Star Wars (film series)
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Films
The original trilogy (sometimes referred to as the Classic Trilogy) is a term used to describe the first three films released in the Star Wars saga. The original trilogy is also sometimes used to describe the original versions of the first three Star Wars films released as opposed to the versions released in theaters in 1997 or on DVD in 2004 with some changes made. In 2006, Lucasfilm released the original unaltered versions of the films, following the release of the 2004 remastered edition of the trilogy several months before. They are:
- Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (originally released as Star Wars) (1977)
- Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
- Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983)
The prequel trilogy is a term used to describe the three films of the Star Wars saga whose events take place before the original trilogy. They are:
- Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999)
- Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002)
- Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
General synopsis
Original Trilogy
The original trilogy, which picks up 19 years after the events of the prequel trilogy, centers around Luke Skywalker, a farmboy of the planet Tatooine. Luke, restless for adventure, joins the ragtag Rebel Alliance in its struggle to overthrow the evil Galactic Empire. He trains to become a Jedi Knight like his father, whom he believes to have been killed by the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. He is profoundly shaken upon learning that his father is actually Darth Vader himself.
Luke successfully resists the efforts of Vader and Emperor Palpatine to turn him to the dark side of the Force; instead, he turns his father away from the dark side, while the Rebel fleet scores a decisive victory against the Empire to end the Galactic Civil War. Moments from death, Vader begs his son to take off his breathing mask so he can look at Luke "with his own eyes". Luke complies and for the first time, father and son truly see each other. In his dying breaths, Anakin Skywalker is redeemed, finally admitting to Luke that the good within him was not destroyed after all.
Prequel Trilogy
The prequel trilogy follows the upbringing of Anakin Skywalker, a child of parthenogenesis who is discovered by the Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn. He is believed to be the "Chosen One" foretold by Jedi prophecy to bring balance to the Force. The Jedi Council, led by Yoda, sense that his future is clouded with fear, but reluctantly allow Qui-Gon's apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi to train Anakin after Qui-Gon is killed by the Sith Lord Darth Maul. At the same time, the planet Naboo is under attack, and its queen, Padmé Amidala, seeks the assistance of the Jedi to repel the attack. The Sith Lord Darth Sidious secretly planned the attack to give his alias, Senator Palpatine, a pretense to overthrow the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic.
The remainder of the prequel trilogy chronicles Anakin's fall to the dark side, as Sidious attempts to create two opposing armies to defeat the Jedi and lure Anakin to be his apprentice. Anakin and Padmé fall in love and eventually she becomes pregnant with twins. Anakin soon succumbs to his anger, becoming Darth Vader, and he exterminates almost the entire Jedi Order, culminating in a lightsaber battle between him and Obi-Wan on the volcanic planet Mustafar. After defeating his former apprentice, Obi-Wan leaves Vader to burn near a river of lava, but Sidious arrives shortly after to save Vader and put him into the iconic black armor and respirator that keeps Vader alive throughout the original trilogy. After the birth of the Skywalker twins, Padmé dies of a broken heart and Obi-Wan and Yoda decide to separate the twins so they won't be discovered by the newly formed Empire.
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Critical and commercial reaction
The first three films were very successful at the box office. A New Hope was also immediately praised by critics and audiences alike. The Empire Strikes Back however initially received mixed reviews, though as time moved on, the film's esteem grew, and it is now considered by most critics to be the best of the entire Star Wars saga. Return of the Jedi received more positive reviews than its predecessor initially did, though most critics now consider it to be the weakest of the original trilogy. All three films were also nominated for many Academy Awards (winning 7 for A New Hope, 2 for The Empire Strikes Back, and 1 for Return of the Jedi).
While all three prequel films were also huge commercial successes (The Phantom Menace in particular breaking box office records for an opening weekend), critical reaction was mixed. The films were generally commended for their greatly-improved visual effects (done by CGI) and lightsaber fights (courtesy of stunt instructor Nick Gillard's choreography), but the acting from some characters and screenwriting featured in them were panned. Jake Lloyd and Hayden Christensen, the two actors who portrayed Anakin, were both nominated for the Golden Raspberry, or "Razzie" award, for "Worst Supporting Actor," (Christensen "won" the award twice) [1] while the first two films in the series were nominated for "Worst Picture" awards. [2] [3] The Phantom Menace was especially panned for the character Jar Jar Binks, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's bumbling sidekick; fans and critics alike lambasted the character as an obnoxious ploy to sell merchandise and appeal to child audiences. The character, who spoke in a slow-witted, cartoonish dialect, was even decried as a racist caricature similar to Stepin Fetchit. Lucas emphatically denied such assertions. [4] This inspired the "Phantom Edit" made by critics. Attack of the Clones received slightly better reviews (most likely because Jar Jar's role in it was greatly reduced), though it was heavily criticized for stiff dialogue, particularly the romantic scenes between Anakin and Padmé.
Revenge of the Sith received more favorable reviews, making it the critically best-received of the trilogy. The acting received higher marks than that featured in the previous two films, especially that of Ewan McGregor as the noble Obi-Wan and Ian McDiarmid as the evil Palpatine. The script was generally seen as an improvement (playwright Tom Stoppard performed an uncredited rewrite), but still received a great deal of criticism, particularly the dialogue in the romantic scenes between Anakin and Padmé once again; Film critic Roger Ebert wrote that "greeting cards are more heartfelt" than that dialogue although Ebert give the movie a very positive review (3.5/4 Stars). Author Neal Stephenson has pointed out that the prequels are unlike the original trilogy in that much of the films make no sense without an understanding of the unpresented backstory.[5]
Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008)
In February 2008, it was revealed that a new computer animated Star Wars film, titled Star Wars: The Clone Wars, is to be released on August 15, 2008. The film will be all in animation feature set between Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith and the launch of a new Star Wars animated television series. [6] [7]
References
- ^ Razzies© 2006 Nominees for Worst Supporting Actor
- ^ Razzies.com - Home of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation
- ^ Razzies.com - Home of the Golden Raspberry Award Foundation
- ^ BBC News | Entertainment | Star Wars: Lucas strikes back
- ^ Turn On, Tune In, Veg Out
- ^ [1][dead link]
- ^ New Star Wars film to hit cinemas this year - Yahoo! Movies UK
