Countdown to Star Wars Episode VII, pt 5: Which trilogy to watch first, Episodes 4 to 6 or Episodes 1 to 3?

(image courtesy of sodahead.com)

One major debate amongst aficionados of the Star Wars franchise is the one that seeks to clarify which of the two trilogies should be viewed first: Episodes 4 to 6  or Episodes 1 to 3.  Episodes 4 to 6 include A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and The Return of the Jedi  (1983). This trilogy was the one that introduced the Star Wars franchise to the world in a major way.  This trilogy tells the tale of Luke Skywalker and his band of adventurers, which included the charismatic Han Solo, as they joined the rebel alliance to defeat the Galactic Empire. The Galactic Empire was led by the Emperor Palpatine or Darth Sidious and his principal enforcer Darth Vader.  Darth Vader is the father of Luke Skywalker and  Princess Leia and his story became very important as the trilogy progressed  because it was discovered that he was once a Jedi knight who was very strong in the ways of the force until he was seduced by the dark side. Luke eventually rescues Vader’s corrupted soul from its abject subservience to the wily yet physically weak emperor.  Vader’s story,  especially his relationship with Luke,  becomes the emotional backbone for the big picture story in the first trilogy  that was concerned primarily with the warring factions of  the rebel alliance and the Galactic Empire.  Vader’s story also assumes a larger significance as it is a reminder  to many who have watched the films in the Star Wars franchise about the consequences of succumbing to the dark side that includes fear, anger and aggression. This takes us to the next trilogy,  Episodes 1 to 3, which include The Phantom Menace (1999),  The Attack of the Clones  (2002) and The Revenge of the Sith (2005).  This trilogy is set years before the events in Episodes 4 to 6 and chronicles from an emotional point of view how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader and his love for Padme from the planet of Naboo. How Anakin becomes Vader takes place when the old republic was transformed into the Galactic Empire as a result of the political maneuverings of the Sith lord Darth Sidious who was senator Palpatine from the planet of naboo who eventually became Chancellor of the Republic and then Emperor of the Galactic Empire. Episodes 1 to 3 also chronicle a golden age for the Jedi Knights and their all powerful council that dominated affairs in the galaxy before they were destroyed with the rise of the Empire. The relationship between Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin, his apprentice,  is also developed. It is also made clear that the force flows strongly through Anakin and he is supposed to be the chosen one that will bring about balance to the force.

So which trilogy to watch first? Well since George Lucas added Episodes 1- 3 later it’s probably clear that episodes 4-6 are the ones to watch first. Even then that still depends on your own perspective. If you read the history of how Star Wars (1977) came into being it becomes clear that Lucas never imagined a episodic element and made it up on a whimsical basis. Sifting through many ideas until he found one that stuck. There was nothing set in stone originally.  He only added Episode 4: A New Hope to the original Star Wars film in the 1981 re release. This is because when The Empire Strikes Back premiered in 1980 the opening crawl said that it was Episode 5. Lucas then felt that in the 1981 re- release of the original Star Wars film it should be branded as Episode 4: A New Hope.  It’s all the same with Episode 6: The Return of the Jedi which was originally titled The Revenge of the Jedi.  To be fair Lucas originally considered episode 6 to be title The Return of the Jedi but the title was considered weak or soft by Lawrence Kasdan. Lucas eventually stuck with the return of the Jedi after the brief switch to The Revenge of the Jedi. The historical record for the first trilogy clearly shows that Lucas was making this up as he went along. For instance it was not clear if Vader was to be Luke’s father. One must bear in mind that Lucas did not have a blueprint like a comic book or a novel and so it makes sense that he had to consider all the possibilities that would make the story work on its own without seeming to be derivative.  One of the great things about Star Wars as a blockbuster  franchise is that it got the full treatment as a series of films that were then adapted to other medium. A lot of the major blockbusters today are based on novels or comic books. This is one reason why the Star Wars franchise and Indiana Jones are so great. The Fast and The Furious franchise also deserves a lot of credit as well. 

