Star Wars Ring Theory

[Huttman]

Let me just get this out of the way right now, it has nothing to do with Lord of the Rings! This is an incredibly interesting, albeit long read, insight into how all six Star Wars movies are connected (themes, ideas, scenes etc) using an ancient storytelling device called ring theory. Now everyone knows there are some similarities between the originals and the prequels, but this goes way beyond a few coincidences or similaraties. While it might not make up for Jar-Jar and Ewoks in some people's minds, it just might make the prequels a lot less hollow for some. I am still reading it myself but I did listen to the author on a podcast and found it fascinating. Well, decide for yourself:
http://www.starwarsringtheory.com/

 

[HareBrain]

Interesting set of ideas, but I'm dubious as to the real-world relevance.

This ring thing might well have been Lucas's intention, but I don't think it can be said to have succeeded unless it achieves its desired effects independent of people knowing the structure -- especially if that structure is so complex or obscure that it took someone ten years to spot it.

Do people already tend to say that the films as a whole possess "a sense of overall balance and symmetry"? (Genuine question, as I don't read enough SW criticism to know.) Or is this going to be an assessment made only by those who know there ought to be one?

 

[Dave]

Really? Someone trying to make Star Wars more "literary"?

Don't get me wrong. I love Star Wars but it is cheesy pop, pulp science fiction/fantasy and little more. The originally trilogy is based upon the Campbell's Hero's Journey, the second trilogy is still a poor addition to the whole. It is masterfully cobbled together with ideas stolen from Flash Gordon (particularly Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe) and the other old Republic serials such as The Fighting Devil Dogs, from Lost Horizon, Dam Busters, 633 Squadron, Casablanca, The Battleship Potemkin, Dune, Ben Hur, Metropolis, The Godfather, The Searchers, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Nazi propaganda films, Lawrence of Arabia, The Guns of Navarone, from The Hidden Fortress and other Akira Kurosawa films such as Seven Samurai, and nothing more.