You Can't Get It Back...
A long time ago...
The original Star Wars films worked because they were a unique combination of familiar elements.
No one had ever done something like them before. The style of Star Wars was such a vibrant mix of new---new special effects, new artistic techniques, new actors no one had ever heard of---and old---old storytelling patterns, old visual references and inspiration, older actors people were familiar with.
These elements in the first three, and the style they created, became instant classics. True modern epics. Blockbuster poetry.
I'm a Star Wars original radical. As far as I'm concerned, the original three movies are the only true canon that exists. All extant material---television shows, specials, movies, comics, books, video games, all of it---is just that: extant material. Related to, but fundamentally outside of, the true story.
What I will say is that I believe all this extant material's true value lies in providing extra shading and color for the original trilogy. Other than that it always falls short of what the original Star Wars was: namely, a true grand modern spectacle which delivers sincere themes on eternal notes like salvation, myth, power, order, creation, wisdom, faith, love, and the nature of life.
It accomplished all of this while also being a major blockbuster a child could watch in a theater and connect with, even understand, in between handfuls of popcorn and candy and sips of soda.
The original Star Wars was daring and familiar. It really tried to connect with its audience, every step of the way.
Nothing we do will ever bring it back; this is no better exemplified than by what is commonly referred to as the sequel trilogy---the three major Star Wars films made by Disney.
These films tried to do what Star Wars did, missing the cosmic irony that anything trying to be Star Wars never will be Star Wars.
I believe this example is a valuable cultural comparison, and I'd like to discuss why I think it not only demonstrates the true value of good art, but actually even relates to much larger mass cultural and mass psychological changes today resulting from the End of History.