When Lucas made Episodes 1 to 3 he had a much clearer idea of how he wanted the story to be told particularly from an episodic point of view.  Well these episodes were not well received critically apart from The Revenge of the Sith. These episodes were visually more advanced in terms of CGI but these images appeared to be very plastic at times. The live models of the first trilogy were not utilized much and so a real live quality was missing from this trilogy. This trilogy is also very heavy with historical exposition regarding the details first revealed in the first trilogy. A lot of gaps are filled out but there are some inconsistencies. For instance Qui-Gon is not mentioned in Episodes 4-6 as Obi-Wan’s former master or chief instructor. In that trilogy Yoda is referred to as  Obi-Wan’s former master. Also in The Empire Strikes Back Obi-Wan seems to have forgotten that Luke had a twin sister and had to be reminded by Yoda. By the time of The Return of the Jedi he has all the details about Luke’s sister. To be fair something must have sparked him in A New Hope to entreat Luke to go on the quest to help the princess after receiving her message. At that moment he should have remembered because he certainly remembered about Luke. The clone wars are given some treatment in Episodes 1 to 3 and must have been considered a major battle based on how it’s referred to in A New Hope. Although Episodes 1 to 3 were not well received critically this does not mean that all was lost. Episodes 1 to 3 are stronger than Episodes 4-6 when it comes to understanding the Star Wars galaxy. The political maneuverings of Palpatine that eventually brought  an end to the republic, that lasted for thousands of years, and the Jedi council. The republic was built on democratic values but eventually became a tyranny in the form of the Galactic Empire. Lucas must have read The Republic by Plato.  Episodes 1 to 3 are also very effective in showing how the Sith were able to infiltrate the republic and destroy it from within. In terms of those political elements Episodes 1 to 3 are very effective and make the Star wars galaxy seem very grounded.  These episodes are pretty weak on the dramatic side but very strong on the side of exposition and in providing a lot of detail about the various types of beings  in the galaxy and how they came together in the Old republic. The exposition had to be done well or one could never understand how the Galactic Empire was formed and how Vader eventually came to the forefront to lead it alongside the Emperor.

From a dramatic point of view Episodes 4 to 6 should be viewed first. In terms of a strict historical basis then clearly Episodes 1 to 3 should be viewed first. Both trilogies are dramatic based on how the events lead to the end of something grand. Episodes 1 to 3 are more sinister and heartbreaking as it leads to the formation of the Galactic Empire whereas Episodes 4 to 6 are more hopeful as it leads to the end of Empire and the return of the Jedi in the form of Luke and Leia and the formation of a new republic. Episodes 4 to 6 however take on a  different form that makes it more relatable. In that trilogy all the great orders have been swept away. The Jedi are seen as mystical legends of the past and war is fought with laser blasts on the ground and in the air. When you watch Episode 4 it seems more adventurous in that regard. The lightsaber is featured and there is one duel between Darth and Obi-Wan but the core of the action is not about that. The core is about the rebel alliance vs. galactic empire.  In Episodes 4 to 6 the light saber duels are isolated from the major action that is taking place. It takes on a very personal or emotional touch especially between Luke and his father, Vader. One thing that becomes clear though is that it does have an impact on the larger battle because to lead the galactic empire with such a firm hand for many years required someone strong in the ways of the force. Being strong with the force would allow that individual to be able to oversee everything in the Galaxy. So the death of the emperor in Episode 6 must have been  considered a major victory especially when one considers the power at his disposal and that he was a Sith lord. The death of Vader and the Emperor brought an abrupt end to the Sith order.

So in Episodes 4 to 6 the story is more relatable. Yes, Luke eventually becomes a Jedi knight but a large part of the action in that trilogy wasn’t about wielding light sabers. In that sense it had to take on a more relatable edge. It becomes an adventure about regular people that get swept up in the war for the galaxy. At the end of that trilogy Luke is the only Jedi because Leia did not receive any training. The Jedi do embody the values that were sacred to the old republic  and so their return probably means that there are people  that will be able to lead the new republic from a good perspective. In Episodes 1 to 3 however the lightsaber duels dominate the action. There are so many jedi knights around that their presence becomes commonplace. The Jedi are revered and respected and their presence is uneasy for any that would seek to do something evil.  Episodes 1 to 3 seem more like a golden age. It’s very bright and glitzy with all these worlds to explore. The CGI becomes overbearing at times.  Harmony seems to be  the norm until the Sith infiltrate and take over. The look of Episodes 4 to 6 suggest that the golden age in Episodes 1 to 3 is gone even if you watched the former first. 

