Part 1 took you through the first three Star Wars films, making up the initial half of the saga. Now, before The Force Awakens, it’s time to get to grips with the original trilogy and the story of Luke Skywalker.
Star Wars Episode IV – A New Hope (34 years before The Force Awakens)
It has been 19 years since the end of the Clone Wars and the galaxy is in a period of civil war, with the Rebel Alliance fighting to overthrow the evil Galactic Empire. Captured rebel leader Princess Leia has hidden the plans to the Empire’s planet-destroying Death Star inside a small astromech droid.
This lovable droid, R2-D2, and his bumbling protocol droid companion C3PO set off on a mission to deliver the plans to Leia’s home planet of Alderaan – crossing paths with young moisture-farm boy Luke Skywalker and wise ageing Jedi knight Obi-Wan Kenobi. The pair recruit cynical smuggler Han Solo (a ‘shoots first’ sort of guy) and his furry first-mate Chewbacca to take them to Alderaan. However, Alderaan has been blown up by the Death Star, and our heroes are captured upon arrival. A daring rescue mission for the princess ensues ending in Obi-Wan sacrificing himself in a duel with Darth Vader, allowing the rest of the company to escape.
A climactic finish sees the rebels launch a WW2-style fighter assault on the Death Star, with Luke using the force to make the shot that blows up the Death Star, just seconds before it can fire on the Rebel base.
Richard Vaughan
Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (31 years before The Force Awakens)
Many call this the defining movie in the original Star Wars trilogy.
Since the destruction of the first Death Star, Darth Vader has been ruthlessly hunting down the young pilot known as Skywalker. This has forced the rebels into a constant state of retreat. After a frosty opening on the ice planet Hoth, the Rebels come under attack from a ruthless Imperial assault forcing them into yet another retreat.
On instruction from the force ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke travels to Dagobah to meet Yoda. It is here that so much more about the Force, the Jedi, and Luke’s overall destiny is learnt.
Meanwhile Han and Leia’s adventures at Cloud City introduce the double-crossing Lando Calrissian who betrays the Rebels to the Empire. With Lando’s betrayal, Han is encased in carbonite and delivered to Jabba the Hutt by infamous Bounty Hunter, Boba Fett. Luke arrives hoping to save his friends only to be caught in an intense duel with Darth Vader ending in one of cinemas most shocking twists. It is here that Darth Vader reveals himself to be the fallen Jedi, Anakin Skywalker; Luke’s Father. This shocking revelation, the capture of Han and the loss of Luke’s Han, leaves the once triumphant heroes in a dire situation.
Shaun Brewster
Star Wars Episode VI – Return of The Jedi (30 years before The Force Awakens)
The final film in the six film saga opens with an elaborate rescue mission to free Han from Jabba’s clutches. The escape plan allows Luke Skywalker to really show how far he has come as a Jedi since the last film, showing off some impressive force abilities and rugged lightsaber skills.
With Han rescued, Han, Luke, Leia, Chewy, Lando and the droids all return to the rebel fleet ready for an epic battle to take down the newly rebuilt Death Star.
The stage is set: Lando joins the Rebel Fleet to bring down the Death Star, Luke confronts the Emporer and his father on the space station his friends are trying to destroy, whilst the rest lead an assault on the forest moon of Endor to take down the shield generator that is protecting the Death Star from any Rebel Fleet.
With the aid of the Ewoks the Shield Generator is taken down and the Death Star destroyed. However, before its destruction, Vader is redeemed and the Emperor defeated, leaving the Galactic Empire seemingly defeated.
Glenn Tanner
Star Wars Episode VII – The Force Awakens
The Empire is spread across many systems and is powerful to live on past the defeat of the Emperor. So much so that 30 years after the battle of Endor the Empire will still threaten the freedom of the galaxy as the newly formed First Order in the cinematic spectacle of a life time; Star Wars The Force Awakens.
Composed by Glenn Tanner
Images sourced from Star Wars: A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi and The Force Awakens respectively, Lucas Film Ltd. and Walt Disney Studios.
