15 Crazy Facts You Have To Accept To Enjoy Star Wars Movies
5. They're All Based On Actual Wars
The extreme use of CGI and dialogue aside, one of the biggest criticisms of the Prequel trilogy is its use of political scenes to guide the conflict. Many regarded them as stilted and boring, a huge departure from the swashbuckling characteristics that made the original trilogy so fun. But if you're familiar with your 20th Century history, you may have noticed that the plots of the first two trilogies are mapped around the rise of Hitler and the Nazi regime, as well as inspiration being taken from other wars for some more minor conflicts.
Palpatine's plot in the prequels draws the closest parallels for this:
He becomes Chancellor after his predecessor is voted out on the basis of no confidence.
He is granted emergency powers in the face of a crisis.
He executes Order 66, killing the Jedi, which could be seen in parallel to The Night of the Long Knives, where Hitler purged the SA.
Even in Episode VI, the Battle of Endor is an imitation of the Americans involvement in Vietnam. The Stormtroopers (Americans) are a highly equipped and invading force that are defeated by the Ewoks (Vietnamese), who use guerrilla tactics to defeat them.
There are more similarities to look out for in the original series, which just makes them even more interesting on closer re-watches.