20 Ways 'Star Wars' Has Changed Over Three Trilogies: Then vs. Now
![20 Ways 'Star Wars' Has Changed Over Three Trilogies: Then vs. Now](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/4/9/857849_320x180.jpg)
Back in the late ’70s, a sci-fi movie premiered that would change everything. It had space wizards and cowboys, fast-paced action, and an epic tone that truly showed us what adventures awaited us in the farthest reaches of the universe. We are talking, of course, about Starcrash. And Star Odyssey. And also Message from Space. We’re not talking about you, though, Battle Beyond the Stars and The Last Starfighter, you’re from the 80s, you're ruining our joke, movies. Anyway, among all of these space operas (or before them, if you wanna be like that), a little one called Star Wars also came out.
Star Wars was a complete success. And we can be certain of that because it spawned its own disco song, which is a greater achievement than we’ll ever manage to accomplish. Seriously, do you have your own disco song? Thought so, think about that before scoffing at Starcrash. Okay, back to Star Wars. George Lucas’ blatant metaphor for the Vietnam War changed everything, and besides awesome(ly awful) disco music, it also resulted in decades of complete cultural awareness, not to mention sequels, a holiday special that we’re pretty sure was directed by a time-traveling J. J. Abrams, and enough merch to finance Howard The Duck. In this edition of Pictofacts, then, we study Star Wars then and now, focusing primarily (although not exclusively) on the three trilogies: the Holy One, the What One, and the Ugh One.
Mentors
![Star Wars Then vs. Now The reluctant mentor While Obi-Wan was more than willing to train a young Luke, Luke ends up becoming the opposite of his mentor and refuses to train Rey. Mark Hamill himself had doubts about Luke's dark turn, but eventually came around. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/7/0/857870.jpg)
Sources: Vanity Fair/YouTube, Mark Hamill/Twitter
Lost Trilogy
![Star Wars Then vs. Now The trilogy that wasn't George Lucas' outline for a third trilogy was part of his deal with Disney. The Mouse, however, did not keep its part of the agreement, and just kinda remade the original. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/7/1/857871.jpg)
More: 6 Surprising Ways Disney's Changing The 'Star Wars' Universe
Selling Out
![Star Wars Then VS. Now Even the art of selling out has been sold out. Merch has always been a part of Star Wars, but Disney has pushed this into overdrive with an actual Force Friday day, and even indirectly making Соса-Соӏа part of the Star Wars canon. JKNIV CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/9/857869.jpg)
Source: Wookieepedia
More: 6 Surprising Ways Disney's Changing The 'Star Wars' Universe
Old Republic
![Star Wars Then VS. Now The dream of restoring the Old Republic is gone The original trilogy has the clear goal of restoring the Republic. By the new trilogy, its success has turned into apathy, and the new goal is to build something different - ironic for movies built on nostalgia. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/5/857865.jpg)
Source: Vanity Fair/YouTube
Remake
![Star Wars Then VS. Now The remake trilogy The prequel trilogy had its own stakes, settings, and foes trying to differentiate it from the original. The sequel trilogy had a clear mission statement that this was going to be the same but bigger in: This was the Death Star, and this is Starkiller base. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/0/857860.jpg)
Source: Scene on YouTube
Nostalgia
![Star Wars Then VS. Now Nostalgia vs. Nostalgia Nostalgia was always a part of Star Wars, and not only because it was based on old movie serials. In the original, the Old Republic is seen with longing. In the new one, it has shown its uglier, reactionary side, nostalgia being aimed towards fascism itself. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/7/857867.jpg)
Source: Vanity Fair/YouTube
Locations
![Star Wars Then vs. Now From location to green screens and back to location. The original trilogy was mostly filmed in location (plus models and matte painting). Then the prequel trilogy (over)used green screens, and the latter one returned to lush, real places around the world and, well, also green screens and projections). CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/2/857862.jpg)
Source: Vanity Fair/YouTube
Rushed
![Star Wars Then vs. Now In a hurry The movies in the original and prequel trilogies came out three years apart. Disney premiered its sequel trilogy with two years between each part, with the predictable consequences of such a fast pace: no planning, no build-up, no trust in its own narrative. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/8/857868.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
MCU Model
