"Hungry are you?"

I've noticed that eating is showcased quite a lot in the STAR WARS films.

Episode I--Anakin and Shmi Skywalker share their table with Qui-Gon, Padme, and Jar Jar; Jabba has a snack during the pod race

Episode II--Anakin and Padme share a meal on Naboo; Obi-Wan goes to a diner

Episode III--this is the ONLY "Star Wars" episode I know of where no one has food (theory to follow)

Episode IV--Luke has a meal with his aunt and uncle

Episode V--Luke and Yoda chow down; the Space Slug attempts to eat the Millennium Falcon; Lando invites Han, Leia, and Chewbacca to dinner "Everyone's invited of course"; Wampa eats (i.e., Special Edition)

Episode VI--Jabba eats a frog (? maybe not a frog FROG, but you know what I mean); the Sarlacc eats various aliens; the Ewoks attempt to serve Han, Chewbacca, and Luke

Now, apart from the "monster meals" (Jabba, sarlacc, wampa, space slug) the meals in "Star Wars" are like those in reality: they aren't intended primarily for the purpose of eating, but for the purpose of getting to know better the ones you are eating with, or to show a famalia connection. Luke and his guardians, Anakin and his mother eat at "the family table". Lando invites friends to a meal, and with a meal he betrays them. Yoda first reveals his true identity to Luke during the meal. Leia is reunited with her friends at the preparation of the Ewoks' meal. Anakin and Padme get to know one another better over some fruit.

I think the reason why meals are absent in Episode III is because instead of being a film about connection it is a film about disconnection: Anakin is disconnected from the Jedi, his friend, Obi-Wan, and the Force. Padme is disconnected from her husband. Many Jedi are forever disconnected from their role as guardians of the galaxy.

So, will watching STAR WARS make you fat?

I've certainly downed a lot of large popcorns watching the STAR WARS films in theaters (the Special Editions on, anyway, when I was young my parents refused popcorn at movies). Sometimes, if I'm watching ANH I'll have a plate of rice (and that's what Luke and his relatives seem to be eating), but for the most part I cannot blame "Star Wars" for my increased weight.

I wonder if George Lucas (and the other script writers) realized what they were doing in regards to the meals. I don't believe this was a subject in THE MAGIC OF MYTH (circa 1997) and that book did a great job of covering everything. It does say something about our culture and that families who don't eat together are really missing something--time for connection.