The impact that ‘Star Wars’ had on its release was far-reaching and not just limited to the world of cinema. It has affected a lot of things in the last thirty-two years since it first appeared in theaters. Not only is everyone on earth familiar with the likes of Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, R2-D2, C3PO, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, but a large portion of the population could provide you with real facts and figures related to the characters.

With the release of the original Star Wars movie we witnessed a kind of mass hysteria. Suddenly, it was everywhere you went. It was the first movie chain to create a gigantic franchise in its wake. The excitement for this groundbreaking film wasn’t just limited to kids; many adults also got caught up in all this. The movie seemed to strike a nerve with many people. Essentially, it is a fairy tale set in space, but it also contains many other elements. Romance and adventure are present as you would expect, but there is more to it than that. There are very clear distinctions between good and evil, light and dark. It is full of religious references and influences. ‘The Force’ itself is something that is clearly spiritual in nature. The teachings of Yoda, a Jedi Master, in the later Star Wars movies are obviously very Buddhist in style and content.

By the time you get to ‘Revenge of the Sith’ and see the backdrop used for Anakin’s near disappearance before his rebirth as Darth Vader, you can see an obvious depiction of hell on fire. It’s more like something created by Dante, than what you’d expect to see in a sci-fi movie. If you remember some of the scenes and characters from the six movie series, it won’t be long before you come across some sort of religious symbolism or reference. There have even been many people who, when filling out questionnaires, have named their religion as ‘Jedi’. Perhaps this is taking things a bit too far, but it’s a very good example of how deeply Star Wars has touched some people.

The effect movies have had on the film industry should not be underestimated. The original ‘Star Wars’ made many of its rival films look ridiculous upon their release. The special effects really were cutting edge and a lot of other movies from that period just couldn’t compete. The world of science fiction cinema needed to catch up very quickly and it knew it.

When the first three films in the sequence are seen today, they still sit comfortably alongside their contemporaries. They are not dated and are still very enjoyable for all ages. They are now being enjoyed by a new and younger generation. That this is possible is a testament to its quality and depth.