May the Fourth Be With You - An Epic Fantasy

Star Wars - Epic Fantasy, complex characters, full new worlds.

Several years ago, I wrote a blog stating very clearly that Star Wars was an epic fantasy and not a science fiction movie.

I still hold to that. Below is not a thesis on Star Wars as an epic fantasy, just my take for fun on May 4th. So, I hope you had a very happy May the Fourth. Here's to one of my all-time favorite movies and fantasy worlds.

Elaborate world-building. Check. The Senate, the hundreds of worlds, the difference in the many worlds between highly sophisticated Coruscant and not-so-sophisticated Tatooine. There's a balance between the old ways of the Jedi and the technology of the Death Star. There's magic, and creatures, and stormtroopers, and a hierarchy. The Cantina.

Heroic Journeys. Luke. He's an ordinary teenager who can't wait to escape Tatooine so his life can begin. He's far removed from the rebels and the coming war, and he doesn't yet know who he really is or that he's special. He grows from A New Hope to The Return of the Jedi, becoming more powerful than he ever thought he could be.

High Stakes Conflicts. Well yes. The dark side grows stronger. In episodes 1-3, we see the battle for control and the loss of the Senate. In episodes 4-6, there's the rebellion and the fight for freedom. Both sides have it all to lose.

Magical Elements. Well, yes, again, the force. It's everywhere and all around us. Once Luke masters the force, he becomes the one to stop the Empire. It's great when Luke gives up and watches his X-wing fighter submerge in the swamp, and Yoda uses the force to pull it from the muck.

Diverse cast of characters. Besides wookies and ewoks, and banthas, you have deeply complex characters. Luke Skywalker and Leah Organa, both wearing white on the side of good. Han Solo, wearing a mix of black and white because he's somewhere riding the fence. Darth Vader in all black. Add to that Obi-Wan Kenobi, Palpatine, and Lando Calrissian, complex characters who are deeply flawed and fascinating in their humanity. Yeah, I won't forget Jabba the Hutt, Greedo.

Mythical creatures. This overlaps with world-building. I'll just add here, Jawas.

See, epic fantasy. Now I think it's time I stream a little, New Hope.