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Star Wars

By Cathy Richey, the Cathy Factor

Star Wars: A New Hope premiered in the spring of 1977, followed by its two sequels: The Empire Strikes Back in 1981 and Return of the Jedi in 1983. It quickly became apparent that this was a science fiction trilogy unlike any previous movies of this genre, a fact emphasized by the way the movie shattered previous box-office records and won awards, including seven of the ten Academy Awards for which it was nominated.

The movies tell the story of Luke Skywalker (actor Mark Hamill) who—together with his Jedi mentors Ben "Obi-Wan" Kenobi (Alec Guinness) and Yoda, his friends Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and his two trusty androids C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker)—battles Darth Vader (David Prowse; voice, James Earl Jones) and the evil Empire to restore peace to the Galaxy.

The most obvious difference between Star Wars and its predecessors was the special effects. Computer graphics were still in their infancy in 1977, and much of the technology needed to realize director George Lucas's vision had to be developed as the production of Star Wars progressed. The advancement of computerized special effects can be seen by comparing the initial trilogy with the "special edition" versions released in 1997—Lucas had to wait for technology to catch up with his initial vision for scenes such as the Mos Eisley spaceport in Star Wars and Cloud City in The Empire Strikes Back.

The special effects in the original trilogy stunned moviegoers. For the first time, spaceships were depicted as vehicles that looked as if they had been through many battles instead of appearing as shiny flying saucers. Battle scenes looked real, and moviegoers felt as if they were in the middle of the action. Aliens displayed a wide variety of appearances rather than simply looking like bulbous-headed humans with three fingers.

The Star Wars trilogy represented the variety of worlds that humans might encounter throughout a galaxy. Planets ranged from the desert planet of Tatooine orbiting a double star to Yoda's swamp world of Dagobah, from the ice-covered world of Hoth to the Bespin with Lando Calrissian's Cloud City. Star Wars presented an array of new weapons such as the light saber and a new power, the Force, which could be used for either good or evil. Some of the concepts, such as creatures living on airless asteroids and spaceships traveling at speeds greater than the speed of light, are definitely in the realm of science fiction.

Nevertheless, there were enough scientifically reasonable concepts in the movies to make everything seem possible at some other time or place in the universe.

As a proponent of space exploration, Lucas hoped that Star Wars would excite the younger generation about space and its exploration. Lucas has said, "I would feel very good if someday they colonize Mars . . and the leader of the first colony says 'I did it because I was hoping there would be a Wookiee up there.'"

"The Phantom Menace" made $431 million in the U.S. and was nominated for three Academy Awards.
"Attack of the Clones" made $310 million in the U.S. and was nominated for an Academy Award.
"The Empire Strikes Back" made $290 million in the U.S., was nominated for four Academy Awards and won two.
"Revenge of the Sith" made $380 million in the U.S. and was nominated for an Academy Award.
"Return of the Jedi" made $309 million in the U.S., was nominated for four Academy Awards and won one.
"A New Hope" made nearly $461 million in the U.S., was nominated for 11 Academy Awards and won seven.

About Cathy: She and her Doberman Trooper conduct research into all kinds of topics and produce articles like the one you see here. To contact Cathy, write to thecathyfactor@yahoo.com. Get the facts from Cathy, and let the Cathy Factor give you an edge.

Star Wars Books

The Complete Visual Dictionary of Star Wars: The Ultimate Guide to Characters and Creatures from the Entire Star Wars Saga by DK Publishing (Hardcover - Sep 25, 2006)
Provides a complete, comprehensive overview of the Prequel movies (Episodes I-III) and the Trilogy (Episodes IV-VI), this is the definitive photographic guide to the entire Star Wars saga.

Star Wars Roleplaying Game Core Rulebook, Saga Edition by Owen K.C. Stephens and Rodney Thompson (Hardcover - Jun 5, 2007)
This new edition of the Star Wars Roleplaying Game encapsulates all six feature films while presenting a thorough revision of the rule, making the game easier to learn while improving the overall game experience.This new edition includes new character abilities and options, a world gazetteer, statistics for key characters from all six Star Wars films and the Expanded Universe, and guidelines on how to use Star Wars miniatures and battle maps in play.

The Star Wars Vault: Thirty Years of Treasures from the Lucasfilm Archives, With Removable Memorabilia and Two Audio CDs by Stephen J. Sansweet and Peter Vilmur (Hardcover - Oct 30, 2007)
It is the official illustrated book celebrating this year's 30th anniversary of George Lucas' first Star Wars movie, and includes removable reproductions of memorabilia, along with two CDs containing vintage radio ads, original cast interviews, George Lucas' commentary, and even Carrie Fisher singing in the Star Wars Holiday Special.

The Star Wars Vault is the insider's look at the development and making of all six movies, and the huge cultural impact they've had. In addition to hundreds of photos and pieces of artwork, the book includes fifty interactive, rare, and some never-before-seen pieces of memorabilia.

The Star Wars Vault is the ultimate, one-of-a-kind insider's look into the sensation that launched a phenomenon that includes six feature films; two spin-off films; three television series with more to come; and an extensive collection of licensed books, comics, video games, action figures, trading cards, and many other products worldwide.

