C&C STAR WARS

Sam Sheets
11-07-06
The Similarities and Differences of the Galaxy Far, Far Away…

About 30 years ago, a milestone was set in cinema history. A movie was released which spawned two sequels, and eventually led to the production of three prequels. The Star Wars saga, which started with Episode IV: A New Hope, took the world by storm and is still an unstoppable, mass media machine. This space opera is commonly grouped into two groups; The original trilogy (which is made up of Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi) and the prequel trilogy (which is made up of Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Episode II: Attack of the Clones, and Episode III: Revenge of the Sith). The saga follows the Skywalker family through a very hard time for the Star Wars galaxy. While about 16 years bridged the gap between the release of the sixth episode and the premier of Episode I, the demand, anticipation, and popularity has always been very high. The Star Wars saga is loved by many people, but since improvements in cinema happen so quickly and are so grand, the comparison between things such as special effects, the soundtrack, picture quality, and over appearance of the films is almost impossible. However, the things that make up great stories in any medium can be compared, and contrasted, with great ease. These things are the elements of story, characters and themes.
Many of the character’s stories in the Star Wars universe span the length of all six movies, but their lives are very different in the two trilogies. In the original trilogy, the character Obi-Wan Kenobi is seen as a wise exiled Jedi Knight, and eventually meets his end at the hands of his former apprentice, only to reappear as a force ghost. In the prequel trilogy we are introduced to a much younger Obi-Wan, and are taken from him being the Padawan learner (a Jedi apprentice) of Qui-Gon Jinn, to a full Jedi Master and having a seat on the Jedi Council. The Jedi Master Yoda is also seen the same as Obi-Wan in the original trilogy; exiled and abandoned by the galaxy he fought so hard to protect. A little younger Master Yoda is seen at the head of the Jedi Council in the prequel trilogy. The biggest character difference between the two halves of the epic space opera is that of Anakin Skywalker. He is a twisted, evil dark lord of the Sith, Darth Vader, in the original trilogy, who is bent on galactic conquest in the name of the Empire. In the prequel trilogy, a much younger Anakin is introduced. This young boy goes from a smart, selfless slave, to being the Jedi apprentice of Obi-Wan Kenobi, to an arrogant young Jedi Knight who is struggling with thought of betrayal to save is secret wife. Although many of the characters change between and throughout the saga, some stay the same. In the last episode of the prequel trilogy (Episode III: Revenge of the Sith), the planet of Kshyyyk is attacked during the Clone Wars. Here the faithful Wookiee Chewbacca helps plan and mount defenses to protect his kin and the ones he loves with his life. Chewbacca also helps defend the ones he ones and his friends during the entire original trilogy. He follows his best friend Han Solo into many battles to help destroy the Empire. The witty astromech droid R2-D2 and his counter part C-3PO are portrayed as the dynamite droid duo in all six episodes. The droids, who seem to have an odd friendship, greatly help all the heroes throughout the saga. The Emperor is the character who seems to never change throughout the whole saga (other than into different political offices). He is the lying, betraying, self centered politician and Sith Lord in all six episodes. He betrays everyone, from the entire galaxy to his own apprentices, many times throughout the story.
All six movies make up one big story which takes place over a period of about 30 years. The stories, however similar, are also very different. In the prequel trilogy, an evil Sith Lord manipulates a crumbling republic into a new Galactic Empire, which he reigns over by playing both sides of a war known as the Clone Wars. In the original trilogy, a band of rebels, whose ideals are those of the dead Old Republic, try to regain control of the galaxy from Emperor Palpatine during the Galactic Civil War. In the prequel trilogy, the Grand Army of the Republic is comprised of white armored shock troopers, known as Clone Troopers. These cloned soldiers are the hammering fist of the “good” Republic. In the original trilogy, white armored Stormtroopers (who are the decendents of Clone Troopers) are the hand of evil and feared and hated. The main different in the two trilogies though, is the path that the main characters take. In the prequel trilogy, Anakin Skywalker walks the path of the dark side of the Force to save the one he loves, but betrays his family and comrades. In the original trilogy his son, Luke Skywalker, follows the path of the Jedi and ends up saving the galaxy, his friends, loved ones, and even Anakin himself. The differences between the trilogies may be plentiful, but there are also many similarities. In both wars, the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War, one faction of the galaxy wants freedom and control of the other. In the prequel trilogy it is the Separatists versus the Republic, while in the original trilogy it is the Rebel Alliance versus the Galactic Empire. Also, the mystical warriors who control the Force, the Jedi Knights, are on the side of the greater good in both the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy. The Sith are in control of one side of the war in the whole saga. The Skywalker family is the center of all six movies. They are destined to bring balance to the Force. In both sets of movies there are only two Sith (because of Darth Bane’s Rule of Two, but that’s a different Star Wars story and saga). There is a master and an apprentice. The ground work is very much the same in both movies, yet varies slightly.
The original trilogy and the prequel trilogy both have many of the same themes; however, with the characters and stories choosing different paths, a few themes are unique to each trilogy. Love is a common theme in the Star Wars saga. In the original trilogy Han Solo and Princess Leia fall in love against all odds. In the prequel trilogy Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala fall in love, also against the odds because of their ages and lifestyles. Betrayal also runs amok in both trilogies. In the fifth episode Lando Calrissian, a supposed friend of Han Solo’s, sells out the rebel heroes to Boba Fett and Darth Vader to better his situation. In the sixth episode Anakin betrays everything he stands for to save his wife and unborn children form death by pledging himself to the Sith teachings, thus betraying the Jedi cold also. On theme that is unique to the prequel trilogy is secrecy. Anakin and Padme must keep their marriage a secret, or face being evicted form the Jedi Order and the Senate. Palpatine also must keep a secret in the prequel trilogy. He must keep his Sith identity from everyone to play them as pawns. One theme that is only found in the original trilogy is redemption. In the end of the sixth episode, Darth Vader is redeemed by his son who makes him see the errors of his life. Vader than kills the Emperor, thus sacrificing himself and atoning for what he’s done, but ultimately brings balance to the Force.
The Star Wars saga is loved by people all around the world. It is one of the greatest stories of our time. It’s no wonder why people love the two trilogies. They both have many of the same great elements of a story, while each trilogy is unique in its own way.