This is always the case based on how we live. From we are born as individuals we always hear of the great past or the legends (good and bad) that paved the way for us. Whenever we hear about these distant personalities or events it takes on an almost mystical air. As a young person when you encounter those people that either witnessed or took part in the great events of the past you are awed and hold them in great esteem but you do acknowledge that times have changed and these people seem more like fossils in statue or street name forms. It’s only when you get older that you try to understand this great past that has shaped you and your community. You hear the stories about people dead and gone and so the credibility of those stories can be clearly questioned until you encounter an aged person that  was there.  This is what will happen in Episode 7. From that perspective I do think watching Episodes 4 to 6 is much easier because it does take on a more relatable outlook. The outlook that most of us can relate to. You’re born into this world hearing about legendary people and events from long ago and only gradually do you come to learn the history of it all. Episodes 4 to 6 have a certain immediacy as there is not time for tales of legends or for things long gone. The immediate aim is for the rebel alliance to defeat the galactic empire. The more you fall in love with the Star Wars universe the more eager are you to know the history of it all and this is when you watch Episodes 1 to 3 that took place before.  After watching Episodes 4 to 6 you come to realize that the Galactic Empire that replaced the Old republic is gone and so a new republic must be constructed from the ashes.  There is a certain element related to how we live; out with the old and in with the new.  The old is based in a historical prism and did have an impact on the present but it does not have the immediacy of building something new.

So for me it’s Episodes 4 to 6 first and then, at your leisure, you watch Episodes 1 to 3 in order to learn the history of it all. In the past the mystical or grand elements seem to be more commonplace than in the present. 

Countdown to Star Wars Episode VII, pt 4: What does the 1st official trailer tell us?

The first official trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens premiered on  October 19, 2015. There were two teaser trailers that came before it. This official trailer created a sensation on the internet with tickets being sold out in a matter of minutes and crashing online ticket sale systems as a result of the very high level demand.  This is due to the great anticipation of a film that has a very strong legacy behind it. Let’s just hope that people are not disappointed. But what does the official trailer tell us to actually expect apart from the fact that this is just another Star Wars film. Will this film be a disappointment like Star Wars , Episode 1: The Phantom Menace? Or will it meet these soaring expectations? As I write the official trailer has been viewed 42 million times on the official Star Wars Youtube channel. This is impressive especially when you consider that the first teaser trailer has been viewed 23 million times on the Star Wars Youtube channel and the second teaser trailer has been viewed 66 million times. Obviously these figures are for the Star Wars Youtube channel and so when you consider other Youtube channels that have shared the same content you’re looking at, easily,   over 100 million views each for the first 2 teaser trailers. The numbers for the official trailer on the Star Wars Youtube channel  are fairly accurate, however, when you consider that this is the channel that most people have been directed to. This is evident with the increase of subscriptions to the Star Wars Youtube channel since the official trailer premiered.  These numbers definitely show the very high level of expectation for the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. No superhero movie can match this high level of demand; not even Batman vs. Superman.  

Well apart from a basic story outline the most important thing I took from this official trailer is that Star Wars: The Force Awakens  will be the most impressive Star Wars film ever made from a visual point of view.  Before I say why I think that is so I am going to briefly describe the basic story outline that has been presented. I am not going to speculate on details  but just the basic story outline for the film that is pretty obvious. Obviously the details, or how the story is told, will determine if this film has a major impact and that’s why we must wait for the film to premiere.

The basic storyline presented in the trailer is pretty easy to follow. There are some vague statements and images that clearly show that several isolated individuals will form a band of adventurers to challenge the dark side. The trailer first introduces us to the wanderer Rey who introduces herself as ‘No one’ and then it introduces Finn who claims he ‘has nothing to fight for.’ The first two teaser trailers clearly indicate that these two will meet up on a desolate planet (Tatooine perhaps?) or an area of a planet that is mostly a desert. If it is Tatooine then the film will clearly be adhering to tradition. Tatooine is the only planet in Star Wars lore that is largely made up of desert (could be wrong) or the only planet that has been featured which has such a large area of desert. I don’t know the details but I would not be surprised if it is Tatooine. Anyways it becomes clear that there is something to fight for because Kylo Ren, a member of the dark side who seems to be strong in the ways of the force, states that ‘Nothing will stand in our way. I will finish what you started.’ An image of Darth Vader’s damaged mask is then featured. It is clear that Kylo Ren has some big shoes to fill because from his days as Anakin Skywalker to his children, Luke and Leia, Darth Vader is the most dominant figure of the past two Star Wars trilogies. More so than the emperor who comes across as just a conniving politician that managed to create the galactic empire. All of this would mean nothing if he did not have a powerful figure like Vader by his side.  In terms of power Darth Vader is clearly the most prominent figure of Star Wars lore. Ren has big shoes to fill.

