| Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed | |
|---|---|
| Narrated by | Robert Clotworthy |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Production | |
| Running time | 90 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | History Channel |
| Release | May 28, 2007 (2007-05-28) |
Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed (TLR) is a televisiondocumentary which premiered on theHistory Channel in May 2007. It was produced byPrometheus Entertainment in association with The History Channel andLucasfilm Ltd. The executive producer and director wasEmmy Award-winning filmmakerKevin Burns.[1]
The special focuses on howStar Wars is relevant today and the history that inspired it, and also makes various connections toGreek mythology.[2] It consists of a number of interviews with well-known politicians, journalists and critics, such as John Lyden, professor Chad Stanley,Tom Brokaw,Stephen Colbert andPeter Jackson, along with historical content and clips from all six of theStar Wars movies.[3]
The first main subject of the special discusses the origins of films as they were written in the early 1970s, during a time of social unrest and political upheaval. WhenStar Wars was released it reaffirmed the notion that there is such a thing as good versus evil and evil must be defeated. The films made use ofJoseph Campbell's model of thehero's journey as discussed in the bookThe Hero With a Thousand Faces.
InStar Wars, two characters embark on the hero's journey,Anakin Skywalker and his sonLuke. Luke starts out as a nobody much likeDorothy,Harry Potter andKing Arthur, and what he needs is a call to adventure. Luke would reject the call as didMoses, but after the violent murder of his aunt and uncle he resolves to go. The Cantina scene is what Joseph Campbell referred to as the threshold crossing, meaning that you're no longer at home and your journey will be a dangerous one.
Yoda,Obi-Wan Kenobi andQui-Gon Jinn represent the importance of the hero's need for a mentor. They discuss theetymology of the wordmentor, coming from the name ofMentor, who watched overOdysseus's sonTelemachus. It says that a key element to the mentor is that they give the hero a gift. In Luke Skywalker's case, it is Obi-Wan giving him alightsaber. The hero gives his life to stop evil. The importance ofthe Force is another topic, saying that any religious background can associate, and it is basically believing in something higher, and that everything has a purpose. The mentor cannot stay forever, and it is crucial that they do not stay to help. Yet, the mentor is still within. This is shown by Obi-Wan's downfall in the hands ofDarth Vader, but Obi-Wan is still there inside of Luke.
The hero relies on the friendship of others. The show includes comparingJabba the Hutt to a dragon, where he steals thedamsel in distress. The planet ofNaboo is spoken of in reference ofNabu, the Queen of Wisdom in Babylon.Padmé Amidala, who is from Naboo (pronounced the same as the God), is also said to be "the Queen of Wisdom". Luke and Leia are said to be likeApollo andArtemis.
Another large portion of the special was focused onHan Solo. Han Solo's name represents him, Solo meaning "one". Unlike other characters, who were based on mythical archetypes, he is seen more as a wild west outlaw because he personifies independence, self-reliance, and depends on no one but himself. In some parts of theStar Wars saga, it might seem like aWild West town, where no one cares what happens as long as it is cleaned up.Tom Brokaw describes the series as a "Western in the future".
There's one part that discusses the need for companions and faithful followers. Thecomic relief ofStar Wars isR2-D2 andC-3PO. The two robots are compared toAbbott and Costello,Laurel and Hardy andTom and Jerry.Jar Jar Binks, the childlike innocent, grows up throughout the films and gains responsibility, allowing for children to connect to him. They have been influenced by such classic cartoon characters asMickey Mouse,Donald Duck,Bugs Bunny,Daffy Duck andPorky Pig.
The journey of a hero is also of large importance. The hero must undergo tests that will make him stronger, sometimes having to face their worst fears or confront their nightmares. The extent to which Lucas used ideas from mythologistJoseph Campbell is discussed byJonathan Young of the Campbell Archives.
For every hero, it says, there must be a villain. Darth Vader is portrayed as the ruthless enforcer. Confronting the villain is a critical part of the hero's journey. The show says that there is a dramatic regard and excitement to choosing evil over good. WhenPalpatine temptsAnakin with power, it is like the serpent temptingEve with the apple. When Anakin succumbs to the Dark Side, it is like the man who sells his soul to the devil. This is also compared toJohn Milton'sParadise Lost, whereLucifer, a goodangel, wages war on Heaven and is cast out, forcing him to his own place inHell. The battle onMustafar symbolises an apocalyptic atmosphere and mirrors Anakin internally. When he has no humanity left and becomes the mechanical monster of Darth Vader, it is said to be likeFrankenstein's Monster.
Star Wars also reflects a cycle in our own history, the fall ofrepublics and the rise ofdictators,political corruption anddemocratic backsliding. Palpatine seizes power gradually, and is compared toAdolf Hitler andSaddam Hussein. The Republic is shown as theRoman Empire, such aspod races being similar tochariot races. Citizens indulge in rituals of sacrifice and slaughter as well asgladiatorial combat. Palpatine's story reflects that ofNapoleon. Another big part states that society is in a continual process of construction and self-destruction.
The Legacy Revealed shows many connections between theNazis and theEmpire. Examples shown are that Vader's own troops,Stormtroopers, share the same name with Hitler's. The black, white, and red used in many scenes with the Empire are the same colors of theswastika, and that Darth Vader's helmet is similar to that of theGerman Army's. The Republic also embraceddiversity, while the Empire did not. There are no women in the Empire, showing that there is no purity or life.
According to the show, the Rebels win in the end because of their trust in something else, in themselves, rather than technology. This is illustrated when Luke turns off his targeting computer during the attack on theDeath Star and uses the force to guide him. In the end, there's a Christian-like redemptive moment, where Luke overturns the Dark Side and brings salvation to his father. Once Vader dies, Luke burns his body on apyre, like inTheIliad wherePriam burnsHector's body.
The last scenes of the show feature a few politicians. They talk of people that join together for a common goal and power always belongs to the people.Star Wars is then said that even though there are strong mythological influences in it, it becomes a mythology all its own.
The documentary was nominated for 3Emmy Awards, for Outstanding Non-fiction Special, Outstanding Writing (Non-fiction), and Outstanding Directing (Non-fiction).[4]
