Written Analysis 5

It seems that a lot of popular culture theories we studied and wrote about for our topic choices fit the “Star Wars” films well.  It is difficult to figure out which theories best related to “Star Wars.”  I think if I had to pick the best ones, they would be the theories of rituals, heroes, and formulas.

            Rituals I would choose because they are all over the “Star Wars” saga.  You have the “Force” which causes Jedi knights and sith lords to meditate about certain things, which is a common ritual in the saga.  We also see the lightsaber, which is a Jedi’s right to passage.

            Heroes is a great theory for “Star Wars” because they are obviously all over in the saga, just like any other action-adventure tale.  Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and even new characters like Rey and Finn are heroes.  The series even had anti-heroes like Anakin Skywalker.  There are several heroes the series had.  Too many to mention.  How can you not think of the theory of heroes as being one of the best theories used in “Star Wars?”

            Formulas are also obviously one of the best theories for the saga.  It’s pretty easy to pick out that “Star Wars” fits into science fiction and action-adventure.  It even has a little bit of the romance formula in it when you look at the relationships between Anakin and Padme or Han Solo and Leia.  When we think of science fiction, we usually think of going to distant planets, meeting different creatures, and even politicizing the universe.  Sometimes we even picture space battles in this formula, and the space battles also fit the action-adventure formula.  Its main formula is, of course, the science fiction formula and you notice this right away.  Some who have never seen it know it as science fiction.

            I think for me, the most interesting findings with these analyzes is discovering its formulas.  Before, I just looked at it as just having the science-fiction formula and nothing more, but in looking back on the entire “Star Wars” saga, there are many formulas that are used that I didn’t necessarily think about until I started writing this.  Science Fiction, Action Adventure, Romance all fit the saga of “Star Wars.”  The formula of “Fantasy” might also fit for “Star Wars,” and I’m sure the list can go on.

            How differently will I think of the “Star Wars” saga now?  I’m not too sure.  However, understanding the different formulas used in it helps me to understand some of the reasons why it's so popular.  It’s a swashbuckling fantasy tale, which also has a little bit of romance in it.  This is also why people flock to go see “Pirates of the Carribean,” “Lord of The Rings,” and “Harry Potter,” among other adventurous, magical, romantic films wrapped up into one.

References

Columbus, C. (Director), & Heyman, D. (Producer). (2001). Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone [BluRay]. United States: Warner Bros. Pictures.

Jackson, P. (Director), Jackson, P., Osborne, B.M., Walsh, F., & Sanders, T. (Producer). (2001). Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring [BluRay]. United States: New Line Cinema.

Lucas, G. (Director), & Kurtz, G. (Producer). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [BluRay]. United States: 20^th Century Fox.

Verbinski, G. (Director), & Bruckheimer, J. (Producer). (2003). Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl [BluRay]. United States: Buena Vista Pictures Distribution.

Written Analysis 4

The formula for “Star Wars” seems very fitting for the science fiction genre.  It also appears that George Lucas invented the formula since even though science fiction films have been around since the beginning of film, there was nothing quite like “Star Wars,” and ever since “Star Wars” first came onto the scene in 1977, there have been copycat type films, but nothing quite as good as “Star Wars” was, of course.

            In “Star Wars,” you have people who visit planets in different galaxies and solar systems.  You also have people who meet different beings on these different planets, and sometimes these people even fight these different beings and even befriend these beings.  They are also on the hunt for different worlds, and politicizing these worlds and bringing them together in peace and harmony.  Hmm… This kind of sounds like “Star Trek,” “The Last Starfighter,” or “Battlestar Galactica.”  However, none of them were as great as “Star Wars,” nor will they ever be.  All these films came out to cash in on the formula George Lucas created with “Star Wars.”  Even though “Star Trek” was a television show for a couple of years in the 1960s, it wasn’t until “Star Wars” came out in 1977 that they decided to make a movie version.

            Movies like these continue to be made, but none has truly seen the success that the “Star Wars” franchise has seen.  They are still popular though because of the fantasies they bring out in us.

            In looking back at the formula for “Star Wars,” it makes me think about how funny formulas are in pop culture.  They lead people to think about obvious thoughts when they go to watch movies, and they just make you want to make fun of the formulas.  How often have we watched a movie and we thought “don’t do it” because we knew what was about to happen?  There have been several movies made that make fun of the formulas.  “Spaceballs” comes to mind when thinking about films that made fun of the “Star Wars” formula.

References

Brooks, M. (Director), & Brooks, M. (Producer). (1987). Spaceballs [BluRay]. United States: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.

Castle, N. (Director), & Adelson, G. & Denault, E.O. (Producer). (1984). The Last Starfighter [BluRay]. United States: Universal Pictures.

Larson, G.A. (Creator). (1978). Battlestar Galactica [Television Series]. United States: British Sky Broadcasting.

Lucas, G. (Director), & Kurtz, G. (Producer). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [BluRay]. United States: 20^th Century Fox.

Wise R. (Director), & Roddenberry, G. (Producer). (1979). Star Trek: The Motion Picture [BluRay]. United States: Paramount Pictures.

Written Analysis 3

There are many heroes featured in the entire Star Wars series.  Some of the people who played such heroic characters have also become famous because of the character. 

One example of this is Luke Skywalker played by Mark Hamill.  He is definitely a hero to most.  Here is a character with a rags to riches story: He was a nobody on a desert planet, who wanted to be a pilot for the rebel alliance.  Because of his adopted parents getting killed, he ends up finally becoming a pilot.  This chain of events leads to him fighting with the rebel alliance against the dark side of the force, mainly Darth Vader.  He then helps rescue Princess Leia, played by Carrie Fisher.  Folklore has always had tales of heroes fighting evil and saving a princess, and people always admired these heroes.  Mark Hamill wasn’t even known until the original Star Wars film was released, and have we really seen him in anything else since the original trilogy?  Yet he has a lot of fans because of how heroic his character is.

            Another example is Harrison Ford as Han Solo.  Even though he was in a couple movies before Star Wars, it was Star Wars that made him a big name on the big screen.  People like the character of Han Solo because he’s tough and humorous, and he doesn’t seem to show any fear.  He’s a very adventurous character, and Harrison Ford played the role so well, that it’s perhaps why we see him as another iconic character and hero to some: Indiana Jones.

            There are even some heroic female characters that the female population even love and admire.  Normally when you see female characters, you normally see damsels in distress who are too weak to fight back.  Not Princess Leia.  She definitely knows how to fight and protect herself and take care of her own, and her character helped make Carrie Fisher a household name as well.  We see the same with Padme who took Natalie Portman from minor roles to much bigger roles.  A lot of girls in our population admire her.  However, there is a new female warrior in town who will aim to please the female population: Rey from Episode VII.  We probably haven’t heard of many things starring Daisy Ridley yet, but I’m sure her appearance as Rey in the new Star Wars series will make her a hero to a lot of young girls, and also a household name.

References

Abrams, J.J. (Director), & Abrams, J.J., Burk, B., Kennedy, K. (Producer). (2015). Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens [Motion Picture]. United States: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.

Kershner, I. (Director), & Kurtz, G. (Producer). (1980). Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back [BluRay]. United States: 20^th Century Fox.

Lucas, G. (Director), & Kurtz, G. (Producer). (1977). Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope [BluRay]. United States: 20^th Century Fox.

Lucas, G. (Director), & McCallum R. (Producer). (1999). Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace [BluRay]. United States: 20^th Century Fox.