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The events of Star Wars take place in the fictional Star Wars galaxy. Each Star Wars film begins with an "opening crawl" of text that provides specific context for the events of the film. "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...." is the line that appears first in the opening crawl for each film and alludes to the classic fairy tale opening of, "Once upon a time, in a faraway land..."

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Many of the characters in the film are essentially identical to humans. The characters commonly interact with fantastic creatures of many different types from numerous planetary systems within the Star Wars galaxy. Star Wars uses supernatural elements such as magic, Jedi knights, witches, and princesses that are related to characters found in fairy tales, epics and sagas.

The film series spans the events of two generations. The Star Wars "Expanded Universe" comprises stories set in the Star Wars universe that have not appeared in the original film series. The "Expanded Universe" covers events that span millennia. Novels from a series called New Jedi Order later extended the Star Wars setting to different galaxies with the introduction of alien beings named Yuuzhan Vong. Most aliens prior to the New Jedi Order series came from the same galaxy in which the films are set.

The Star Wars world, unlike many science-fiction and fantasy films that featured sleek and futuristic settings, was portrayed as dirty and grimy. As well, even though the Star Wars stories span millennia, little technological evolution is depicted. In interviews, Lucas claims that new props were rubbed with dirt to give them a weather-worn appearance., which he calls "a used or ancient future". Lucas' vision of a "used or ancient future" was further popularized in the science fiction-horror films Alien, which was set on a dirty space freighter; Mad Max 2, which is set in a post-apocalyptic desert; and Blade Runner, which is set in a crumbling, dirty city of the future.

Plot

Episodes I, II, and III chronicle the downfall of the Old Republic and the rise of the Galactic Empire. It is also the story of Anakin Skywalker, the "Chosen One", rising as a gifted young Jedi and eventually transforming into Darth Vader via the Dark Side of the Force. The story begins as Darth Sidious manipulates the Trade Federation into blockading, invading, and occupying the planet Naboo.

Sidious concurrently maintains his public identity as Palpatine, who represents the world of Naboo as a Senator in the Galactic Republic. Palpatine uses the incident to convince the Senate to elect him as Chancellor of the Galactic Republic. He further manipulates the Senate into granting him emergency powers by orchestrating the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Republic (which he controls as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine) and a Separatist movement (which he controls as Darth Sidious).

A young boy named Anakin Skywalker, incredibly strong with the Force, is discovered by Jedi Master Qui-Gon Jinn, and his padawan (apprentice) Obi-Wan Kenobi. Qui-Gon believes Anakin is the Chosen One, prophesied to bring balance to the Force. After Qui-Gon is killed by the hideous Darth Maul, Obi-Wan defeats this Sith apprentice and then, over the strong objections of Master Yoda, obeys his master's final wish to train the boy. Anakin grows powerful with the Force, and his skill causes him to become arrogant and chafe against Obi-Wan's training, which he feels is restrictive. Against the strictest rules of the Jedi Order, Anakin falls in love with Padmé Amidala, Queen and later Senator of Naboo. The two wed in secret, an act forbidden for Jedi due to the inherent emotional vulnerability.

The Clone Wars begin to rage through every part of the known galaxy, and the Jedi fight tirelessly to bring peace back to the Republic. Anakin and Padmé continue to keep their marriage a secret, but soon Padmé becomes pregnant. Although thrilled by the news, Anakin begins to have visions of Padmé's death. The secretive nature of their relationship forces him to seek help outside of the Jedi order, and he desperately asks aid of Chancellor Palpatine, whose public and private powers are increasing daily.

Palpatine, as Darth Sidious, seizes this opportunity to tempt Anakin to the Dark Side, promising that Padmé can be saved if Anakin joins the Sith. His guile succeeds, convincing Anakin to abandon the Jedi. Anakin's turning point comes when he intervenes in a lightsaber duel between Jedi Master Mace Windu and Palpatine, cutting off Windu's hand and allowing Palpatine to kill the Jedi Master. Palpatine declares Anakin a Sith Lord and gives him the name Darth Vader, then orders him to hunt down and destroy all the remaining Jedi in the galaxy (see Order 66 for more on the demise of the Jedi). Believing that Padme has betrayed him, Anakin attacks her and leaves her unconscious. Confronted by Kenobi in a lightsaber duel, Anakin loses this battle and becomes horribly disfigured as a result. He is later fitted with a suit of black armor and helmet, which serves as a life-support system and also gives him a menacing presence as Vader.

Padmé dies giving birth to twins, whom she names Luke and Leia. The twins are given to two separate willing parties for safety: Luke to Anakin's step-brother Owen Lars and his wife Beru on Tatooine; Leia to Senator Bail Organa and his wife on the planet Alderaan. Obi Wan-Kenobi and Yoda, two of the few remaining Jedi, exile themselves. Obi-Wan becomes a hermit on the desert world Tatooine, where he assumes the responsibility of watching over Luke. Yoda similarly becomes a hermit on the swamp world of Dagobah. Sidious (as Palpatine) reorganizes the Galactic Republic into the First Galactic Empire, and declares himself its Emperor.