Following Ren’s pledge to finish what Vader started it is clear that Finn and Rey will eventually link up with an aged Han Solo and a, supposedly, aged Chewbacca. It is clear that is when the action in the story really begins. Solo reminds his young compatriots that the stories about the Dark side (Sith) and the jedi   are real. It is clear that the force has been dormant up until this point but will emerge or awaken with the likes of Kylo Ren (Knights of Ren) and Finn (Jedi) as they battle for the soul of the galaxy. We also see an aged Princess Leia but the mysterious figure of Luke Skywalker is still not featured although he does add his voice to the second teaser trailer. We do know that he is the figure in a shroud placing his hand on R2-D2. Skywalker will clearly play a pivotal role in training Finn to become a Jedi knight.  It is also clear that the forces that Ren leads are remnants of the former Galactic Empire that was destroyed in Episode 6: The Return of the Jedi. These remnants are known as the First Order. The Rebel forces are now known as the resistance. There are a lot of aerial battles between the First Order and the Resistance featured in this trailer and this is because there is another important character called Poe Dameron, a top pilot for the Resistance. We do know that there will be a major confrontation between Finn and Ren as the age old battle between Jedi and the dark side resumes. The Force Awakens means that there are individuals that have been brought into a conflict because they are strong in the ways of the force. This applies to both the dark side and the Jedi. 

The movie is set 30 years after Episode 6 and so it is clear that the force has remained dormant until it reached out to a couple of individuals who will use it for particular purposes; good or bad. Finn and Rey seem skeptical at first until Solo tells them that the stories about the Jedi and the dark side are  true. It is not surprising that some people still remain forgetful because in Episodes 4 to 6 Luke Skywalker was the only Jedi of note because the ageing Obi Wan and Yoda were on the way out. Leia is strong with the force but she never received any training to become Jedi. Maybe Luke eventually taught her. Darth Vader represented the darkside. The Emperor was an ageing individual desperate to cling to power.  The light saber battles between jedi and Sith were isolated. It seemed that the  defeat of the empire by the rebels was won primarily by the tactical organization and execution of plans by the rebel air force and troops on the ground as opposed to light saber fights between Jedi and Sith. So it’s not surprising that the Jedi and the Sith, who  embody the ways  of the force,  are still considered to be legends. Maybe this film will finally put them at the forefront of the epic battle that will follow.

Well the story outline wasn’t so basic after all; suffice to say that the battle between the Jedi  and the dark side will resume.

For me the most impressive element about the trailer were the visuals. The visuals will clearly be a highpoint of this film regardless of whether it is good or not.  I was impressed because this will clearly be the most impressive Star Wars film from a visual point of view. The CGI seems very organic meaning that it is integrated into the live sets seamlessly. When I watched the 2^nd teaser trailer there was a distant shot of a small vehicle moving fairly fast across the desert with the remnants of a fallen star destroyer in the background. The visuals were very impressive because one could see the the star destroyer as a hazy image in the distance that had a real live quality to it. These sorts of images seem to be in keeping with Episode 4: A New Hope which was very impressive considering that it was released in 1977. Obviously there is now a significant visual upgrade. In the official trailer the images of millennium falcon flying through relics of imperial ships as it’s being chased by aerial planes of the first order, that want to shoot it down, are very impressive. The shots are close up in order to emphasize that these are real models of the actual planes. Seeing a close up shot of  the resistance planes rippling the water as they fly close by was also impressive.  As for all the other elements such as the light sabers and the laser beams it’s as you were.  I heard the director J.J. Abrahams say at Comic Con that they wanted to use a lot of real live models and it clearly shows in the trailer. One would think that George Lucas would have done a better job with the CGI in Episodes 1 to 3. The images, however,  are very plastic and contrived. There is no live quality to all the abundance of CGI on display. This was one of the major disappointments of those episodes because it deviated from Episodes 4 to 6 when Lucas and the other directors had less to work with but still produced visual spectacle at the time because they had to rely on live models. It seems like Abrahams and Co. are now going back to the look of Episodes 4 to 6. That is a good thing because now the CGI is more advanced.

Well it still remains to be seen if this will be a good or great film but for now I will be content with the impressive visuals on display. It is clear that the visuals will not be a disappointment. That is one certainty and so now I hope that how the story is told will be just as good.  I would also like to see how the new characters make their mark. If they do  we could be looking at the second great Star Wars trilogy that caters to a modern audience from a dramatic point of view.

Countdown to Star Wars Episode VII, pt3: The concept of a New Hope

The concept of a new hope in Episode 4 is a very influential concept and many blockbusters have adopted this concept as a starting point for their own series of films. I will argue in another post that this concept was preceded by the book The Lord of the Rings especially as it relates to the structure of Episodes 4, 5 & 6. In terms of film however Episode 4 was the first to use this concept from the point of view of blockbuster films especially as it explicitly stated that it was about a new hope for the rebel alliance against the galactic empire.  Many blockbuster films have also adopted the approach of a new hope to jumpstart their own grand fictional tales of good vs. evil. It is not just the concept but how it is utilized in terms of setting the stage for another major confrontation between the rebel alliance and the galactic empire which eventually leads to the destruction of the latter (galactic empire).

