Star Wars Episodes 1,2 and 3

OK, so here's the deal. As a pastor, I get asked lots of difficult questions all the time. You'd be surprised. People take any occasion to play "Stump the Pastor." I don't mind. If I didn't want to answer life's difficult and challenging questions, I wouldn't have wanted to become a pastor. That being said, there is one question I find I am asked more than any other.


Why did Star Wars, Episodes 1, 2, and 3 suck so bad? ? ?

My answer often surprises people. I don't think they sucked. I thought they were great. But I do think there are some very good reasons why people don't like Episodes 1, 2, and 3.

For starters, there is a shift in the overall Star Wars focus. Who is the central character in episodes 4, 5, amd 6? Luke Skywalker (nice name, isn't it?). But with the addition of 1, 2, and 3, this changes. Who becomes the central character to all 6 movies? Anakin Skywalker. This changes everything, especially the way people who grew up on 4, 5, and 6 have to view those movies. Now the main theme to Star Wars becomes the creation, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker. His son, Luke (wow, again, nice name...) becomes more of a secondary character that facilitates his father's redemption.

So that's one reason. The other reason is Biblical.

In Episode 1, we are introduced to young Anakin Skywalker, the little boy who would eventually become the wicked, twisted, Darth Vader. Now, most people who saw this movie had already seen 4-6, so knew where Anakin was headed. They knew who and what he would become; but seeing him as a cute, innocent little dirty blond kid was disturbing. How could anyone so sweet and innocent become evil and corrupt like Vader? Even Oprah Winfrey was disturbed by this presentation of young Anakin.

But you see, my friends, the reason we are disturbed by this portrayal of Anakin is because it is true to life.  By that, I mean that no one is really as innocent as they may appear to be...not even young kids. Think about it; what parent has to teach his child how to be disobedient? None. Why? Because what King David says in Psalm 51:5  is true: Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. We are sinners from the moment we are conceived; that means we all have the potential to become Darth Vaders, just like little Anakin. The Star Wars prequels remind us of that fact, and it isn't an easy pill to swallow.

So forget about Jar Jar Binks, or poor casting, or too much computer generated imagery. Those are not the reasons why people don't like Episodes 1, 2, and 3. The real reason is because, deep down, the critics don't like being reminded that they too have been seduced by the Dark Side. Why? Because, like King David and the rest of humanity, they too were sinners from the moment they were conceived.

So the next time you hear anyone being critical of any of the Star Wars movies, remember that "there but for the grace of God go I..."