Star Wars: The Force Awakens: What to know before going into the cinema?

If you are not a Star Wars fans, it's likely that you have never heard of the name Anakin Skywalker, Luke Skywalker, Han Solo or Princess Leia.....Darth Vader? What? I know....because my girlfriend was like this. But if you have yet to watched the first six episodes, chances are you don't really need to know the prequel to follow up on what's going on in Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

We know about all the positive reviews that have been on the net...but if you are afraid of not being able to follow up on the movie, here are the recaps of the Star Wars movies, starting from when Anakin Skywalker was still a kid.

Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

When Anakin was still a kid in "The Phantom Menace"

A young Jedi apprentice Obi-Wan Kenobi and his master Qui-Gon Jinn are caught up in a battle between the Trade Federation and the world of Naboo, led by Queen Amidala. The two Jedi fight to keep the Queen safe from harm and in the process end up on the planet of Tatooine, where they meet a talented boy, Anakin Skywalker, who was born under mysterious circumstances and the Force seems to be strong in him. They free the boy, who leaves his mother Shmi behind. In the end as the Jedi discovered the existence and survival of a Sith Lord, Darth Maul, a battle that eventually led to the death of Qui-Gon Jinn. Eventually, Obi-Wan was able to takes out the Sith Lord. Obi-Wan promised to train young Anakin to be a Jedi as his master, Qui-Gon had sensed a great force with young Anakin and believe he is the chosen one. And this was even after the Jedi Council against it on the basis that Anakin was too old to be trained as a Jedi.
Also, during a vote of no confidence for the current Supreme Chancellor of the Republic, Naboo's Senator Palpatine is elected the new ruler. This will become important in future films.

Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

This was set about 10 years after the event in "Phantom of Menace". Count Dooku is now leading the charge against the Republic. Padmé Amidala is no longer a queen but now a senator and there has been an attempt on her life. Obi-Wan and his now apprentice Anakin are told to watch over her. In this episode, it was revealed that Anakin had a strong feeling for Padme Amidala.

Meanwhile, Obi-Wan searches for who tried to kill Amidala and discovers a clone army has been built for the Republic by copying bounty hunter Jango Fett. Jango has kept one of the clones for himself, which he calls his son Boba.

Star Wars Episode 2: Attack of the Clones

Anakin felt a strong feeling that his mother was in pain, even dying, so he travels back to Tatooine to save her. He ends up slaughtering Tusken Raiders who kidnapped her, leading to her death. It's the first sign of Anakin's dark side.

Later, Obi-Wan tracks down Dooku, who is behind the assassination attempt on Amidala and is leading a droid army. Obi-Wan transmits a message to Anakin, who tries to save his master, but is captured as well. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is given greater power over the Republic and a team of Jedi are sent to rescue Anakin, Obi-Wan and Amidala. Master Yoda eventually joins the Jedi with the clones and they destroy the droids. Jango is also killed.

Toward the end of the movie, Dooku battles Obi-Wan and Anakin, cutting off Anakin's arm. Yoda steps in and saves the duo and Dooku leaves with the Death Star plans for his Sith master Darth Sidious, who is hooded and hidden. The movie ends with Anakin marrying his love Padme.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH

Perhaps the movie that best described how Anakin turn to the Dark Side and become Darth Vader....the movie started with Anakin and Obi-Wan saving Palpatine from General Grievous and Dooku. In the process, Anakin, at the prompting of Palpatine, kills an unarmed Dooku. This was another sign of Anakin moving towards the Dark Side, going against the Jedi way of not killing or hurting an unarmed person.

Padme is revealed to be pregnant and Anakin starts to have dreams that she dies in child birth. Palpatine then tells the young Jedi that he knows ways to save people, starting to reveal he knows ways of the Dark Side. More is being revealed to Anakin to tempt him to learn the Dark Side in order to save Padme from death, just like how he failed to save his mother. Anakin later figures out Palpatine is the Sith lord and he reports this to Mace Windu and other Jedi.

Windu takes down Palpatine, but Anakin stops him as he didn't want Palpatine to be killed before he learned of the ways to save Padme, leading to Windu being killed. He then realizes what he's done and there's no turning back. Anakin pledges his allegiance to Palpatine and becomes Darth Vader.

The emperor orders the killing of all the Jedi left, even the young ones. Vader helps to kill the young ones as well, showing that he has turned to the Dark Side completely, but Obi-Wan and Yoda survive. The Republic becomes the Galactic Empire and Palpatine, who is now disfigured from his battle with Windu, is the emperor.

Padme tracks down her husband and when he thinks she has turned against him, Vader uses his death choke, but she doesn't die, she is only knocked out. Obi-Wan and Vader duel until the new Sith lord overestimates his powers. Obi-Wan defeats Vader, cutting off his legs and arm, then watches him burn as Vader gets too close to lava.

Padme gives birth to Luke and Leia, then dies. Vader is discovered alive but badly disfigured and is outfitted with the robotic armor you see later, but is told by Palpatine that he killed Padme when he attacked her. But this isn't true. Luke goes to live with his uncle Owen and Leia with Senator Bail Organa of Alderaan.