Well they say that ‘hope springs eternal’ but that does not mean that the spring does not dry up from time to time. In a lot of cases hope is lost amidst the tumult of the establishment. The establishment represents the coming together of various principles that govern the ways of people that are within its sphere of influence. No matter which system of governance that exists (democracy, oligarchy, tyranny etc) it will eventually stagnate under the weight of expectations and demands. People will always call for change or a change in the system or even for the destruction of the system.  This sort of change means that there must be a renewal of something or someone or that those voices or things that remained hidden or buried are given a chance to come forward and stake their claim. When those things or voices come forward to challenge the establishment then they represent a new hope a force for good or change.

In Episode 4 the Galactic Empire is firmly in control. It represents the establishment at its peak. This is reinforced by its  capabilities of building the Death Star, a space station the size of a moon; a space station capable of destroying entire planets with its firepower. It is a weapon designed to smother all pockets of resistance. Without the Jedi knights that have been mostly exterminated  with some  exiled in a few cases (Obi-Wan and Yoda), the rebel alliance hangs on a thread as it seeks to end the chokehold of the galactic empire. The chokehold grows tighter particularly as the Death Star is now operational.  But there is hope because a individual, a young man,  that has the force flowing strongly through his veins  exists on the isolated planet of Tatooine. His name is Luke Skywalker. We eventually learn that he is the son of Anakin Skywalker who later became Darth Vader. Darth Vader is now second in command of the Galactic Empire. He leads the fight against the rebel alliance. On the planet of Tatooine also resides the aged Obi -Wan Kenobi one of the few Jedi Knight that are alive but have been forced into exile. We eventually learn that the princess, who has been captured by the empire,  has asked Obi-Wan to deliver the plans of the Death Star to the rebel alliance. The plans are in the droid R2-D2 who is always accompanied by the other droid C-3PO. These droids were purchased by Luke and his Uncle after they were captured by merchants while on their way to find Obi-Wan. Luke is with Obi-Wan when he receives the message from the princess. Obi Wan realizes that at his age he can no longer be as effective but Luke Skywalker can represent a new hope because he is a young man with the force flowing strongly through his veins. The Jedi Knights can come to the forefront again to challenge the Sith lords Vader and the Emperor. We also learn later on that Leia is Luke’s twin sister and the force flows strongly through her as well.

Eventually Luke is on his way with Obi-wan for the beginning of a new adventure. He also meets Han Solo and Chewbacca who eventually play important roles for the rebel alliance in their fight against the galactic empire. Luke eventually fires the all important blasts, using the ways of the force, which destroys the Death Star thereby giving some breathing space from the choke hold of the galactic empire. It is clear then that Luke Skywalker and his team represent a new hope for the rebel alliance. Once submerged and isolated on tatooine Skywalker now represents the promise for a great future where the Jedi Knights can reclaim their place as the representatives of the force for good.  It will also give hope to the rebel alliance especially because when the republic thrived before the rise of the empire the Jedi were the primary protectors of the peace.  In Episode 4 they are now seen as representative of a long dead religion as the force of the Sith lords have taken charge. Now the Jedi have a chance, through young Skywalker, to put an end to that. In Episode 4 a small step was taken with the destruction of the Death Star. It did not put an end to the Galactic Empire but it was significant nonetheless.

Well I watched Man of Steel  (2013)recently and the concept of a new hope was firmly embedded in that film. It’s the first time that we hear that the “S” on his chest is really a symbol of hope. Hmmm, a new hope perhaps? In that film he literally emerged from the shadows  having been submerged for so long. I think he came to prominence at the same age that Jesus did, 30. In Batman Begins (2005) Batman is also a force of good that comes along out of nowhere to challenge the corrupt establishment in Gotham City. In The Lord of the Rings (2001-2003) the hobbits represent a new hope in taking down  Sauron by destroying the one ring of power.  I have no issues with these films applying the concept of a new hope but in terms of blockbuster films Episode 4 was the first to explicitly use that as a basis to launch a series of blockbuster films in the Star Wars series that would forever alter popular culture. Most blockbuster films use the formula of having someone emerging from the shadows to challenge the establishment. Heroes have been doing that for centuries. Along came……. to challenge so and so. Goes to show that Lucas understood how effective this was as a basis for launching a tale of heroism in such a grand, blockbuster kind of way. Lucas deserves a lot of credit by saying in very explicit terms that the events in Episode 4 represent a new hope.

