Posted on: Thursday, May 19, 2005

Cheat sheet for the 'Star Wars' clueless

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By Joe Guy Collier
Knight Ridder News Service

Get ready for the dark side.

Twenty-eight years ago, Star Wars creator George Lucas introduced fans to a mystical power called the Force.

In the original movie, now known as "Star Wars — Episode IV, A New Hope," farmboy Luke Skywalker uses the Force to rise from obscurity and save the galaxy from the evil Darth Vader.

The story comes full circle with the release of "Episode III — Revenge of the Sith." Ending where the original started, this movie fills the middle of a six-film series.

If the original movie was a story of goodness rising up, the latest movie is the story of evil taking hold. As Lucas himself put it, this is "the Darth Vader story."

The basics

The Force: A mystical power that connects all things.

Jedi: A noble group of skilled fighters who use the Force to preserve peace in the galaxy.

Sith: A set of rogue Jedi who use the dark side of the Force for personal gain.

Lightsaber: An energy sword that can cut through almost anything except another lightsaber.

The Republic: A once-peaceful galactic governing body that becomes compromised by corrupt politicians.

The Empire: A tyrannical regime, driven by the dark side, that supplants the Republic.

Galactic fan?

The "Star Wars" franchise has a following of die-hard fans who can't get enough of the movies and merchandise. You might be a "Star Wars" fanatic if ...

• The outgoing message on your answering machine ends with "May the Force be with you."
• You have an Irish setter named Chewbacca.
• You believe your boss has been seduced by the dark side.
• You broke up with your last girlfriend because she didn't respect the Force.
• The license plate on your car reads "YODA RULS."
• The tattoo on your chest reads "I LUV LEIA."
• You've asked to have the "Star Wars" ceremonial march played at your wedding and the imperial march played at your funeral.
• You prefer to be called by your Jedi name, Obi-Don Ginobli.
• You're older than 12 and still have "Star Wars" bed sheets.