If you'd like to see a movie that is based on ancient mythology, but is set in the high tech world of outer space and advanced technology, then Star Wars - A New Hope is the movie for you. This movie made a massive splash when it was released back in the 1970's, and for good reason. This movie touched on a mythological structure that has been part of mankind for thousands of years. Told as a thrilling adventure, this movie is a must see for any serious student of mythology.
Borrowing heavily from a mythological archetype known commonly as the "heroes journey," George Lucas expertly took this ancient myth and effectively transplanted it onto the modern movie screen. The hero, Luke Skywalker is the epitome of every hero in every story that has ever been told. Sometimes called the "reluctant hero," this character is called, almost against his will, to go on a journey that will forever change his life.
Our story starts out with a fierce battle between imperial troops and a small, under armed group of rebels. The evil forces of the Empire quickly overtake the rebels, but not before they send out a distress signal, to an old Jedi Knight, an order long thought extinct.
The message lands on a seemingly deserted planet, inhabited only by farmers, bandits and mercenaries. The message is picked by young Luke, who has no idea what he is getting himself into. He thinks he knows the old man that the message is intended for. When Luke meets this strange old man, he learns about something called "The Force," which is some mysterious energy which permeates everything. He also learns that here is a good side to the Force, and a bad side.
They must leave the planet at once, as the Empire, led by the Evil Darth Vader, who is a powerful practitioner of the bad side of the force, has learned the whereabouts of the droid, the small robot who contains the hidden message. Luke begins his heroes journey as he travels with Ben to join their forces, and fight the empire.
They soon learn, en route to meet up with the rebels headquarters, that the Empire has constructed a "Death Star," a very large space station capable of destroying entire planets. The Empire will use this powerful tool to keep rebel planets in line. With their new team of friends led by Luke himself, they must destroy the Death Star, before they are destroyed themselves. The DVD, which is a classic mythological story told to captivate a modern audience, should be in every DVD library.