Countdown to Star Wars Episode VII, pt 2: The Famous Score by John Williams in Episodes 4&5

                     (The main title for the soundtrack or the famous overture courtesy of Ninja Doctor 9)

Watching Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope (1977) for the first time and the first thing that will hit you is the bombastic music of the overture by John Williams. The overture is bold and full of brass and it drives home the point about a grand adventure story that is to come as the written text, describing the situation,  moves or crawls  from the bottom of the screen out into the distance amongst the stars, highlighting the vast extent of the galaxy. The entire musical score is one of the greatest in film history and it has filtered down through the years and assumed an iconic status. A lot of the people know of the music even if they haven’t watched the Star Wars films. It should come as no surprise that score by John Williams was so effective when it first premiered along with Episode 4 in 1977. John Williams is one of the great film music composers having composed and conducted the musical score for  several great films like Jaws (1975), Superman (1978),  E.T: The Extra Terrestrial (1982), Indiana Jones: The Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)  and Schindler’s List (1993). In some of these films such as Star Wars, Jaws, Indiana Jones series and Superman many people have left with a fond memory of the music because it sticks with you and becomes synonymous with the movie because of its various motifs.  Here I am just briefly highlighting how effective the musical score has been in Star Wars: Episodes 4&5: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back. I am no musical expert but I can certainly understand the effect a musical score has on a film. After falling in love with The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001) the first thing I did was to buy the musical score. I like musical scores for film and I am also referring to soundtracks. The soundtrack for Django Unchained (2012) should certainly be considered great for instance.

Apart from the bombastic intro that was first introduced in Episode 4 there are other elements in that musical score that make the idea about adventure become very vibrant in your mind. When we first meet Luke Skywalker he is living on a planet, Tatooine,  where not much happens in terms of action or development. A very dry and harsh looking place. It also happens to be the home of Luke’s father Anakin Skywalker who would later become known as Darth Vader. Luke is frustrated with the life he’s living because he want to go out and engage with the  vast galaxy as he aspires to train as a pilot. His uncle keeps putting off this engagement and this frustrates Luke who is reduced to being a farm boy. The score emphasizes his frustration as he looks at the sunset with 2 suns or a binary sunset. The themes for the force and that of Leia play and it suggests that there is a bigger world out there. There is also a watered down version of the music in the overture suggesting that the adventure is just on the horizon, just about to begin.

 He eventually meets Obi Wan Kenobi following the purchase of the two sidekick droids, R2-D2 and C-3PO. Obi Wan Kenobi eventually reveals his status as an exiled Jedi Knight and tells him about the power of the force and why he should learn it. Obi Wan also encourages Luke to come with him to help Princess Leia after the message transmitted by R2-D2 is played. Help him to deliver the plans of the Death Star to the rebel alliance. Princess Leia also has a theme that plays early on in the film especially when the message is being transmitted.  Her message sets off the beginning of the adventure and the departure from tatooine to a wider galaxy. Her theme suggests that all is not well and that everything now relies on the faintest of hopes. Leia’s motif is very gentle and conveys  a sense of urgency because with her capture someone must take on the responsibility of delivering the plans of the Death Star. This would explain why her motif is played alongside that of the theme for the force. It is her motif that provides the sense of urgency for Luke to take a step into the wider world and learn the ways of the force. The theme for the force also becomes much more effective after Luke returns home to discover that his foster parents or guardians have been murdered by imperial storm troopers that were on the hunt for the  2 droids. He must therefore assume a new responsibility by becoming a part of the rebel alliance and learning the ways of the force which both promise a whole new world of adventure throughout the galaxy.

 (This is the motif for the force and one can hear the motif for Princess Leia at 2:49. Courtesy of Ninja Doctor 9)

For Obi wan Kenobi the force motif has a touch of sadness because he is one of the few remaining Jedi Knights that have been forced into exile. Obi-Wan exiled himself to the very distant and desolate planet like tatooine particularly with keeping an eye on Luke (perhaps). It’s the same with Yoda whose planet of exile looks even more desolate. When the motif for the force is played for Obi-Wan it does signify that it once a great and powerful element utilized by the Jedi Knights although its power seems to be all but extinguished. ‘Seems to be’ because there is still hope with young Luke Skywalker.

