May The Fourth Be With You with Princess Leia Organa

Amidst all the terrible puns that arise on this day every year, it's easy to forget the importance of the original Star Wars films in our popular culture. Over the course of the last forty years the most iconic sci-fi fantasy of all time has unfortunately been diluted by terrible prequels, even more terrible animated tie-ins and a constant stream of parodies and references that have somewhat diminished the impact for modern generations viewing it for the first time.

The sad thing is, amidst all this gradual dilution, and the somewhat obsessive fan base, it's sometimes easy to forget just what inspired all of this galactic madness in the first place. It was, of course, 1977's Star Wars.

Before it was "A New Hope", before it was Episode 4, Star Wars was nothing more (and indeed nothing less than a fantastic fantasy epic, taking the Hero's Journey across the universe to a galaxy far, far away to create a by-the-book narrative featuring every element that a great film should. Action, adventure, comedy and romance (albeit, as it turns out, somewhat incestuous) are accompanied by iconic villains and swashbuckling heroes. All this encapsulated by a rich mythology that has been studied and worshiped in the decades since, Star Wars truly was a game changer.

So it's not a surprise really that the world of popular culture has never been the same since. It is, however, something of a shame, that in this world of CGI and Michael Bay, children will never again feel that same spectacle when they are introduced to the series. Perhaps that's why Lucas felt that the total green-screen approach was the way forward with Episode 3. Or perhaps he's just a douche. I tend towards the latter.

I'll never forget the first time I found myself in the Satr Wars universe. I was about six and, on a rainy bank holiday Monday, sat in front of the television with my parents when The Emprie Strikes Back came onscreen. From its snow-capped opening sequence to the final reveal (one that no-one can now escape the knowledge of... thank you Family Guy...), I was utterly hooked. I realised at this young age the importance of what I had just seen, and probably, subconsciously, the thrall it would hold over me for the rest of my life.

Over the years that followed, I viewed and reviewed the trilogy, collected the Tazos in Walkers crisps, eagerly anticipated Episode 1, grew ever more apathetic at the films that followed (despite rather falling in love with Princess Amidala... In many ways a more delightful royal than her predecessor/daughter) and ultimately sighed in disappointment at Episode 3's climax. 

Throughout the ups and downs, however, one thing remains; the original three films make up one of cinema's finest trilogies. Luke Skywalker remains a hero for the ages, Vader a true tyrant, the Emperor a villain to end all villains, Han Solo the greatest swashbuckling pilot in the universe, and Princess Leia this millennia's Helen of Troy.

May the force be with you, always.