Below is the matrix for many of the story, character, and location conventions in the (so far..) six-strong Star Wars film saga. For my own sanity, and the sanity of my fellow Star Wars fans, I have not included The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) in the matrix.
That established, there are, actually, some overlapping conventions with that crazy production. But I'll leave it to you, intrepid readers, to tag them...
That established, there are, actually, some overlapping conventions with that crazy production. But I'll leave it to you, intrepid readers, to tag them...
Convention | Star Wars (1977) | The Empire Strikes Back (1980) | Return of the Jedi (1983) | The Phantom Menace (1999) | Attack of the Clones (2002) | Revenge of the Sith (2005) |
The Death Star is featured | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Palpatine is featured | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Tatooine is featured | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
A Jedi or Sith confronts a master, either in battle or about a course of action. | Vader confronts Obi-Wan | Luke confronts Obi-Wan | Vader Confronts Palpatine | Qui-Gon Jinn Confronts Yoda. | Dooku confronts Yoda | Anakin Confronts Obi-Wan |
Comic-relief | R2-D2 and C3PO | C3PO and Chewie. R2 and Yoda. | R2-D2 and C3PO. Ewoks | Jar-Jar Binks C3PO | R2-D2 C3PO | R2-D2 C3PO |
R2-D2 saves the day | Garbage compactor | MF hyper- drive repair. | Light saber On Jabba’s Barge. | Naboo cruiser Hyper-drive Repair. | Droid factory On Geonosis. | Elevator operation on damaged Separatist warship. |
Locale for diverse Aliens is featured prominently. | Mos Eisley cantina | Bespin’s Cloud City | Jabba’s Palace | Mos Espa Grand Arena. Imperial Senate. | Dex’s Diner, Coruscant Sports Bar. Imperial Senate. | Jedi Temple. Imperial Senate. Godfather-style battle montage. |
One type of Earth terrain or environment represents an entire planet ecosphere | Tattooine: Desert. | Hoth: Arctic. | Moon of Endor: Forest | Tatooine: Desert. Coruscant: City | Tatooine: Desert. Coruscant: City | Mustafar: Volcanic. Coruscant: City. |
Unexpected or primitive “outsider” fights or wins a battle against a technologically or numerically superior foe. | Luke destroys Death Star. | No. | Ewoks defeat Imperial troops. | Gungans defeat Federation battle droids. Anakin blows up droid control ship. | No | Kashyyk vs. Clone Troopers. |
Character says: “I have a bad feeling about this.” | Luke, Han | Leia | C3PO, Han | Obi-Wan | Anakin | Obi-Wan |
Light saber duel | Obi-Wan vs. Vader. | Luke vs. Vader. | Luke vs. Vader. | Qui Gon and Obi Wan vs. Darth Maul | Anakin, Obi-Wan and Yoda vs. Dooku | Mace Windu vs. Palpatine. Obi-Wan vs. Anakin. |
Jedi gets cybernetic replacement parts. | No. | Luke. | No. | No | Anakin. | Anakin. |
Bounty Hunters | No | Yes | Yes | No. | Yes | No. |
Heroes captured. Capture may or may not be a ruse. | Leia | Solo, Leia, Chewie, C3PO. | Luke, Han, Leia. | Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan. Queen Amidala and her forces. | Obi-Wan, Anakin and Amidala. | Anakin, Obi-Wan, Palpatine. |
Message transmitted or recorded via hologram | Leia | Emperor | Luke | Darth Sidious. Naboo Governor. Palpatine. Viceroy. | Obi Wan | Anakin |
Musical number | Cantina | No | Jabba’s Palace. Endor Celebration | No. | No. | No |
Space Battle | Death Star | Asteroid Belt | Death Star | Naboo Blockade | Asteroid Belt | In orbit over Coruscant. |
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