Space and conquest in the cinema of English-speaking countries: Star Wars Episode IV, A new hope

Résumé du document

Star Wars was a major film event not only in the United States but worldwide. It is also a new beginning for special effects and started the tendency to build sagas or film episodes expected by fans during several years. So the question is to understand the reasons of such a success story. Part of the answer may be in the fact that the plot of the story fulfils the American Dream, or corresponds to the way the American people would like to consider themselves: pioneers. Yesterday the conquest was for lands from coast to coast, tomorrow it will be from planets to planets as space and conquest are strongly connected with the story of the American Nation.
By using that theme as a back bone structure for his first trilogy, George Lucas has played on both levels to build his new myth: he is telling a modern fairytale, with heroes and villains to defeat, and at the same time inventing new codes, new lands, and new species to extend the vision of space. After Episode IV, space would never be the same.

Extraits

[...] Scott, like Whedon, was influenced by the "used future" and extended the concept for his science fiction horror film Alien. Jackson used the concept for his production of the Lord of the Rings trilogy to add a sense of realism and believability. In May 25th 2007 we will celebrate the 30th birthday of this film selected in 1989 by the United States National Film Registry of the Library of Congress as a “culturally, historically or aesthetically important film”. In 2006, George Lucas' original screenplay was selected by the Writers Guild of America as the 68th greatest of all time. [...]

[...] The conquest is strongly linked with the research for control and power. Darth Vader Vador” in French with no other reason than a mystification) incarnates the major threat. His character is menacing Luke, a super evil Merlin, he is the black magician or high priest of the imperial army. The fact that death star soldiers are dressed like Nazis clearly states the point. They are ready for massive destruction like Aldebaran planet destroyed to set an example to the alliance and a display of the death star's power. [...]

[...] Space & Conquest in the cinema of english-speaking countries STAR WARS EPISODE IV, A NEW HOPE Building a myth that extends the American ideology of the space conquest and freedom. Star Wars was a major film event not only in the United States but worldwide. It is also a new beginning for special effects and started the tendency to build sagas or film episodes expected by fans during several years. So the question is to understand the reasons of such a success story. [...]

[...] Far beyond the visual effects company “Industrial Light and Magic” (ILM) he founded in 1975, Lucas has built a new factory of dreams that still works and presents space conquests as a new evidence. Sources Web www.allocine.fr www.imdb.com www.wikipedia.org www.starwars.com www.commeaucinema.com http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars/ Bibliography - JULLIER Laurent, Star Wars Anatomie d'une saga, Armand Colin Cinéma - The Overlook Film Encyclopedia, New-York, Phil Hordy - JURGEN Muller, Films des années 70, Taschen - SANSWEET Stephen, Star Wars - From Concept to Screen to Collectible, Chronicle Books - BAILEY T.J., Devising a Dream: A Book of Star Wars Facts And Production Timeline, Wasteland Press, 2005. [...]

[...] In order to meet the movie audience needs, the film is a new kind of fairytale so with no surprise do we find a princess, a mercenary, a mission. The originality of the mission lies in the fact that we are no longer talking about other planets (no longer Mars or Moon) but other galaxies. Star Wars will become a movie phenomenon and space invaders will then become and evidence for new generations. By doing so, and planning to produce six movies, Lucas has built a new myth and opened horizons, new hopes. The science-fiction movie is set in the future and in the space. [...]