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope

A NEW HOPE

The Empire and the Rebel Alliance are in all-out war and the movie opens with Leia sending a message to Obi-Wan before she is captured by Darth Vader. The two don't know they are father and daughter. Leia has stolen plans for the Death Star, so that Obi-Wan can alert the rebels on how to destroy it. Leia hides the plans in R2-D2, a droid that she knows once belonged to Obi-Wan. R2-D2 and C3PO head to Tatooine, where Obi-Wan is hiding under the name Ben Kenobi.

Owen and his nephew Luke Skywalker buy the droids after they are captured and Luke brings them to Obi-Wan. Luke eventually runs into Ben, who tells him about his Jedi past and asks him to come along with him and gives him his father's lightsaber. Obi-Wan tells him that his father was killed by Vader and that it is his destiny to come along for this journey. But Luke refuses, only to go home and find his family murdered. He decides to go with Obi-Wan.

Looking for a ride to Alderaan, where Leia told them to go, Luke and Obi-Wan run into Han Solo and Chewbacca in a cantina. They leave only to find Alderaan has been destroyed by the Death Star. The Millennium Falcon, Han's ship, is captured the Death Star, and Luke looks to save Leia, while Obi-Wan battles his old apprentice Darth Vader. Vader strikes down Obi-Wan, but he let him do it to become part of the Force.

Vader and the Empire chase down the rebels, but Luke pilots a plane that destroys the Death Star, using the guidance of Obi-Wan, who can talk to him via the Force. Vader notices that the Force is strong in Luke, but he still doesn't realize it's his son.

Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

The Rebels are still fighting the Empire and Obi-Wan instructs Luke to find Yoda to train him in the way of the Jedi arts. During an attack on the Rebel base, Han and Leia escape, and the two begin to start a romance. Darth Vader and bounty hunter Boba Fett are looking for the Falcon and its crew.

Empire Strikes back....the moment of truth, when Darth Vader was revealed as Luke's father

Han and Leia land on Cloud City to meet with Han's old friend Lando Calrissian, but it's a trap and Vader takes Leia, while giving a carbon frozen Han to Fett to sell to Jabba the Hutt. Before he is frozen, Leia yells that she loves him. Lando frees Leia and Chewbacca.

While this is happening, Vader confronts Luke, who has come to save his friends after training for some time with Yoda. They fight and Vader wins, cutting off Luke's hand. In a surprise twist, Vader reveals that he is Luke's father, not the man who supposedly killed his father. Luke escapes even after Vader asked his son to join him.

Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI

Luke and Leia attempt to rescue Han, but are captured, or so you think. Luke gives Jabba one chance to free him and his friends or die at the hand of a Jedi.

After refusing, Leia strangles Jabba, while Boba Fett gets eaten by a monster. After freeing his friends, Luke returns to Yoda and before the Jedi master dies, he tells Luke there is "another." He knows it's Leia, his sister.

Meanwhile, a new Death Star is being built, so Han leads a plot to shut down the power of the Star's energy shield, so fighters can destroy the new weapon. Luke surrenders to Vader to try and convince him to betray the Emperor.

Han and his team are captured because the Emperor knew of their plan. But new friends, the Ewoks, help out and they eventually shut down the shield.

Luke battles Vader again, this time defeating his father, but refuses to join the Emperor. The Emperor shoots bolts of the Force at young Luke and Vader needs to step in to save his son, and kill his former master. Vader has Luke take off his mask before he dies as well, so he can see his son with his own eyes for once.

The new Death Star is destroyed and there is a large party to celebrate the new freedom in the galaxy. At the end, Luke sees Yoda, Obi-Wan and even Anakin, who are now all part of the Force.

AND THE FORCE AWAKENS IS GOING TO BE 30 YEARS AFTER THE EPISODE VI: RETURN OF THE JEDI. I hope that this will help to give you a good background on the movie Star Wars and while I believe you will still be able to follow the latest movie without watching the first 6 episodes, I believe Episode 4 to 6 are definitely a must to watch.

4 comments:

ReanaclaireDecember 19, 2015 at 3:44 PM
Very nice and interesting pictures, Kian Hin... yes, I am not a fan so I do not know who they are... Heard of the Princess Lela though...and also May The Force Be With You... :)
sEnGzDecember 19, 2015 at 4:34 PM
Good writeup amd probably sums up all and refreshes our memory before we head on to the cinema. But if would be great if you have given credits to the URL links of the photos instead of tagging your blog name on it. just my 2 cents Keep on writing! :)
BlackswanDecember 21, 2015 at 11:18 PM
Great post, dear! My family just went for the latest Star Wars movie & we had enjoyed ourselves. May the force be with you too!
Susan CookDecember 30, 2015 at 9:47 PM
me and my kids saw the new one last week. we really liked it. I only like the 3 original Star Wars. not Episode I II or III.. lol