The Complete Locations of Star Wars: Inside the Worlds of the Entire Star Wars Saga by Kristin Lund, Simon Beecroft, Kerrie Dougherty, and James Luceno (Hardcover - 2005)
Grade 4 Up–An encyclopedic view of the primary locations of all six Star Wars films. Logically arranged in the chronological progression of the movies, the text treats the material as if it were truly nonfiction, breathlessly recounting the details of the history and geography of planets such as Tatooine, the home of Luke Skywalker, and the Ewok Village from the final film. While the focus is on settings, some events are covered, such as battles and speeder chases. The book depends primarily on illustrations with some photographs from the films. The artwork has a great amount of detail on each location, and cutaways show multiple levels of such places as the Galactic Senate. The books design shows a good deal of imagination, to the point of including topographic maps like those in National Geographic, with lines and other annotations charting the course of various battles, and makes good use of foldouts. While this title makes for interesting browsing, it imparts more information than casual observers will care to process and is only for rabid Star Wars fans who cant get enough ofGeorge Lucass creation.

Collecting Star Wars Toys 1977-1997: An Unathorized Practical Guide

Star Wars: The Action Figure Archive

Star Wars: A Pop-Up Guide to the Galaxy by Matthew Reinhart (Hardcover - Oct 15, 2007)

Star Wars DVDs

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition) by Pernilla August, Kenny Baker, Brian Blessed, and Anthony Daniels (DVD - 2005)

The Phantom Menace features inexplicable plot twists, a fistful of loose threads, and some cheek-chewing dialogue. Han Solo's swagger is sorely missed, as is the pervading menace of heavy-breather Darth Vader. There is still way too much quasi-mystical mumbo jumbo, and some of what was fresh about Star Wars 22 years earlier feels formulaic. Yet there's much to admire. The special effects are stupendous; three worlds are populated with a melange of creatures, flora, and horizons rendered in absolute detail. The action and battle scenes are breathtaking in their complexity. And one particular sequence of the film--the adrenaline-infused pod race through the Tatooine desert--makes the chariot race in Ben-Hur look like a Sunday stroll through the park.

Among the host of new characters, there are a few familiar walk-ons. We witness the first meeting between R2-D2 and C-3PO, Jabba the Hutt looks younger and slimmer (but not young and slim), and Yoda is as crabby as ever. Natalie Portman's stately Queen Amidala sports hairdos that make Princess Leia look dowdy and wields a mean laser. We never bond with Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neeson), and Obi-Wan's day is yet to come. Jar Jar Binks, a cross between a Muppet, a frog, and a hippie, provides many of the movie's lighter moments, while Sith Lord Darth Maul is a formidable force. Baby-faced Anakin Skywalker (Jake Lloyd) looks too young and innocent to command the powers of the Force or wield a lightsaber (much less transmute into the future Darth Vader), but his boyish exuberance wins over skeptics.

Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition with Bonus Disc) by Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew, James Earl Jones, and Harrison Ford (DVD - 2004)

The Star Wars Trilogy had the rare distinction of becoming a cultural phenomenon, a defining event for its generation. On its surface, George Lucas's story is a rollicking and humorous space fantasy that owes debts to more influences than one can count on two hands, but filmgoers became entranced by its basic struggle of good vs. evil "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away," its dazzling special effects, and a mythology of Jedi knights, the Force, and droids. Over the course of three films--A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983)--Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and the roguish Han Solo (Harrison Ford) join the Rebel alliance in a galactic war against the Empire, the menacing Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), and eventually the all-powerful Emperor (Ian McDiarmid). Empire is generally considered the best of the films and Jedi the most uneven, but all three are vastly superior to the more technologically impressive prequels that followed, Episode I, The Phantom Menace (1999) and Episode II, Attack of the Clones (2002).

Star Wars Trilogy (Full Screen Edition ) by Kenny Baker, Phil Brown, Eddie Byrne, and Peter Cushing (DVD - 2005)

You get the three original films--A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983)--in their brilliant-looking and -sounding DVD glory. You also get both the changes that were made for the 1997 special-edition versions as well as the revisions that were made for the films' DVD debut, including Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker) being added to a scene in Jedi, Ian McDiarmid (the Emperor) replacing Clive Revill with slightly revised lines in Empire, and Temuera Morrison rerecording Boba Fett's minimal dialogue, plus some other small details.

Star Wars Trilogy (Full Screen Edition) DVD~ Harrison Ford

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Widescreen Edition) (1999) DVD~ Liam Neeson

Star Wars - Episode I, The Phantom Menace (Full Screen Edition) (1999) DVD~ Liam Neeson

The Stars of Star Wars - Interviews from the Cast (1999) DVD

Star Wars vs. Star Trek (2001) DVD

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Widescreen Edition) (2002) DVD~ Ewan McGregor

Star Wars - Episode II, Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Edition) (2002) DVD~ Ewan McGregor

Star Wars - Episode I The Phantom Menace & Episode II Attack of the Clones (Full Screen Editions) (2002) DVD

Star Wars Music

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, and Alec Guinness (Audio CD - 2004)

Music from the Star Wars Saga by John Williams (Audio CD - 2004)

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack by John Williams (Audio CD - 2002)