![Star Wars Then VS. Now From sequels to the MCU model Star Wars always tried to branch to non-trilogy entries. But only under Disney did the brand truly begin pumping out non-sequel after non-sequel, following the MCU's lead. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/4/857864.jpg)
Source: Vanity Fair/YouTube
The Directors
![Star Wars Then vs. Now CAMERA Directors George Lucas directed A New Hope, supervised Irvin Kershner and Richard Marquand, and took directing duties again in the prequel trilogy. Colin Trevorrow was supposed to end Disney's, but (somehow) J.J. Abrams returned and undid Rian Johnson's movie. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/7/857857.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
CGI
![Star Wars Then VS. Now CGI evolution Ignoring the later, CGI-filled editions, A New Hope has some rudimentary (but state-of-the-art) computer work. With the prequel trilogy, Lucas pushed developing CGI to the next level. The sequel trilogy's CGI is probably just what Lucas always wanted. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/6/857866.jpg)
Source: evltube/YouTube
The Emperor
![Star Wars Then vs. Now Palpatine Initially introduced as Vader's boss, Palpatine is integral to the prequel trilogy and Anakin falling to the Dark Side. Не (somehow) returns to patch up an almost unprofessionally disjointed new trilogy, becoming the mastermind behind all nine movies. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/3/857863.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
Dudes in Black
![Star Wars Then vs. Now Darth Vader and Kylo Ren Kylo Ren was a clear homage to Darth Vader, with both characters going through a redemption arc, helping the heroes in the end. Yet differences also abound: Vader is a scarred, terrifying, and stoic half- machine, while Kylo is just a healthy emo boy. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/9/857859.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
Extended Universe
![Star Wars Then VS. Now BEN KENOBI FIGHTS ALONE! Outside the movies Exploring other characters' adventures is not a new idea. There was already a comic narrating Obi-Wan's earlier adventures all the way back in 1979. Yes, Disney is kind of milking the brand now, but it's not like this brand was ever not milked. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/6/1/857861.jpg)
Source: How A Single, Forgotten Marvel Comic Changed The 'Star Wars' Universe
A Cultural Force
![Star Wars Then vs. Now From leading culture to following it. Even at their lowest, Star Wars would lead cinematic culture, setting the standard in terms of broad blockbuster narratives. The Disney trilogy not only recycled an already dispatched villain-it even rehashed the epic ending to Avengers: Endgame. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/6/857856.jpg)
Sources: Screen Rant, DIM Entertainment/YouTube
The Original Version
![Star Wars Then vs. Now The Holy Grail At the end of the day, what everybody truly wants is an unmodified, original Star Wars experience. Too bad about Disney's agreement with Lucas that his latest, heavily altered Blu-Ray release is the official, canonical version of the original trilogy. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/8/857858.jpg)
More: 6 Surprising Ways Disney's Changing The 'Star Wars' Universe
Second Parts
![Star Wars Then vs. Now Second parts are always the darkest. In Empire, Han gets frozen, Luke's arm is cut-off, and he gets some distressing family news. In Attack of the Clones, Anakin tastes the dark side. In The Last Jedi, the resistance is defeated beyond repair. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/4/857854.jpg)
Source: Star Wars
Lucas and Disney
![Star Wars Then vs. Now Something worse than Lucas George Lucas was idolized (duck-related projects notwithstanding), but became heavily criticized during the prequel trilogy. Yet something even darker was threatening Star Wars: Disney. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/5/857855.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant
Optimism
![Star Wars Then vs. Now Optimism vs. realism The original trilogy was about an evil Empire being defeated by (a new) hope. The new trilogy turned that optimism into political cynicism, the New Republic being useless and allowing fascism to rise again. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/3/857853.jpg)
Source: Vanity Fair/YouTube
FX
![Star Wars Then vs. Now From groundbreaking practical FX to groundbreaking CGI. Star Wars pretty much reinvented FX, becoming the gold standard in the process. After the CGI revolution, however, Lucas mostly focused on digital work for the prequel trilogy. The sequel trilogy returned to practical effects and used even better CGI. CRACKED.COM](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/8/5/2/857852.jpg)
Source: Screen Rant