Well, the only entry for this movie series I see is for the worst of the series(in my opinion) i.e Episode -II. Since the DVD of this much awaited 70’s trilogy was released just 2 months ago, I think the time’s appropriate to write a review on it. Let me warn you that the review maybe a little biased on my own feelings for Star Wars. You see, as a kid, and a girl at that, I found it in my senses to involuntarily hate anything to do with sports and space. I still hate the former, but a have a whole new love for the latter. My first exposure to SW was actually the worst of the lot....Episode II-Attack of the clones. I had to be dragged to the movie theatre kicking and screaming.
But, once in I was so awed by what the movie had to offer, there was no looking back. I quickly lapped up the other episodes and found they were much better than the one I watched first. Its fantasy and wild imagination all the way into a galaxy far far away........
The story: Well, there is not much of a story to it.The story is just an excuse for greater things in the movies. The gist of the trilogy is this - In a galaxy far far away, the galaxy was initially managed by the Republic(more like a democratic rule), but was overthrown by the Emperor...the ruler and the leader of the ’’Empire’’. A small rebellion group is formed who plan to destroy the Emperor and bring an end to his rule, thus freeing the galaxy of the suffering. Several failed attempts and nerve-wrecking battles later, the rebels win and the Empire is destroyed.Episode-wise this is what happens in the 6 movies:
Episode I - The phantom Menace - The Republic is threatened by a group of trade federation members, who wish they had more powers and control over the galaxy. The situation is managed by the Jedi Council-(a group that strongly believes in a force that binds everyone), who are also made aware of a negative force and its lord - The Sith.
Episode II - The Attack of the clones - The Republic senate finds out that several assasination attempts are being made by the trade federation, that has now joined hands with the Sith. The jedi knights again come to the rescue..esp two of them - Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kanobi. However, they are unable to capture or find out anything about the lord of the Sith, who is later called the Emperor
Episode III - Revenge of the Sith - Yet to be released movie, which sees the rise of the Empire, the wipe out of the senate and also the rise of Darth Vader- a powerful slave of the Emperor who wipes out all Jedis and is instrumental in destroying the senate
Episode IV- A new hope - Leia , the daughter of a senate member secretly helps a rebel force that plans to destroy the empire. She is joined later by Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. They make a good start by destroying a key battle station that belongs to the Empire
Episode V- As the empire seeks to avenge the destruction of the battle station, aided by Darth Vader, Leia and Han get closer and Luke trains to be a Jedi. In the end, Luke realises Vader is his father
Episode VI - Luke fights an internal battle to stay on the right side, while he also finds out Leia is his sister. Despite Vader trying to make him join the dark side of the force, Luke manages to stay on the right side and by a change of heart Vader helps him to kill the Emperor, thus destroying the Empire, but alas, Vader dies in the process too. Its freedom at last for the Galaxy.
The characters: Some of the important characters of the story -
Luke Skywalker - A young boy who happens to get caught in the middle of a rebel plan and enlists to be a part of them. He later goes on to become the last jedito fight the empire and defeat them.
Han Solo and Chewbacca- They own a spaceship called Millenium Falcon and offer to fly some rebels across planets, however they are caught on to fight the empire too and join the rebels. Han solo is human while Chewbacca is a wookie(one of the several species in the galaxy)
Leia Skywalker - She is the leader of the rebels and has more gusto than 10 men put together, her perseverance and optimism is what leads the rebels to victory...
C3PO and R2D2 - Both are Robots who are the only characters to be a part of all the 6 Episodes. They are more fun and endearing than any of the other characters.
Darth Vader - This is my ALL-TIME-FAVORITE-BAD-BOY....boy does he have style. He is the right hand to the emperor and is heartstoppingly cold and powerful with a very strong belief and practice of the ’’force’’
Review: Well, as I mentioned earlier, there is not much story to tell and there are too many characters to be analysed, so let me use this portion to comment on something that is the most important part of the film....special effects and/ animation.
God....where do I begin. George Lucas is brilliant in this field. He has not just created a web of characters, but also a host of ’’planets’’, its respective environments and habitat and also innumerable spaceships and gadgets. In order to be able to see all of the creation, you will have to watch the movies several times. The imagination of his technical and creative crew is simply unbelievable.
There’s research on every insignificant character and animal and machine and planet. That’s what makes the movie so special. There are some drawbacks however. For one, the first movie to be released was Episode 4. There was a kind of love triangle situation with Leia, Luke and Han Solo, which was mysterious, yet very interesting.
This was built up some more in Episode 5. But right at the beginning of Episode 6, its revealed that Leia is Luke’s sister!!(Eww..gross!!!) I can’t wait for May 19th 2005 for Episode III to watch Darth Vader rise to power(God he is soooooo good!!!)