and Sheev Palpatine (Emperor, Darth Sidious). There are spin-off series, such as The Mandalorian, Andor, Solo, Rogue One, Ahsoka, and many more, but the main are the three trilogies.
The Prequel Trilogy consists of (1999) The Phantom Menace, (2002) Attack of the Clones, and (2005) Revenge of the Sith. Here, the protagonist is Anakin Skywalker and the antagonist is Sheev Palpatine (Darth Sidious). It is the story of how Anakin is freed from being a slave on the desert planet, Tatooine, and trains to be a Jedi.
He meets several people, like Obi-Wan Kenobi (his master and a Jedi), Padmé Amidala (a Senator and later to be his wife), Jar Jar Binks (a Gungan and loyal friend), Qui-Gon Jinn (Obi-Wan’s master and a Jedi), and Darth Maul (a Sith Lord that kills Obi-Wan’s master). By the lure of Palpatine (Darth Sidious), he turns into a Sith Lord and becomes Darth Vader. Palpatine becomes the Emperor and the entire galaxy falls under his rule of the Empire. Thus begins a period of darkness and war.
The Original Trilogy is (1977) A New Hope, (1980) The Empire Strikes Back, and (1983) The Return of the Jedi. The main character is Anakin Skywalker’s son, Luke Skywalker. Luke travels across the galaxy in the three films, learning his way of a Jedi, meeting friends like Han Solo (a smuggler, pilot, and pirate), Princess Leia Organa (a princess and a general of the Rebellion), Chewabacca (Chewie) (a loyal Wookie and first mate to Han), Obi-Wan (Old Ben) Kenobi (a Jedi Master), C-3PO (a golden droid), R2-D2 (an astromech droid), and many others. He also encounters several enemies, like Darth Vader (a Sith Lord and his father), Emperor Palpatine (Darth Sidious), Jabba the Hutt, and the Empire. The Rebellion finally destroys the Empire and the galaxy is finally free of its rule.
The Sequel Trilogy includes (2015) The Force Awakens, (2017) The Last Jedi, and (2019) The Rise of Skywalker. The films focus on Rey, a scavenger from another desert planet, Jakku. During the process of the three movies, she meets friends like Poe Dameron (a Resistance pilot), Finn (used to be a stormtrooper, now a rebel against the First Order), Ben Solo (Kylo Ren) (the son of Leia Organa and Han Solo, a mix between Jedi and Sith Lord), and BB-8 (an astromech droid, similar to R2-D2). Even though the galaxy is free from the Empire, a new group called the First Order is ready to return the original power of the Empire from the past. Rey seeks out Luke Skywalker and learns the way of a Jedi, ultimately defeating her “grandfather”, Sheev Palpatine (Darth Sidious). Kylo Ren is the “antagonist” as he fights against Rey several times, but turns good at his last breath, the two fighting together to go against Palpatine. Rey takes on the name “Skywalker” in honor of the Skywalker family as the Skywalker saga ends.
The Cast
Here’s a list of the actors that played for the most famous characters in Star Wars (This is NOT the entire characters’ list):
Anakin Skywalker- (Several actors have played Anakin Skywalker over the nine original movies; some played for voices, others for the figures. The most famous is Hayden Christensen.)
Ben Solo- Adam Driver
Boba Fett- Temuera Morrison
Chewbacca (Chewie)- Peter Mayhew
C-3PO- Anthony Daniels
Finn- John Boyega
Han Solo- Harrison Ford
Lando Calrissian- Billy Dee Williams
Leia Organa- Carrie Fisher
Luke Skywalker- Mark Hamill
Obi-Wan (Ben) Kenobi- Ewan McGregor
Padmé Amidala- Natalie Portman
Poe Dameron- Oscar Isaac
Rey Skywalker- Daisy Ridley
Sheev Palpatine- Ian McDiarmid
The Legacy
The Star Wars movies have triggered an effect of things following after the movies’ publishing. Action figures, books, costumes, apparel, LEGO, you name it! Walt Disney World has their own Star Wars’ world, complete with merchandise and amusement parks. Several books from the movies have been published and action figures were and still are collected by fans today. Perhaps Star Wars LEGO is the most popular these days. Star Wars fans have eagerly bought and built famous vehicles like the Death Star and the Millennium Falcon. John William’s music and scores have been performed by several different orchestras, some even led by the composer himself! On May 4th, it is called Star Wars Day (May the Fourth Be With You)!
Star Wars has changed the world entirely, with its story of Anakin, Luke, and Rey and the wonderful world of science-fiction. As each generation begins and ends, I hope that Star Wars will be a part of their childhood forever.
A long time ago in a galaxy far far away….
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https://vocal.media/geeks/the-legacy-of-star-wars-exploring-the-cultural-phenomenon
https://www.wired.com/story/why-i-love-star-wars-explained/
https://www.umc.org/en/content/why-do-we-love-star-wars
https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/102215/why-star-wars-franchise-so-valuable.asp
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