The Force (Re)Awakens: A Star Wars Post

In celebration of the new Star Wars movie-for which I'm absolutely stoked for- I decided to write a post on the evolution of the Star Wars film saga.

The first ever Star Wars movie came out in 1977, it was entitled Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope. The plot of this film focused on the Rebel Alliance, led by Princess Leia played by Carrie Fisher and their effort to destroy the Death Star (the Galactic Empire's Space Station). This conflict interrupts Luke Skywalker's (played by Mark Hamill) quite farmland life, and he accidentally gets involved by taking robots that have plans for the potential destruction of the Death Star.

The sequel to Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back was released in 1980. This followup is set three years into the future of A New Hope when the Galactic Empire's has fallen under the rule of Darth Vader and the Emperor Palpatine. Luke Skywalker's is taken under the wing of Jedi Master Yoda to study and master the Force. In the meantime, Darth Vader is on a mission to eliminate the Rebel Alliance whose purpose is to bring him and the Emperor Palpatine down. Ultimately, Luke has to decide whether to finish studying the Force and become a Jedi Knight or cast it aside and come to his friends' aid.

Star Wars: The Return of the Jedi (1983) takes place a year after The Empire Strikes Back, the dilemma in this one is now strictly the Emperor Palpatine whose plan is to build a second Death Star to get rid of the Rebel Alliance one and for all. Meanwhile, Luke (who always seems to be doing his own thing) is trying to bring back Darth Vader, who turns out to be Luke's father Anakin, a formerly fallen Jedi, from the Dark Side of the Force.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace was released at the turn of the century (1999) with an entirely new cast including Liam Neeson, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Jake Lloyd and more, is a prequel to the original film; set thirty-two years prior, it follows Jedi Knight Qui-Gon Jinn and his protégé Obi-Wan Kenora who provide protection to Queen Amidala to ensure a peaceful end to an on-going intergalactic conflict. Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker's former arch nemesis and recently discovered father joins Qui-Gon Jinn and Obi-Wan with his mysterious powers of the Force to defeat the Sith, an ancient interstellar organization that takes leadership by force (pun intended) 

Star Wars: The Attack of the Clones (2002) is set subsequent to the events of the previous installment, the result is a galaxy close to plunging into civil war, many planetary systems close to separating themselves from the Galactic Republic, and now there's an attempt at the life of Senator Padme Amidala, the former Queen of Naboo Jedi Anakin Skywalker is assigned to protect her from her assassins and his master Obi-Wan Kenobi looks for the assassins. 

Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith (2005) In this last installment of the prequel trilogy of the Star Wars saga, the Jedi are assigned to all different parts of the galaxy, with a enormous clone army in battle with the Separationists. The Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi is set to get rid of the leader of the Separationists army,  General Grievous. On the other hand, Anakin Skywalker grows closer to Palpatine, the now Chancellor of the Galactic Republic, and secretly a Sith Lord. As they grow closer, they're friendship threatens the order of the Jedi. Eventually, mislead Anakin gets the power of the Dark Force and becomes Darth Vader. 

Star Wars: The Force (Re)Awakens, it's been a decade since the last Star Wars film, a lot has happened in the film industry since then. However, contrary to the fears of long time fans of the Star Wars saga, the latest Star Wars movie has stayed true to its own. Set thirty years after the destruction of the second Death Star of the Galactic Empire, Luke Skywalker, the last of the Jedi has disappeared. Now, the First Order is rising from the ashes of the defeated Galactic Empire and wants to put an end to Skywalker and the Republic once and for all. Leia Organa, the leader of the Resistance (for the Republic), and Luke's sister searches for Luke to enlist his help in putting down the First Order for the last time. 

Except, it won't exact be the last time. Apparently, there are episodes planned to be released in the near future, some episodes include an untitled episode VIII in 2017 and an anthology titled "Rouge One" set for release next year. I'm excited to see where this great and beloved series will take us. May the Force be with you.