The Star Wars films are one of the few series that were made in different eras, were made somewhat back-to-front, however follow a storyline in sequence. Production starting in 1977 and spanning almost 3 decades with production finishing in 2005, it’s created an incredibly huge cult following throughout the world. For those who are unaware of the 6 different films, here is a quick list each of which will be discussed in further detail (in order of storyline, not production):
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Episode V: The Empire Strikes Bike
- Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Episode I: The Phantom Menace
The first in the epic series and the fourth to be made, The Phantom Menace introduces Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jin, the legendary (to be legendary) Obi-Wan Kenobi and the beautiful Queen Amidala who are travelling between the planets of Naboo and Coruscant on a peace-seeking mission with the cunning trade federation.
Stopping on the desert planet of Tatooine, they encounter a young Anakin Skywalker who, as Qui-Gon discovers, seems to possess a large existence of The Force, which is a ubiquitous power that can be harnessed for good and bad uses. Avoiding a Sith attack (a Sith is a Jedi which possesses the dark side of the force), the trio eventually manage to reach Coruscant where the Queen’s aid Padme reveals herself as the real Queen, the other being a decoy for safety reasons. Here she convinces the native Gungans to form an alliance against the Trade Federation. A battle ensues in which Anakin sees his first combat and Qui-Gon Jin, along with Obi-Wan, confronts Darth Maul. The fight is fearsome, with lightsabers spinning and flashing everywhere and eventually Qui-Gon is defeated by the evil Sith, only to be avenged by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The survivor agrees to obey Qui-Gon’s dying wish of training Anakin in the way of the force, which is accepted by the Jedi Council. The Trade Federation is defeated and the Gungans remain victorious.
Episode II: Attack Of The Clones
10 years on, there is a separatist movement against The Republic and Amidala narrowly escapes an assassination attempt thanks to Anakin, who along with Obi-Wan, is her bodyguard. Obi-Wan plans to find the source of the assassination whilst Anakin travels with Amidala to her home planet of Naboo, where they fall in love. Meanwhile Obi-Wan travels to Kamino and discovers a clone army that is being made for The Republic and encounters a notorious bounty hunter named Jango Fett. Anakin’s force powers are growing strong and he starts to have extreme premonitions of his mother in pain and so travels back to Tatooine only to find her kidnapped by mutant Tusken Raiders. Anakin’s anger boils inside him and he seeks revenge and destroys the Tusken camp, including the women and children. Little does he know that pain and suffering are traits of the dark side of The Force, of which Anakin seems to struggle to control.
Obi-Wan is kidnapped, but discovers that The Republic is actually under the control of a Dark Sith Lord named Sidious. He manages to relay this information to Anakin who consults the Jedi Council and then travels to Geonosis to attempt to rescue Obi-Wan with Padme Amidala. They in turn are kidnapped and face execution at the hands of savage beasts. Luckily, the legendary Yoda arrives along with Mace Windu (played by Samuel L. Jackson) and the Droid army to assist in the rescue of the three captives.
In an intense lightsaber fight, Obi-Wan is defeated and Anakin loses his arm, before Yoda confronts the evil Jedi, Count Dooku. Dooku escapes Yoda and flees to Coruscant, whilst Anakin and Armidala marry happily on her home of Naboo.
Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith
Anakin and Obi-Wan attempt a daring infiltration of the leader of the droid army’s ship. They battle with General Grievous and defeat Count Dooku. Along with Senator Palpatine, who was kidnapped, they escape and Palpatine places Anakin on the Jedi Council as his representative. Anakin’s struggle with suffering grows as he has visions of Armidala dying in childbirth with their unborn son.
Anakin loses faith in the Jedi since they ask him to monitor Palpatine, who teaches the young Jedi as to how to prevent death, which is an ability that can only be used by those in charge of the dark side of the Force. Anakin discovers Palpatine is in fact Darth Sidious and informs Windu, who confronts Palpatine with his lightsaber. Anakin intervenes and severs Windu’s right hand before he can execute Palpatine. Windu then dies at the hand of Palpatine and Anakin becomes Palpatine’s new apprentice and is renamed to Darth Vader. Obi-Wan then fights his once apprentice and manages to sever his arms and legs before Vader burns in a flow of molten lava. Sidious saves his life and works on restoring his abilities.
