...three...two...one...

The countdown hits zero
a minute after midnight as the
Star Wars adventure finally
continues ... to begin

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By Burl Burlingame
Star-Bulletin

THERE'S a moment in "A New Hope," the first "Star Wars" movie, a simple moment. Luke Skywalker has stumbled upon Ben Kenobi, a strange hermit in the desert. As they talk in Ben's dark cabin, they discover they have a few things in common. Ben casually mentions the "Jedi knights" and moves his head slightly back, and, out of focus and in the distance, a window appears, glowing with light.

An accident of filmmaking? Hardly. It's subtle, but the point is made in visual terms -- the Jedi are a lonely light in the darkness.

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Darth Maul
POWERFUL SITH APPRENTICE

George Lucas consciously set out to create a kind of modern mythology with a groove drawn from present-day American pop culture and a traditional storyline taken from elements of classic mythology. These are the great themes that reverberate through all cultures -- the eternal battle between good and evil (both external and within), lone heroes and tragic princesses, the transmission of power and knowledge from one generation to another.

Lucas' great insight was in realizing human beings have the capacity to imagine alternate existances and place themselves there, as long as the figures and places and stories are ripe with meaning in our collective and historical unconscious.

Lucas took these themes and deliberately wove them into the 20th century's great communicative artistic medium, the movies. Other filmmakers before Lucas did the same, but unconsciously, being part of the tradition of classical storytelling. Lucas also had fortunate timing in that the other great arena of American mythology, the western, was fading.

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Obi Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn face Darth Maul in a lightsaber duel.

What made "Star Wars" resonate for so many was the deepness of the layers. It can be thought of simply as a showy piece of space opera (too easy!) or as a transformative work of art with deep, deep symbolism (a pretty heavy load for two-hours of Hollywood entertainment!).

However you feel about the films, there are visual and storytelling cues to watch out for -- the same sort of things your high-school English teacher warned you about in literature class. Here's a kind of Cliff's Notes for "Star Wars." See if these classic elements appear in "The Phantom Menace."

Light and dark: The world's cultures almost all think of light as good and dark as bad, which goes back to the long dark nights when huddling around the campfire kept the sabertooths at bay.

In westerns, you had white hats and black hats. In "A New Hope," Luke and Leia both wore white, and Darth Vader wore black -- but note Han Solo wore white with a black vest, symbolizing that the selfish rogue had a good heart.

Later, as Luke and Leia began to accept the powers within them, their clothing shifted to darker hues, until Luke was all in black himself.

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Qui-Gon Jinn, JEDI MASTER

Begatting: Children are both a blessing and curse, and the traditional family unit is under attack in the three "Star Wars" films. Everyone is an orphan, or their origins are shrouded in mystery. But the longing for family is always there, whether it's allegiance to one's X-Wing squadron, to a noble cause, or just an acceptance of one's birthright.

The only community with any children are the unbearably cute Ewoks in "Return of the Jedi," a symbol of their harmony with nature. Note that, in their presence, Leia lets her hair down and wears natural fiber.

Transformation: It ain't mythology unless the characters undergo a process of change. Luke is rendered handless, like his father. Leia changes from bitter to loving, following her heart instead of her anger. Han is frozen in "carbonite" and emerges with a new appreciation for his mates. Droids C-3PO and R2-D2 are regularly pulled apart and put back together.

Despite his evil powers, Vader can't exist without his mechanical limbs and lungs, and yet, when Luke finally looks upon his face for the first time, Vader's features are curiously benign and unformed, like a baby's. It's far more horrifying that Vader looks so "normal.

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Anakin Skywalker, Hopeful young boy awaiting his destiny .grows up to be...

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Darth Vader DARK LORD OF THE SITH

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World War II: The great struggle between the light and dark aspects of man occurred in this century, and has had a profound effect on literature and the arts. Because World War II was like epic mythology come to life, it has colored "Star Wars" throughout, as it shaded that other great trilogy of mythic fantasy, "The Lord of the Rings." Watch for echoes of the war in both political discussions within the film and in the way it looks.

The journey: You don't save the universe sitting around at home. Classic mythology required the hero to separate himself from the everyday world, undergo a series of trials and horrors, become an initiate into a "larger world" than the one previously realized, and then return, a changed person. The spiritual journey is mirrored in the physical journey.

Heralds: These are messengers, bringing news, or, simply by their presence, signalling change. They foreshadow, they presage, and they also provide continuity and commentary. Lucas has said the only characters that will appear in ALL "Star Wars" films are C-3PO and R2-D2, so you figure it out.

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Queen Amidala, RULER OF NABOO
In later episodes, Amidala has two children with Anakin named
Leia and Luke. Both children were separated from their parents at
an early age, raised in separate families, and had their
heritage kept secret from them.

Sidekicks: The hero's partner, the being to whom he can talk and reflect off of, is a tradition that goes back to Gilgamesh and Enkidu; or Jason and his pals, the Argonauts. The partner also provides a mirror, an unchanging barometer that reflects changes in the hero. Think Chewbacca. Think Jar-Jar.

Labyrinth: The heroes will be required, at some point, to enter a confusing and dangerous environment. This journey-with-a-journey not only dates back to the Minotaur and the Death Star, it's the plot line of virtually all shoot-'em-up computer games, which is one reason they're so addictive.

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Princess Leia, HEROINE OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE

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Luke Skywalker, TATTOINE FARM BOY TURNED
HERO OF THE REBEL ALLIANCE

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Magical places: There are also zones where the normal rules of the universe seem to be held in abeyance, such as Oz or Yoda's home on Dagobah. Note the whole notion of time itself seems to vanish -- the enchanted forest is also a metaphor for a transformative dream.

Choices: One of the most affecting scenes in "A New Hope" was the image of Luke staring off into the horizon as darkness fell on the harsh desert of Tatooine, trapped between the circumstances of life and the need to explore, to find himself.

The music welled in proportion to his longing, the longing within every human who's trying to grow. And yet, as Luke stares off into his inner horizon, there are two suns. The path is never clear.

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Obi-Wan Kenobi, PROMISING JEDI APPRENTICE
Went into hiding as 'Ben' Kenobi to protect
Luke Skywalker from afar.

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'Ben' Obi-Wan Kenobi, JEDI KNIGHT AND
DEFENDER OF THE OLD REPUBLIC

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