6. The Best of British
Some might think that Star Wars is as American as apple pie, thanks to all-Americans like George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hammill at the top of the cast, but the acting talent also has a decidedly British flavour thanks to high-profile roles for
Peter Mayhew, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, as well as key ones for
Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker and
David Prowse. Now, I'm not for one second saying that the film is Great because it features British actors, but that it features some of the greatest casting of British talent ever seen. Alec Guinness in particular is brilliant as Obi-Wan Kenobi, bringing an effortless class and presence to the role that Ewan McGregor would later try to directly channel for the prequels, and Peter Cushing owns the dark side of the film as villain in chief Grand Moff Tarkin.
7. The Coolest Weaponry
Specifically, the lightsaber - a weapon so infamous and so essential that given a broom handle, or a similar phallic item, while half of the male population will use it is a crude penile substitute, the other half (if not more) will immediately make a buzzing sort of whoosh noise, and imagine it emblazoned with neon light.
8. At Its Heart Is The Simplest Of Stories
And who better than to prove as much than a three year old...? http://youtu.be/EBM854BTGL0
9. It Is Infinitely Quotable
Rather than brilliantly written quotes for these picks, I've gone with lines that have become part of the collective consciousness, even beyond the boundaries of the film. Quote them in any situation, and chances are, the majority of those sharing the room with you will know their source - including in some cases, some who haven't seen the film at all...
Quote: Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi. Youre my only hope.
10. Universal Reference Points
George Lucas has confirmed that Star Wars had a vast number of reference and inspiration points, from the specific likeness of the 1930s Flash Gordon filmic serials that offered a model for the story, through Akira Kurosawas The Hidden Fortress and to the characteristics of both the most famous Westerns and World War II movies. But beyond those cultural references, the film also draws upon more ancient references from the worlds of religion and classics for the model for its mythology. Within the story-line (and the expanded arcs of the original trilogy) we can see similarities to Greek tragedy, Arthurian Legend, Roman mythology, and Japanese chambara, as well as extremely close references to Taoism, Zen Buddhism, Qi Gong, as well as Christianity and Hinduism within the moral code and spiritual ideas of the Jedi Order. And there is a reason religion is enduring, so it isn't too much of an extension to see the same appeal within Star Wars.