There are certain terms that go through our minds all the time. So often, that we rarely ever stop to think about them and their meanings. I'm talking about the titles of the Star Wars movies.

Take some time to think about each of the titles and what they mean for the movie, they represent, what they mean as movie titles in our world, and what they mean in the context of the Saga.

Star Wars
It's easy to forget, even when pondering the titles of the movies, to consider the broadest title of all. So what's it mean? Star Wars, wars among the stars, galactic conflict. Those are very appropriate. The Clone Wars, and the Galactic Civil War, two galactic wars that are the context for the trilogies. And those are the larger context and implication of the true meaningful struggle, Good vs Evil.

And then of course, there's the simple descriptive meaning of naming a movie "Space Action." That tells you exactly the audience that will appreciate it, right off the bat. Star Wars.

A New Hope
Things are looking glum for the galaxy, or so the big yellow letters tell us. But there is hope! The Rebels won for the first time, they got some stolen plans, and they have a shot to make a big blow against the bad guys. A New Hope.

The Empire Strikes Back
It was only a hope, the war is far from over. The Empire is still strong, and now they're pissed. Basically, the evil forces of the universe were not smacked down in one movie, no way. There's more to come. They're up, and they mean business, and they're going the Rebels know it, in more ways than one. The Empire Strikes Back.

Return of the Jedi
Luke, finally, has come into is own as a real Jedi. He has matured, he has increased in power and wisdom, and now he's jumping back into the fray. The Sith were in control, but true Jedi, for the first time, are participating in the Galactic Civil War. And with that, the war comes to a close, and a new age of the Jedi arises. Return of the Jedi.


...And now we flash back, and learn about the past...

The Phantom Menace
What's wrong? This blockade thing seems more like a nuisance than a menace. But the Sith? Where did they come from? What's going on? OK, something is wrong here.
The phantom is the coming storm, the evil plot of galactic conquest that is just now being put into motion. No one knows it's happening, no one realizes just how grand it can be, but it's starting. The Phantom Menace.
As for our world, well, I guess George Lucas decided to get a little less basic with his names.

Attack of the Clones
Of course, the Clone Wars start, so there are a bunch of clones that start fighting. That's not so hard, but what else does it mean. For the first time in millenia, there is a galactic war going on. This is where the "Wars" in Star Wars actually get going.

Revenge of the Sith
At last, we will reveal ourselves to the Jedi. At last, we will have revenge.
--Darth Maul, TPM
Gee, what are the Sith so vengeful about anyways? They're just mad that they got whooped by the Jedi a couple thousand years ago. Well, they actually whooped themselves with internal fighting, and figured out that the Sith could only survive if there were only two. But they still hate the Jedi regardless. Good vs Evil, Bad Guys vs Good Guys, they think the Jedi are dumb, and want them out of the picture, because the Sith are just angry people.
And indeed, the Sith get their "Revenge." They come back, and in an amazing sweep, seemingly come out of no where, gain control and wipe out the Jedi, ending the Old Jedi Order forever, leaving only (ironically) two Jedi left. Talk about getting even. Revenge of the Sith.


But we're not done yet. Now that we've seen the whole saga, we should look at where we started and see how that may have changed.

A New Hope
Wow. NOW we see why they needed hope. The Jedi are gone and the dark times are here, but the offspring of one of the most powerful and influential heroes of the past have come of age themselves, and are now getting involved, to challenge everything their father helped create.

The Empire Strikes Back
Well of COURSE they're going to strike back. Did you see how much effort they put into getting into power? They're not going to be finished by one defeat, not by a long shot.

Return of the Jedi
Hmm, The Jedi are no longer some ancient thing re-emerging from ancient dust. Now, Jedi are known as the heart of the Republic and the Clone Wars. They are the heroes of the galaxy, and they were destroyed. And now they're back, but not with a vengeance, with serenity. The Jedi have returned.

Star Wars
Conflict on the galactic scale. Conflict that spans space, time, and all possible arenas, physical, mental, and metaphorical. That is truly a galaxy-sized conflict. It begins as Evil displacing Good, end ends as Good battling and defeating Evil.

Star Wars.