Star Wars: The Force Awakens

By Jacqueline Lee

A long long time ago in a galaxy far far away… It has been 10 years since the most recent Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith was released, and it has been 38 years since the first Star Wars: A New Hope, which came out in 1977. Now Star Wars 7: The Force Awakens is coming out on December 18, 2015. Altogether, the Star Wars films have made $4,486,158,822, and they are still making money at this moment. Ever since the Revenge of the Sith, fans have been wondering about Star Wars 7, 8, and 9. George Lucas, the 71 year old director of Star Wars, sold Star Wars to Disney for $4.05 billion! Now, Lucasfilms and Disney are keeping most things a secret, but anything is possible.

The first trilogy includes episode 4, 5, and 6. In Star Wars episode 4: A New Hope, Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, a Jedi Knight, Han Solo a pilot, and Princess Leia, a princess by adoption. Obi-Wan starts Luke’s training to become a Jedi. The Rebel Allegiance attempts to destroy the Death Star for a great finale to A New Hope. Three years later, Star Wars episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back, is released. The Rebels go into hiding on the ice cold planet, Hoth. Han Solo and Leia escape on the Millennium Falcon, the fastest ship in the Galaxy. Meanwhile, Luke is sent to the Dagobah System, a swampy plant to be trained by one of the most powerful Jedi, Yoda. Yoda will have to train Luke in order to become a Jedi. Springing a trap Luke tries to save his friends. Only then, Luke will face Darth Vader, the most feared villain in the Galaxy. For the first time Luke learns about his family’s past. An amazing duel with a cliffhanger ends the second episode. On May 19, 1983 the last movie in the trilogy was released. Luke and his friends have to save their friend, Han Solo, from the clutches of gangster Jabba the Hutt. Luke will have to face Darth Vader and the evil, but powerful, Emperor Palpatine. With a stunning finish, and an epic duel between Luke and Darth Vader, the trilogy comes to an end.

From 1999 to 2005 the prequel trilogy was released. A prequel to answer questions about the first trilogy, was a hit. Jake Lloyd, who plays 9 year old Anakin Skywalker, was an entertaining character in The Phantom Menace. Obi-Wan trained Anakin to become a Jedi. Many people believed that Anakin was the chosen one. The prophecy read: In the time of greatest despair, a child shall be born who will destroy the Sith and bring balance to the Force. Three years later, Anakin had already been trained for 10 years. Anger, fear, and hate were the path to the Dark Side. Anakin was angry with Obi-wan, feared losing his mother, and hated the Tusken Raiders. The Clone Wars had begun, Clones of Jango Fett, versus battle droids. Anakin lost his right hand and got a nasty scar over his right eye during a duel with Count Dooku. Jedi were not supposed to get married because then they would be attached to somebody, but Anakin married Padme in secret anyways with C3PO and R2-D2 as the only witnesses. Dooku dueled Jedi Master Yoda, but sadly Dooku got away. Three years later, The Revenge of the Sith was released, and there was war throughout the Galaxy. Two Jedi, Obi-Wan and Anakin, attempted to release the Senator, Palpatine. Anakin was having dreams about his wife Padme dying. Palpatine turned Anakin to the Dark Side “promising” to save Padme. Answering all questions from the first trilogy, The Revenge of the Sith had a perfect ending.

On December 18, 2015, Star Wars: The Force Awakens is being released, and there is not much information out in the Galaxy. The most important unanswered question is: What happened to Luke Skywalker? We do know that the new villain is Kylo Ren. Also, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Mark Hamill return to the set. We have not seen Luke and Ren at the same time in any trailers so far. Here are a few reasons Luke may or may not be Kylo Ren. Lightsabers are great weapons, but hard to make. Luke constructed his own lightsaber after Vader destroyed his last one, and Kylo made his own cross lightsaber. Luke knows lots about Vader, but Kylo doesn’t. Kylo Ren does know that Darth was trying to rule the Galaxy, and I don’t know how Kylo would get that information. Also, Adam Driver is Kylo Ren, so that would mean that Luke is not Kylo. Finn is in Jedi training, so we need Luke to do that. We will all figure out these answers on December 18.

You may have never watched Star Wars, or never understood why people think it is the best movie ever. If you like action movies, you should definitely watch the Star Wars films. When Star Wars: A New Hope was released in 1977 it was like no other movie. There weren’t many science fiction movies and people thought the series were innovative. Characters like R2-D2, C3PO, Yoda, and other weird aliens were totally new. Every movie has to have a villain. Star Wars’ villain is the one and only Darth Vader. Darth is the most iconic character in Star Wars, if not in all of cinema. Star Wars was and still is a new step into the Galaxy. On another note, a movie without music would be uninteresting. Star Wars’ music is amazing. John William is the composer of all the Star Wars films. According to Wikipedia, “John Williams has won five Academy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, seven British Academy Film Awards, and 22 Grammy Awards. With 49 Academy Award nominations, Williams is the second most-nominated individual, after Walt Disney.” Star Wars will always be my favorite collection of movies.

Thirty-eight years ago people were amazed by Star Wars, and people are still in awe. Star Wars is timeless and will always amaze me. On December 18, 2015 Star Wars: 7 will be released, and it will be a full house. Star Wars broke all of the records for pre sales with $6.5 million. I hope you get to see the new movie, you might see me there!  May the Force be with you.

Here is the official trailer:The Force Awakens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3U90zeuipU.

*Editor’s Note: As is the case with all movies, TV shows, or other media, you should always get your parents’ permission before exploring these recommendations.

Sources:

• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/StaEpisode_III:_Revenge_of_the_Sith
• http://www.looper.com/4227/reasons-kylo-ren-probably-luke-skywalker/

• http://time.com/3994149/star-wars-the-force-awakens-kylo-ren-adam-driver/?utm_source=zergnet.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=zergnet_647342