Episodes IV, V, and VI pick up approximately 19 years after the events of Episode III, during the Galactic Civil War, a lengthy conflict in which the Galactic Empire falls at the hands of the Rebel Alliance. These films follow the story of Luke Skywalker, the son of Anakin Skywalker (now the black-suited Darth Vader), and his rise in the rebellion against the Empire. The tale ends with the redemption of Anakin Skywalker at Luke's hands, and the reconciliation of the galaxy by the ultimate destruction of the Sith and the Empire.

Leia, Princess and Imperial Senator for Alderaan, is a secret member of the Rebel Alliance. While carrying home the plans for the Empire's immense battle station, the Death Star, her ship is intercepted by Darth Vader. She sends a message for help to Obi-Wan Kenobi by means of the droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, and Darth Vader takes her to the sinister Grand Moff Tarkin aboard the Death Star. Luke inadvertently intercepts Leia's message, and meets Kenobi, while Leia is forced to witness the destruction of her home-world, Alderaan, by the Death Star's main armament.

After the murder of his aunt and uncle by Imperial Stormtroopers looking for the escaped droids, Luke joins the ragtag Rebel Alliance; traveling with Kenobi, his (then-unrecognized) sister Leia Organa, smuggler Han Solo, Solo's Wookiee companion Chewbacca, and the droids. The Rebel Alliance eventually destroys the Death Star and Tarkin, stopping the Emperor from completely dominating the galaxy for a time.

Prior to the destruction of the Death Star, Luke began his initial training as a Jedi with Kenobi. After Kenobi's death at the hands of Vader, Kenobi appears to Luke as an apparition and instructs him to seek out and continue his training with Yoda on Dagobah. Luke believes that his father was betrayed and murdered by Darth Vader, having been told as much by Kenobi at their first meeting. When Luke learns the truth, that his father and Vader are one and the same, he is profoundly shaken. Despite this, Luke successfully resists the efforts of Vader and Palpatine to turn him to the Dark Side. Luke goes to confront Vader aboard the newly-built Death Star. After a lightsaber duel in which Luke defeats Vader, Palpatine attacks Luke with the intent to kill; Vader intercedes and kills Palpatine to save his son, but is mortally wounded in the process. Luke removes Vader's mask to reveal Anakin; moments from death, Anakin/Vader returns to the light side of the Force, fulfilling the prophecy of the Chosen One having brought balance to the force.

Meanwhile, Leia and Han, who were pursued by Vader in an effort to find and turn Luke, develop a romantic relationship, and Leia finally learns of her Jedi heritage just before their strike team disables the second Death Star's defenses. The Rebel fleet, led in part by Solo's friend Lando Calrissian, then scores a decisive victory against the Empire by destroying the second Death Star. This leads to the end of the Galactic Civil War and the destruction of the Galactic Empire, and peace is restored to the galaxy.
Spoilers end here.

Themes


George Lucas utilizes a style of epic storytelling that uses motifs, common themes and concepts which he alters slightly each time they occur. This concept is loosely similar to the use of leitmotifs in the Romantic music of the 1800s, but Lucas applies it both visually and as an integral part of his storytelling. On a larger scale, there are many parallels between the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy; the stories of Anakin Skywalker and Luke Skywalker echo and reflect each other in a number of ways.

The Force is one of the most recognizable elements of the Star Wars series. It is described by Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars film as, "An energy field created by all living things. It surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds the galaxy together." Those who can use the Force, such as the Jedi, can perform feats of telepathy, psychokinesis, prescience, clairvoyance, and mental control. The light side of the Force is the facet aligned with good, benevolence, and healing. The dark side of the Force is aligned with fear, hatred, aggression, and malevolence.

Jedi, followers of the Light, believe that knowledge serves as a guide and path to power, whereas the Sith rely on the Dark Side in the belief that power brings knowledge and understanding. The dark side seems more powerful, especially to those who use it, because it is driven by rage and hatred — its effects are more direct and easier and faster to achieve.

No one can tell which one is stronger based on opinion, but the sith force does have more abilities then the simple force push or pull. The dark side conveys an inherent disadvantage to its users, which is arrogance and overconfidence in their own abilities. However, this aggression allows its acolytes to become more formidable warriors — illustrated when Luke is able to finally overcome his father in battle because of his anger at the thought of his sister turning to the dark side.

On the other hand, Jedi can occasionally become crippled by their compassion and suffer defeat at the hands of a ruthless opponent. This is balanced by an ability to remain calm even in extreme circumstances, and to intelligently reason their way through complex and precarious situations.

(edited from Wikipedia)