How will "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and its sequels change the way we view the original trilogy of films? And the prequels?

That is a question that often gets overlooked in the euphoria of seeing a new "Star Wars" movie for the first time in 10 years.

It seems like new trailers are being released every week and they are slowly revealing the plot of this film. The latest trailer seems like the film will follow the same storyline of "A New Hope" but could end up throwing many of the core storylines that were established in the prequels and original trilogy away.

For example there are already some hints of how the perceptions could change such as Han Solo's conversation with Rey hinting at the Force and Jedi being a legend more than an accepted reality or rumors and hints of Darth Plagueis being the major villain.

But what will be more interesting of course is how it all changes how we view our major characters and themes in the new movie.

Let us go back to 1999 for a minute and remember just how the climate was entering the release of "Episode I: The Phantom Menace." An entire generation of fans that had grown up on the original films was clamoring for, if not more of the same, then some indication that the movies had matured with them and aligned with the cinematic zeitgeist of the time.

What they got was not exactly what they expected.

Director and creator George Lucas was not really thinking about only pleasing that generation of fans, but instead seemed more preoccupied with bringing the franchise to a younger generation. A group of people that lived in a time of greater cynicism and angst. A generation that was not necessary as open to the black-and-white morality tales that their forebears loved so much. The world was not about a "them versus us" mentality, but there was a greater degree of gray, with "us" also having some soul searching to do.

The prequels of course also did a few more things -- they changed how we viewed major characters and moments.

One example that gets brought up regards how Yoda's entire speech in "The Empire Strikes Back" is essentially contradicted by the events of the latter two prequel films in particular.

Yoda talks about size not mattering or that wars do not define an individual. There are mystical views of the force that make it more mystical as opposed to the more biological explanations "hinted" in "Phantom Menace" (for those who refuse to accept the truth, midichlorians are not the equivalent of the force, but a conduit for communing with it). People complain about the effect but never look to interpret the intent.

By going back in time, Lucas has taken a chance on re-interpreting the material and even showing us how major characters have evolved in their thinking; in actually, believe it or not, developing the characters. The Clone Wars and fall of the Republic was a cataclysmic time. For thousands of years the Republic ruled with the Jedi beside it. Suddenly something comes along that wipes them all out and changes their way of life and, unsurprisingly, changes how they view the world. It certainly makes sense that Yoda would no longer view wars as making one great; not only is it a revelation of a deep wound in his pride (in the context of the prequels), but also justifies his seeming inactivity in the face of a fascist dictatorship. Did no one ever wonder why Yoda, who was such a great master, simply sat back and watched the empire gobble up the entire universe without taking any steps to fight back? The prequels certainly illuminate that point. We have seen him fail. We have seen his doubt. His arrogance has been nullified. He has come to realize just how weak the Jedi could really be. He is wiser.

Then comes the moral ambiguity of the Jedi themselves. In the original films, they are tokens of good and justice. Yet Obi-Wan's deception in "Return of the Jedi" proves that there may be some moral ambiguity. The prequels explore this facet of the character in greater depth, but also extend it to the moral situation revolving around the Jedi themselves. One interesting example would be in the opening chase of "Attack of the Clones" when Obi-Wan wrecklessly jumps out the window. The one constantly preaching patience in the original films contradicts that point by making a rash decision. But he too is young and, like Anakin, has to learn from his past mistakes. Obi-Wan did not simply come into the world as the wise old man we saw in 1977. There was a path that took him there.

Ultimately, the Jedi are also hypocritical in their stances, claiming not being warriors and yet running out with Clones and starting a war. They claim that they do not use violence, but still unsheathe their lightsabers on the Chancellor based on a rumor. It adds an interesting moral dimension to their perspective and how we view them, showing that Luke was not the only flawed Jedi among their ranks and that there was sufficient corruption within the order to create someone like Darth Vader.

Again, Yoda's point about Jedi using the force for defense comes into view here, expressing a man whose Jedi experience has elucidated him in some respects. Yoda, despite his age, is capable of flaws and learning from his own mistakes. It might take some of the mysticism away, but yet it makes the hero more human. In light of the prequels, Yoda becomes somewhat of a tragic character on his own. So are the Jedi.

Obviously people's perception of Anakin is also altered in light of the prequels, but yet seeing parallels between father and son actually fortifies the drama when it comes time to seeing Luke come ever so close to the dark side. Moreover, seeing a new angle to the character, adds to Obi-Wan's delusional point of view on the whole situation, potentially even suggesting that the old man is still in denial about the whole mess he was a major reason for.

The sequel films are bound to do something similar in how we perceive the evolving Star Wars universe. It should be interesting to see how the Jedi and their philosophies are perceived in the new world 30 years after Episode VI. Has Luke himself become jaded as well? What is the dark side and the light in the new film and how do they comingle within a single person? We know that in "Return of the Jedi" Luke embraced his dark side momentarily and then came back to the light. Did he have any other experiences as such and how does that affect other Jedi?

The beauty of looking back at the prequels and seeing how they change our perceptions of the original films is that it shows how these films and their ideas can evolve over time. Some people will undoubtedly hate the new ideas that the sequel trilogy brings to the table, but it will undoubtedly shift our perspective on not only the prequels, but on the films from 1977, 1980 and 1983.

It should enrich the entire saga.

Related