Star Wars

More about the book

The release of Star Wars in 1977 initiated a massive global franchise, becoming the second highest-grossing film in the U.S. Its influence extends beyond cinema, encompassing toys, novels, comics, games, and a passionate fan community that creates its own narratives. Critical studies have approached Star Wars as a cultural phenomenon, focusing on its special effects, merchandising, and its role in the evolution of Hollywood. Will Brooker's insightful analysis challenges many established views, offering a detailed examination of the film's shots, editing, sound design, cinematography, and performances. He situates Star Wars within the context of George Lucas's earlier works, from student films to 1970s features, highlighting the diverse influences on his style, including John Ford and Jean-Luc Godard. Brooker argues that Star Wars is not a departure from Lucas’s earlier cinema but rather a continuation of his exploration of sound and image. He uncovers Lucas’s conflicting desires for order, represented by the Empire, and the creative chaos of the Rebels. This complexity transforms the narrative from a simple fairy tale into a nuanced saga, revealing the director's ambivalence toward both sides and blurring the lines between Empire and Republic, dark side and light side, father and son.