Fantasy - Star Wars

Star Wars

When it comes to film anthologies, "Star Wars" probably ranks one of the highest amongst moviegoers. Since the first in the series of films hit the big screen in 1977, it has spawned a legion of devoted fans, followers and collectors. With the revised prequels released in 1997, George Lucas re-opened his galactic fantasy world to a new generation and made those who had followed the films for years reminisce.

The events depicted in Star Wars media take place in a fictional galaxy. Many species of alien creatures (often humanoid) are depicted. Robotic droids are also commonplace and are generally built to serve their owners. Space travel is common, and many planets in the galaxy are members of a Galactic Republic, later reorganized as the Galactic Empire.

The Force

One of the prominent elements of Star Wars is the "Force", which is an omnipresent form of energy which can be harnessed by those with that ability. It is described in the first produced film as "an energy field created by all living things [that] surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together." The Force allows users to perform a variety of supernatural feats (such as telekinesis, clairvoyance, precognition, and mind control) and also can amplify certain physical traits, such as speed and reflexes; these abilities can vary from user to user and can be improved through training. While the Force can be used for good, it has a dark side that, when pursued, imbues users with hatred, aggression, and malevolence.

The six films feature the Jedi, who use the Force for good, and the Sith, who use the dark side for evil in an attempt to take over the galaxy.

The Jedi & Sith

The Jedi are members of a monastic non-theistic order, referred to as the Holy Order of the Jedi Knights in the Star Wars galaxy created by George Lucas. They are an ancient monastic peacekeeping organization known for their observance of The Force, specifically the "light side" of the force, and the rejection of the "dark side" of the Force, as well as the dark side's adherents, the Sith.

Within the Star Wars universe, the Jedi are usually portrayed as dressed in simple robes and carrying specialized field gear for their missions. The most notable instrument wielded by a Jedi is the lightsaber. Lightsabers are used by both Jedi and Sith. Jedi commonly wielded blue and green lightsabers in the movies, while the Sith tended to wield red ones. Although many characters have been portrayed from Star Wars, reenactors of this are more common to portray the Jedi or Sith and are likely to reenact lightsaber battles. More...