The special effects in the films were astounding, and still are. But, just for a moment, ignore the huge star destroyers, the elegant X-Wings, the dark TIE Fighters. Ignore the lasers and blazing lightsabers. And, if you can, ignore the overbearing prescence of Darth Vader.
Look at what the films are now. They are just oild stories of magic and wizards, heroes and princesses, and of course evil tyrants. Good versus evil, evil versus good. Of course the good will out, but sometimes evil can gain the upper hand.
A New Hope was a classic example of what a few good people can do against a great evil. But in the Empire Strikes Back it is obvious that the Empire has scored a heavy defeat over the Rebel Alliance (just look at the outcome of the Battle of Hoth). And on Bespin Vader and Boba Fett captured Han, showing that the bad guys can win a battle, but, as is most often the case, not the war. This situation was grave for the rebels, and had to be rectified. It was done so admirably in Return of the Jedi. In this final installment the good truly did manifest itself, in the form of one of the greatest villains ever to grace the universe: Darth Vader.
Unable to bear the sight of Luke, his son, being killed by Palpatine, Anakn Skywalker, the true man behind the mask, revelaed himself. Palpatne was destroyed along with the respirators and life support systems that had allowed Vader to live. Anakin died, but his sacrifice had allowed Luke to live.

The weapons used were also not quite what you would expect in a sci-fi film. Admittedly the laser guns and blasters are standard in almost all space films, but the lightsabers are not. They are a far more elegant and noble weapon, wielded by knights of great power and authority. They speak of medieval times, when knights in shiing armour rode into battle with swords and those pure of heart came out the victors.
Now look at the characters themselves. They must not be judged on past actions, but on what is inside them. A prime example is Vader. He had aided Palpatine in the destruction of the Jedi, but in the end he showed his tre self. A great deal can be learnt from him (and I believe this is what Lucas intended with Vader's character). It shows what we can achieve if only we would look into our souls and see what we really are.

The story behind the trilogy is based on many things. One can see similarities between Star Wars and the legend of King Arthur. Is it not possible to see Obi-Wan as the noble Arthur, while Luke could be his Sir Lancelot. Vader would then be the knight who turned against Arthur and renounced everything he stood for, while Leia might be seen as a Lady Guinevere.

Look at the Jedi Council in Episode 1. Is this not reminiscent of the fable Round Table? In this instance, Yoda takes on the role of Arthur, telling Anakin that he can sense much fear in the boy. Here Anakin is being put to the test, to see if his will and faith can stand the lure of the Dark Side. If warnings are not heeded, then the consequences can be dire.

Star Wars is in fact a very, very old fable, first told when Man could speak and passed on through the millennia. It is so old that it is inbuilt into our very nature, but one cannot help but feel that although the good will win in the end, evil can leave an unhealable mark on the universe.

All films are based on stories, and Star Wars is no exception. So sit back and enjoy, as we take you back to...

For more information on the myths of Star Wars, visit this site.

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