Article arguing that Star Wars is essentially about faith and the spiritual

[SPBlitz]

An interesting article that argues that Star Wars is, at its core, about faith and religion - and that it’s the recent films rejection of these ideals that makes them weaker. Thoughts?

https://arcdigital.media/dave-filonis-the-clone-wars-unlocked-the-secret-to-star-wars-51c81ca588f4

 

[Tis_Bearself]

This isn’t anything new. Back when the first ever Star Wars movie hit the theaters, there was a lot of commentary about its being a religious allegory where “the Force” was God, the Empire was the forces of evil, Obi-Wan was the trope of the wise monk master who trains the young disciple, Han Solo got converted from worldly pursuits to selflessly serving the greater good, etc.

People have continued to reference it that way ever since. I just did a novena where some priest was using the scene where Darth Vader saves his son Luke as an example of some moral issue.

 

[StudentMI]

In addition to Kurosawa don’t forget Dune.

 

[Wesrock]

I agree religion/spirituality played a role in the OT/PT. I’m not going to p(name removed by moderator)oint that as the one reason I think the ST movies are weaker.

I’m going to unveil my dork credentials here, but the developers of the “Doom” video game series made a comment that hit the nail on the head about why they thought their most recent entry into the series was widely praised while new entries into other sci fi series (Mass Effect for video games, or Star Trek and Star Wars for TV/cinema) were getting criticized. Their metaphor was that “they were cooking with the same ingredients” that made their previous entries so popular. The other series not being so well received was because the studios making them forgot the key ingredients that defined the brand.

I know, for example, some people have criticized Star Wars for its increased diversity and some such. That’s not the type of “ingredients” I’m talking about. Broader themes about religion/spirituality may be closer to the mark. But quite frankly I think many of these have become all about style and being watered down for “mass appeal” (as far as the exeuctives calling the shots see it) to the neglect of any substance.

 

[ralfyman]

There are also lots of commentaries spanning several decades about the movies and Joseph Campbell:

Mythic Discovery: Revisiting the Meeting between George Lucas and Joseph Campbell

 

[0Scarlett_nidiyilii]

Isn’t Star Wars’ Force based on Buddhist ideas?

 

[Wesrock]

Isn’t Star Wars’ Force based on Buddhist ideas?

It’s a pop-mish mash of ideas, really, including eastern ones.

 

[Balto1]

But quite frankly I think many of these have become all about style and being watered down for “mass appeal” (as far as the exeuctives calling the shots see it) to the neglect of any substance.

I’d agree with this. The Lucas movies had a political viewpoint (anti-Vietnam War original trilogy, criticism of capitalism in the prequels) and the Disney ones don’t have much substance of any kind.

 

[Wesrock]

Wesrock:

But quite frankly I think many of these have become all about style and being watered down for “mass appeal” (as far as the exeuctives calling the shots see it) to the neglect of any substance.

I’d agree with this. The Lucas movies had a political viewpoint (anti-Vietnam War original trilogy, criticism of capitalism in the prequels) and the Disney ones don’t have much substance of any kind.

Yep. I think the prequels had problems being good cinema in some ways, but I do think there was substance and weight to them (underneath the bad execution-related decisions) that the Disney sequels lack.