For me the motifs for the force  and princess Leia really drive home the point about the grand adventure that awaits Luke Skywalker. These motifs demonstrate that there is a wider world out there and that one must be resigned to embrace it. The theme for the force also shows that one must be resigned to letting go of the old and embracing the new in terms of where you find yourself in the world. But it acknowledges that letting go is not so simple particularly as it is not so easy to let go of what you’re accustomed to. There is normally  a struggle until one blasts full speed ahead.

In Episode 5 the most significant addition to the music of Star Wars is ‘the imperial March’ that highlights the significant presence of Vader and the Empire. It is also a motif that has been identified with Vader and the dark side of the force.  The presence of the empire is felt through this motif as it makes several inroads in its fight against  the rebel alliance. The Empire really does strike back.

                                (The famous Imperial March courtesy of  Star Wars Fan!)

The score by john Williams in Episodes 4&5 set the tone for the rest of films that were to follow. It is inextricably linked with the Star Wars series and cannot be changed unless another score that is just as effective is adopted. In Episode 4 the various themes are effective in conveying the sense of adventure that awaits particularly a new hope for the rebel alliance and the Jedi knights in the form of Luke Skywalker. It suggests that the rebels will now be much more effective as it takes on the Empire. In Episode 5 the empire does strike back in the fight against the rebel alliance and this is reinforced with the famous ‘imperial march’ motif. The themes developed in these two films also highlight any moment in the series where there is a decisive break for the empire or for the Jedi Knights as was seen in Episode 3. Whenever there is the beginning of a new adventure awaiting the famous overture will always be played  and we expect to hear it when Episode 7 premieres in December. The fanfare will certainly be pleasing to the many followers of Star Wars.

The Martian (2015) ****½/5: Maybe a little too feel good for my taste but still one of the year's best films. It demonstrates the importance of having a high work ethic.

The Martian is clearly one of the year’s best films. It’s one of those films that demonstrate that  a high ‘work ethic eliminates fear’ according to the great Michael Jordan. It’s a very good sci-fi film. Its greatness will be measured in the coming years. For now what I will say is that it’s somewhat of an upgrade on Gravity (2013) because it isn’t as sentimental and it has a more inspiring scope to work with. This film clearly shows that we don’t need to witness travel  to other galaxies to have a meaningful sci-fi film.  There is plenty of material to work with in our own solar system. 

This film is primarily about Mark Watney’s (Matt Damon) tale of survival on Mars after being  left behind when a mission on Mars goes wrong and his team is forced to leave him thinking that he’s dead.  The film also details the rescue effort ‘launched’ by NASA for Mark  which required extensive collaboration and cooperation. It eventually reaches the point where many people all over the world begin rooting for the success of the rescue mission.

Positives

The primary positive for me is that this film demonstrates that a high ‘work ethic eliminates fear’. It’s a quote from M. Jordan that has stuck with me and this film demonstrates the efficacy of taking such a position. In order to survive in the kind of perilous situation that Watney found himself one must have a high work ethic. It is that high work ethic that will lead to other things such as ingenuity as you find a way to beat the odds and this ingenuity will then lead to cooperation. If Watney was lazy and simply gave in to the possibility that he would die alone stranded on Mars then he would not have been able to communicate and then cooperate with NASA in order to get back home.  The decision he took to try and survive was the most important part in the film. It might seem like the obvious thing to do at first until you’re in his shoes. Not everyone is made of that kind of mettle. There really is a difference between ‘knowing the path and walking the path’ according to Morpheus.  The  descriptive elements of his survival such as planting potatoes in his station,  creating water and making an effort to communicate through dated technology was very important in demonstrating the high level of his work ethic and this was also reinforced in Watney’s closing remarks about always being ready to respond to any problem that will arise. It is that kind of message that can transcend the scientific trappings of the film. The film was correct in showing the many onlookers all over the world because no matter where you’re from you can identify with someone that can beat the odds. To beat the odds requires a lot of grit. One could argue that the film is a bit too optimistic but it’s not naïve optimism because he made a decision not to die on Mars or to try and survive as long as possible. Like I said earlier there are many people that would take the decision to wait to die and declare the position as hopeless. There is one point when  you see the toll that making the effort to survive has had on Watney’s body. When I saw that I was genuinely touched. It wasn’t naïve optimism. One must believe that there is more to life than just waiting to die.  Having a high work ethic, that comes with a high level of determination, is key to avoid the trappings that comes with laziness.  The harder you work to get things done the more you will be recognized in the world because your level of production cannot go unnoticed. No nation becomes rich while the labour productivity of the populace is low.

