Samurai Wars In Space

Ramsay Seikaly

Los Angeles --- For every action there is a reaction.  So it goes without saying when King Solomon penned his philosophical thoughts in Ecclesiastes, a constructive critique of human vanity and self indulgence. He coined a phrase that even then had a ring of truth as to the pitfalls that entrap us in our self delusional view of our place in the menagerie of human existence.  

"There is nothing new under the Sun."

​​And so it comes to bear without saying that this observation applies especially  when we are experiencing a phenomenal piece of art that has created such an impact that it leaves its influence and curiosity well past its initial release.  Questions begin to emerge from this human spirit of inquiry as to its origin, whether based on the truth or whether a creation of ones own imagination.  

​Yet even if we take the position of the latter  the question which still begs an answer is then what was or is the spark that birthed this concept into reality?

​I asked that question back in 1977 when as a young teen I went to see a new movie breaking box office records unlike any seen prior.  The movie was the galactic war picture that today is a world onto its own...none other than "Star Wars".

​We can go in so many directions with this but like everything especially story telling you have a beginning and an end.

​I guess I can summarize the origin of "Star Wars" as a Samurai Story set in a far away galaxy with a fascistic style of state sponsored hero worship.  We can dare say we have shadows of Leni Riefenstahl's "Triumph of The Will": from the perspective of time Hitler's visual seduction of the German people in preparation for the second world war. 

​The obvious was even clear to George Lucas the creator.  "Hidden Fortress" a samurai melodrama set in feudal Japan bears the quintessential hallmarks of the space opera.  I would even venture to say that "Yojimbo" ("A Fist Full of Dollars"), "Throne of Blood" ("Macbeth") and "The Seven Samurai" that would later be re made as "The Magnificent Seven" round out the triumvirate of "Star Wars" source material.  

​And one last thought:  Akira Kurosawa the famed Japanese director responsible for these magnificent films just mentioned along with George Lucas the master Jedi of the Star Wars Universe drew inspiration yet from another director, John Ford and his western classic "The Searchers".  How we all eventually come around full circle.

​Here then now is a series of videos that highlight the tenants of what I have just mentioned.

---