Star Wars is a franchise that few can rival. Star Trek thinks it can, but it often has to be saved by Star Wars in order to survive. The two trilogies of Star Wars Films, the original trilogy, Episode IV, V, and VI, released in 1977, 1980, and 1983 respectively, and the Prequel trilogy Episodes I, II, and III, released in 1999, 2002 and 2005 respectively, are unique films in that they were made in reverse order. George Lucas created an extraordinary space opera, that pioneered in storytelling, special effects, and revolutionized movies as we know them.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, while part of the public consciousness today, should not overlook the importance of the bombshell revelation during the fight between Vader and Luke.
“No, I am your father?”
Darth Vader, the pinnacle of evil in the galaxy, the man everyone wanted to see dead, became a multifaceted character that left audiences the audiences conflicted just as our hero Luke was. How could he be Luke’s Father? How could someone so good and pure like Luke come from an evil monster such as Vader? To the Pre-Prequel Audience it did not make sense. The Prequel trilogy took the mystery of the fall of Anakin Skywalker and made the Star Wars Saga, not Luke’s story, but the story of the Rise, the Fall, and ultimately the redemption of Anakin Skywalker. At least for the First 6 now that 7-8-9 has been green lighted.
I am not a prequel hater, I love the prequels, and Revenge of the Sith is my favorite Star Wars Film. Yes there are flaws, cough Hayden Christensen cough, sorry something in my throat, but I do feel as if the Star Wars saga flows into one cohesive story. The question all fans must ask is, how do you watch the 6 films to make the most of the story. 1-6, 4-6:1-3 etc...
The official Murphy Brothers blog to watching the Star Wars films can be classified as such.
Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
The reasons can be described as such. Episode IV is the perfect introduction to the Star Wars universe. Taking the archetypes of good and evil, and exploring the conflicts between the Rebel alliance and the Galactic Empire. It is the opening act to the entirety of the saga and the one that all newcomers to Star Wars should watch first.
Episode V takes our established heroes and explore the intricacies of their personalities into a much deeper level than Episode IV could have. The stakes are higher for our characters, and the conflicts left lasting influence for the Skywalker clan and the galaxy as a whole. Then comes the emotional ending to Empire.
“No I am your father.”
If you start the Star Wars Saga fresh for the first time, having Episode IV and V being the first two films that you watch. The shock, at least cinematically, of Vader’s revelation is new, and it is entirely unexpected. You are left wondering how it could be possible and you wish to find out.
Therefore to have your questions of the fall of Darth Vader, upon finishing Empire Strikes Back, go back and treat the Prequel trilogy as one six hour long flashback.
There are many story elements I felt in the Star Wars Prequel that I felt were shoehorned in to tie them into the original trilogy. C3PO being created by Anakin Skywalker, and having his memory wiped makes the Star Wars galaxy seem incredibly small. One of my major complaints of the Prequel Trilogy is, if Bail Organa is the adoptive father of Leia, then we should have had more of an exploration of his character.
Secondly, through treating the Prequels as a flashback instead of one part of a continuous story, you can come to terms with whom Darth Vader is in the context of the original trilogy. While I do love the Phantom Menace, the threat in that story, The Republic vs. The Trade Federation, I do not think is large enough if you do not grasp that is one cog leading to the threat in the old trilogy of the Rebellion vs. the Empire.
You close off the Star Wars Saga by resuming the old trilogy with the Final Chapter, Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi. Upon hearing the Darth Vader is Anakin Skywalker, discover how he fell to the evil Darth Vader, see what happened to the Jedi order, and then conclude as to how the 6-Episode saga has its happy ending. The Story of the first 6 Episodes of Star Wars is the rise, the fall, and the redemption of Anakin Skywalker.
If you had asked me this time last year, should they continue the Star Wars saga with 7-8-9. I would have said absolutely not. The 2 trilogy saga is perfection in the opening and closing of the Star Wars universe. The Star Wars universe can continue through the spectacular cartoon series that is the Clone Wars and the myriad of novels, games, and comic books in the Expanded Universe (EU).
However nearly a year ago, George Lucas sold his company Lucasfilms LTD, to the Walt Disney Company for 4 Billion dollars and announced the release of Star Wars Episode 7, another trilogy, and a whole host of spinoff films. My reaction...
“No!!!!! No!!!! That’s not true!!!! That’s impossible!!!!”
After a couple of weeks of grieving and moaning, I came to the realization, that Disney is an excellent owner of companies. If the Marvel Movies are any indicator Star Wars will be just fine. Star Wars is the foundation of my geekdom, and the thought of Lucasfilms releasing dozens of Star Wars films in the next 10-20 years, is truly incredible.
So while the increase in the number of Star Wars films, episodes and otherwise, will increase exponentially. Those episodes solely focusing on Anakin Skywalker shall in my mind be
4-5-1-2-3-6
But we at Murphy Brothers Goes to the Movies cannot wait for 7-8-9.
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