This sci-fi film also demonstrates, like Total Recall (1991), that our solar system is rich with material for fictional escapades.  Obviously Mars is the  candidate for such escapades but many films can be made about other planets and moons. Are other planets capable of being colonized? The science says that once the sun starts to expand and life on earth becomes inhospitable there are other planetary bodies like Mars or the moons of Saturn or Jupiter that would respond positively as the heat from the expanding sun melts their frozen insides. Recent discoveries about the flow of water on Mars suggest that it might be successfully colonized in the next couple of centuries.   One day they will have to do a film about evacuating from earth to somewhere within our own solar system. Not like Interstellar that dismissed the possibility of trying to identify any planet or moon in our solar system that could be colonized. Instead, in Interstellar,  NASA astronauts went through a wormhole, miraculously placed by divine beings, that allowed  them to travel to another galaxy.  Films like Gravity and now The Martian demonstrate that there can be fun sci-fi films without some overwhelmingly fantastic element involved. It can be a good old fashioned story about regular human beings in space like Apollo 13 (although that was based on a true story). Films about regular human beings grappling with space which is the vast new frontier.

I liked the level of international cooperation in this film unlike the American Exceptionalism of Interstellar that was released last year. If human beings are going to get anywhere in terms of settling the frontier of space international cooperation is a must. It is no longer America’s burden especially with countries like China and India on the rise.  There was also some interesting info provided regarding the international agreements when it comes to colonizing new planets. It makes you realize that colonization of other planets or moons  won’t be so simple especially as the US is no longer the only country capable of manned space travel. If China doesn’t get involved in a serious way, in the next 50 -100 years, I would be very surprised.

There is not too much sentimentality in this film. In some respects it’s how you would expect such a story to be told. Not enough dramatic effect will probably not make it as effective in some way but that’s a minor issue.

There was a little political intrigue at NASA which was interesting. Heavy is the head that wears the crown sort o’ thing.

The visual presentation of Mars in the film is stunning and one can see why it’s the only planet in our solar system that human beings are likely to settle on. There is clearly something there for us to work with.

Great performance by Matt Damon. The optimism he portrays is infectious. He does have his doubts but the drive to survive overpowers them. The high work ethic.  Teamwork also makes the dream work.

This film sends an important ideological message about why laziness or low labour productivity doesn’t pay.

Negatives

Well the primary negative about this film is that I did not hear or see enough about Mars. Mars seemed more like a backdrop. Yes it’s a desolate planet but what about its atmosphere. What were they doing on Mars in the first place? I was not too clear. Sometimes I was wondering about the sci-fi nature of the film. There was a lot of talk about colonization and so on but not enough about Mars. This is  reasonable criticism because there is more exposition about Botany and NASA’s machinery than the planet itself. I heard about Mars’ atmosphere but that was it basically. Mars is famous for its mountain ranges yet there was no idea about what you are seeing. Couldn’t they have included a shot of Olympus Mons? This is not just for aesthetic reason because it would make the geography more believable. Many people could get the impression that it’s all CGI or an artist’s impression of Mars that we’re seeing.  I am sure the scientists have begun identifying certain areas by names. I get the idea about the sol days passing by being more important and the location of NASA landing sites etc but I would have liked to hear and see more about Mars. The main strength of Interstellar was its discussion about gravity and the black hole.

The other negative  is the  very convenient nature of the film. Not saying I want to see negative things happen but personally I think that it would have been a stronger movie if he was not the only one left on the planet.  He and a woman stranded would have been nice, Jessica Chastain maybe. Someone being left behind would have been nice. Not negative but balancing out the overdose of optimism. People still need to be reminded that bad things do happen. This is a minor criticism but I remember how Gravity had Bullock and Clooney and it showed that in a lot of cases the message you’re trying to send is stronger when things actually go seriously wrong. Your survival becomes even more precious. If not two people then Watney’s fight to survive on Mars; a fight that lasted as long as his supplies could hold out. He would not hold out in this case but Watney would still have been remembered as a pioneer even if he died. It would have been sad but it would have probably elevated the film to true greatness. But naturally they would not go in that direction. This isn’t the 70s. Films in the 70s would have taken that kind of risk. Nolan came close to taking that risk in Interstellar although he gave in to emotionalism.

I would have loved to hear more about what people in the streets cheering Watney on thought about it all.  There’s a lot of cheering and staring at the screen but not enough talk amongst people in the crowd. All we have is a CNN reporter. CNN clearly a major sponsor.

I’m not going to dwell on that by the way. It’s still a good film. Maybe a little too feel good sort of film but it’s well constructed. You never get bored while watching because Matt Damon and Ridley Scott deliver.