Armidala gives birth to twins, Luke and Leia, who are separated and adopted to remain hidden. Yoda goes into exile and awaits for a time when he can reunite with his fellow Jedi warriors and confront the evil Empire.
Episode IV: A New Hope
Being the first of the series made, in 1977, this tells the story of the coming together of twins Luke and Leia. Leia has stolen plans to the Empire’s Death Star, a weapon that can destroy planets, and hides them in a droid named R2-D2 before she is captured by Vader’s forces. R2-D2 escapes to Tatooine and is bought as a service droid by Leia’s brother Luke, without knowing the connection. Luke triggers the holographic recording Leia made in which she asks for help from Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luckily, Luke knows of someone called Ben Kenobi and consults him.
Luke doesn’t know his father is Darth Vader and Kenobi gives Luke his father’s lightsaber. Luke discovers his home has been destroyed and trains in the way of the force and joins Obi-Wan in the fight against the Empire and they hire Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Chewbacca to fly them to Alderaan.
The group are captured by the Death Star where Luke learns Leia is aboard (not knowing she is his sister). They free her and Kenobi fights Vader and seems to disappear when Obi-Wan is defeated. The Rebels manage to muster a force of fighters, one of which is piloted by Luke. Luke is contacted by Obi-Wan’s voice and he tells him to use the Force to destroy the Death Star, which he is successful in doing. Leia rewards Luke and Han with medals for their heroism and it appears that The Rebels have struck a significant blow against the Empire.
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
In the early stages of the 5th outing, Luke is contacted by Obi-Wan who tells him to travel to Dagobah to train under Jedi Master Yoda, who was in exile. The Imperial fleet discover the location of the main Rebel base and launch a fierce attack. Luke leads a solid Rebel defence force but is unable to prevent the base from being captured. Luckily, Leia manages to escape with Han Solo in the magnificent Millenium Falcon, along with Chewbacca and C-3PO, a droid. Luke also escapes and crashes in his X-Wing with R2D2 on Dagobah.
Luke trains with Yoda in the ways of the Force, but leaves the planet early after having premonitions of Han and Leia in pain. Han and Leia are captured in a trap laid by Vader and Luke is lured into rescuing them and is also held captive. Han is then held in suspended animation and sent as a reward to Boba Fett to hand over to Jabba the Hutt. Meanwhile, Luke and Vader enter into lightsaber combat in which Vader severs Luke’s right hand and reveals to Luke that he is actually his father. He turns down the opportunity to rule alongside his father and escapes with Leia and is fitted with an artificial hand.
Episode VI: Return Of The Jedi
In the final instalment of this gripping series, the story comes to and end and is filled with excitement. Luke and friends manage to release Han but at the expense of Leia getting captured by Jabba, who uses her as his slave. Luke and Han are recaptured and sentenced to death on the sand planet of Tatooine but they escape and Luke heads to Dagobah, only to find a dying Master Yoda. Yoda tells Luke he must confront his father if he is to become a real Jedi Knight. He also mentions that there is another Skywalker and Luke learns that it is Leia.
Luke and his team head to Endor and meet with the native Ewoks and form an alliance with them. Luke surrenders in order to get close to Vader, after telling Leia that Vader is their father and senses some good still inside of him. Vader eventually turns Luke over to the evil Emperor Palpatine who tries to convert Luke to the dark side. Luke and Vader fight it out with lightsabers once again and Vader’s right hand is severed by Luke. The Emperor aids Vader and attacks Luke with chain lightning, however Vader is unable to see his own son suffer so much, so picks up Palpatine above his head and tosses him down the reactor shaft, plunging to his death.
Vader eventually dies from his wounds in an emotional farewell to his son. Luke cremates his father’s body on Endor and the Rebels and Ewoks hold a party over the defeat of the Empire. The series ends with Luke seeing a vision of the 3 deceased Jedi legends: Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi and his father, Anakin Skywalker.
In Summary
It is clear to understand why Star Wars has such a cult following. Being so far removed from our actual world and ways, it contains so many values that are relevant to our own human race. The way George Lucas wrote the stories in two parts, with the second half being made first and screened first was sheer genius.
The epic saga has since been turned into a successful run of video games across all platforms, including the most recent Lego Star Wars games.
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