The Origins of Star Wars

“The Origins of Star Wars” Not so long ago in a galaxy a bit closer to home, George Lucas crafted one of the most iconic movies of all time. That movie was soon followed by a series of mind bending movies that captured the hearts and minds of generations up to this day. From light saber duels to the destructive power of the Death Star, Star Wars is one movie saga that we are all familiar with. But how did this captivating series come to be? How did it all begin? Just how did George Lucas come up with such brilliant ideas for Star Wars? What are the true origins of Star Wars? Not many people know that Star Wars isn’t the product of George Lucas’ own imagination. As a matter of fact, George Lucas actually got most of his ideas and concepts from the movies and literary works that were present during his day. Who can forget the light saber duels of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader in the halls of the Death Star? Or the epic clash between Jedi and battle droids in the coliseum of Geonosis! No person who ever watched a single Star Wars movie can ever forget the glorious Jedi, keepers of peace and defenders of justice through out the galaxy! And of course one cannot forget the Jedi’s favored weapon, laser swords that have become one of the signature weapons in the Star Wars saga, the light saber! Though all these terms, Jedis and light sabers, seem a bit futuristic or out of this world, their origins are actually quite oriental. George Lucas actually based the plot Star Wars: A New Hope on Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress, a Samurai movie that was released in the 60’s. The Hidden Fortress is about two peasants who escort a man and a woman out of enemy lines only to discover that the people they are escorting are actually a princess and a general of a defeated kingdom. Now where do space police and laser swords fit in all this you ask? It would seem that since George Lucas borrowed the plot of The Hidden Fortress, the Jedi are some vague portrayal of an