You can stop whatever you’re doing now………….

You don’t really want to click on those other websites do you?………..

This is the article you were looking for………

Star Wars: Episode VII has been slumbering quietly since early 2014, firmly under wraps until December 18th, 2015, when this ongoing Sci-Fi saga will fully open its 38 year old eyes as The Force finally (re) Awakens.

Sounds like John Williams (at 83 years old) is back too – thank The Force for that!

The Force?  What exactly is The Force?  In the words of Obi-Wan Kenobi:   (this must be read in an Alec Guinness-type voice for maximum effect.)

‘The Force is what gives a Jedi his power.  It’s an energy field created by all living things.  It surrounds and penetrates us.  It binds the galaxy together.’

Einstein, who was always way ahead of the space-time continuum, may have had The Force in mind when he came up with his seminal equation, E=mc2.  Einstein stated (alarmingly, at the time) that Mass was another form of energy; a super concentrated form of energy, and that this Mass is eternally floating along a 4th dimension (Time) at the speed of light.  This means that you and I, being objects with Mass, contain enormous amounts of untapped, potential energy and, even more spookily, are always travelling at the speed of light.  Very Jedi-like don’t you think?

Did you know that if you could somehow release the energy contained within one hypothetical person, then that imaginary person could provide electricity to 10 million homes for 3 years  –  yes really –  or maybe that person could defy gravity and fly above the heads of the Sith, wielding a light sabre powered by the energy coming from inside his own living cells.  I think I’m on to something here; weren’t Anakin’s blood cells full of midi-chlorians (Episode I) connecting him directly to the energy of The Force?

George Lucas and Einstein – two names you don’t often see together.

Ok, back down to planet Earth.  George Lucas probably didn’t have Einstein in mind when he came up with The Force – the Lucas Force being more of an outside energy field – but he probably was referencing Eastern philosophies and their emphasis on the natural energy (Ch’i) of the universe.  What is clear is that, back in the 70s, Lucas was busy creating a 20th century, landmark, celluloid tale that took inspiration from just about every epic story and myth that came before it, whilst also referencing nearly every major world religion.

Nothing wrong with that.  It’s what the best storytellers do – re-work and re-invent the one myth that has stood the test of time – the unlikely hero, passing through various trials and tribulations until he/she comes to accept that they are the Chosen One and, in so doing, saves the planet (or galaxy.)

In anticipation of J J Abrams’  Star Wars vision – and let’s hope it’s like his Star Trek re-boot, full of eye catching lens flare and fluorescent colour;  but staying faithful to the retro ‘feel’ of the original – I thought I’d while away this article by offering a very rough, and thankfully short, guide to the similarities between Star Wars and other tales of an Epic nature.  Yes, I know the internet is awash with scarily nerdish expositions of the Star Wars myth, but any resemblance to existing internet theories that you find here is, as they say, purely coincidental.

The Wizard of Oz

Is it just me?  Does anyone else here see the obvious references to the land of Oz.  George Lucas was a kid in the 1940s/50s, just shortly after the Judy Garland film hit the screens.  Surely he, like the rest of America, got caught up in this archetypal film and its enduring characters.

The Tin Man = C-3PO (in his appearance but with traits of the cowardly lion.)
The Cowardly Lion = Chewbacca  (appearance only)
Toto the faithful dog = R2D2
The Munchkins = The Jawa
Dorothy = Luke –  both living with their aunt and uncle before being whisked away on a frightening adventure to overcome their evil nemesis – Darth Vader/Wicked Witch of the West (heck, they both wear black capes and weirdly shaped hats for goodness sake.)

The Second World War

(Lucas was a war baby, entering the world in 1944)

The Galactic Empire = Hitler’s vision of a German empire.
Stormtroopers = Nazis.  (In Germany the Sturmabteilung were the ‘Storm Detachment’ of the military wing of the Nazi party.)

The Bible

Luke Skywalker = Christ figure.

Darth Vader = the Devil.  A once good Jedi who fell from grace in choosing the Dark Side.  Also God-like figure willing to kill his own son but, unlike the biblical God, can’t go through with it.

Arthurian Legend

Luke = King Arthur
Han Solo = Sir Lancelot
Princess Leia = Guinevere figure
Light Sabre = the sword Excalibur
Obi-Wan Kenobi/Yoda = Merlin/wise Mentor

The Lord of the Rings

Gandalf, Bilbo, the Quest, swords that glow  (no explanation required.)  But then again, didn’t Tolkien’s imagination influence just about everything.

In most lasting myths and legends there is an attachment of some kind between the hero and the villain.  Christ and his disciple Judas, who betrayed him.  King Arthur and his nephew Mordred, who betrayed him.  Harry Potter’s soul-link to Voldemort.  Luke Skywalker, and his old dad Darth Vader.  Seems like you can’t trust anyone doesn’t it?

Ok, I’ve run out of ideas, you can be on your way now………..

Yes, you can go about your business……………

Move along now, maybe this wasn’t the droid (oops forgot myself there) you were looking for……….