Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed

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Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed
Format	Documentary TV Special
Country of origin	United States
Production
Running time	2 Hours
Broadcast
Original channel	The History Channel
Original airing	May 28, 2007

Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed is a TV documentary which premiered on The History Channel. It was produced by Prometheus Entertainment in association with The History Channel and Lucasfilm Ltd. The executive producer and director was Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Kevin Burns. The special focuses on how Star Wars is relevant today and the history that inspired it. The show features a number of well-known politicians, journalists, and critics in its interviews. The show also consists a great amount of connections to Greek Mythology. The footage consists of interviews, historical content, and clips from all six of the Star Wars movies.

In its premiere, Star Wars: The Legacy Revealed delivered 1.8 million adults 25-54 and 1.7 million adults 18-49, besting the network’s previous high-water marks for both demos^{[citation needed]}. The special was seen by 3.1 million total viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research data.

Although the program premiered as a 90 minute version for television, a 120 minute version will be made available on DVD in the future^{[citation needed]}. It will contain additional materials and interviews not seen in the telecast version.

1 Synopsis
2 Featured Interviews
3 See also
4 External links

[edit] Synopsis

The first main subject of the special deals with the importance of the hero and the mentor. They discuss the etymology of the word mentor, coming from the name of Mentor, who watched over Odysseus's son Telemachus. 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 a light saber. The hero gives his life to stop evil. The importance of The 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 can not 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 of Darth Vader, but Obi Wan is still there inside of Luke.

The hero relies on the friendship of others. The show includes comparing Jabba the Hutt to a dragon, where he steals the damsel in distress. The planet of Naboo is spoken of in reference of Nabu, the Queen of Wisdom in Babylon. Padme 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 like Apollo and Artemis.

Another large portion of the special was focused on Han Solo. Han Solo's name represents him, Solo meaning "one". He is looked at like a western outlaw because he personifies independence, self-reliance, and depends on no one but himself. In some parts of the Star Wars saga, it might seem like a Wild West town, where no one cares what happens as long as it's cleaned up. Tom Brokaw even describes the series as a "Western in the future".

There is one part that discusses the need for companions and faithful followers. The comic relief of Star Wars is R2-D2 and C-3PO. The two robots are compared to Abbot and Costello and Laurel and Hardy. Jar Jar Binks, the childlike innocent, grows up throughout the films and gains responsibility, allowing for children to connect to him.

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.

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. When Palpatine tempts Anakin with power, it is like the serpent tempting Eve 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 to John Milton's Paradise Lost, where Lucifer, a good Angel, wages war on Heaven and is cast out, forcing him to his own place in Hell. The battle on Mustafar 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 like Frankenstein's Monster.

Star Wars also reflects a cycle in our own history, the fall of the Republic and the rise of Dictators and corruption in government. Palpatine seizes power gradually, and is compared to Hitler and Saddam Hussein. The Republic is shown as the Roman Empire, such as pod races being similar to chariot races. Citizens indulge in rituals of sacrifice and slaughter as well as gladiatorial combat. Palpatine's story reflects that of Napoleon. Another big part states that society is in a continual process of construction and self-destruction.

The Legacy Revealed shows many connections between the Nazis and the Empire. 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 the Swastika, and that Darth Vader's helmet is similar to that of the German Army's. The Republic also embraced diversity, while the Empire did not. There are no women in the Empire, showing that there is no purity or life.

Accoarding 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 the Death Star and uses the force to guide him. In the end, there is 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 a pyre, like in the Iliad where Priam burns Hector's body.

The last scenes of the show feature a few politicians such as Nancy Pelosi. They talk of people that get 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.