“A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…”
These words flash in blue across the screen, and the epic John Williams score echoes, almost instinctively, in the mind of any Star Wars fan.
The Star Wars universe continues to expand with new shows and movies that always seem to be in the works. May 4 — properly pronounced “May the Fourth” as a nod to the iconic “May the force be with you” line first heard by Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi — has become the official Star Wars holiday.
If you’re a Star Wars fan, then you’ve likely already been captivated by the Star Wars universe for some time. However, if you’ve never seen a Star Wars film and are curious about the buzz, read on to find out why you should watch Star Wars.
Aside from being some of the most visually dazzling and epic films ever created, Star Wars is propelled by a compelling storyline rife with some of the most memorable characters in cinematic history.
Even those with a passing interest in Star Wars are more than likely familiar with the names Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca. This fact alone speaks to the far-reaching impact Star Wars makes on culture.
As with any great story, Star Wars has it all: drama, love, action, epic struggles between good and evil, twists, turns, and everything in between.
The Rise of Skywalker is the long-awaited conclusion of the new “sequel trilogy” that was launched in 2015 with The Force Awakens. It continues the original 1970 trilogy comprised of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and The Return of the Jedi.
The prequel trilogy, launched in 1999 with The Phantom Menace, follows Anakin Skywalker’s path to becoming Darth Vader.
At its core, Star Wars is a story about destiny.
It’s about becoming who you are meant to be. Each character is unwillingly cast into a battle for something greater than themselves, and it draws strong parallels to the Christian life and what it means to be human, which is likely why it’s such a beloved franchise.
It’s also a story about the triumph of good over evil.
There’s a certain element of spirituality in the Star Wars universe called “the Force.”
This is an invisible energy that flows through and binds all living things, and only certain people can utilize it.
Morality also plays an important role in how the Force is used. Use the Force for good deeds and for helping others, and one can be trained as a Jedi. However, use the Force for evil, and one becomes slowly corrupted by the dark side of the Force.
In the end, good always wins over evil, but victory isn’t won without a battle. While the Star Wars characters battle for the fate of the galaxy, human persons are entrenched in a battle of their own.
Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ already conquered death, and we have nothing to fear. Even so, the enemy manages to creep into our lives with sin. In our fallen nature, it’s a battle we must fight day in and day out.
But still, hope remains, and above all else, Star Wars is a story about hope.
Without hope, the characters in Star Wars would have nothing to fight for. Hope is why we all fight the battles we do. At times, these battles are daunting, exhausting and feel nearly impossible to overcome. But it’s the hope of something better and a brighter future that drives each of us to face those battles head-on.
In Star Wars, they do it with the aid of the Force. But Christians have something much better than that; we have the creator of the universe on our side.
Stories, like the one told in Star Wars, are exciting, but more than that, they’re empowering. We may not live a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but as the films show, humanity doesn’t change much, no matter the time — or galaxy — they may live in.
So, pop some popcorn, throw on Star Wars, and escape reality for a little bit — it might surprise you just how much that far, far-away galaxy looks like our own.