How George Lucas harnessed the force

Hayden Christensen stars as Anakin Skywalker.

A long time ago (1977), in a galaxy far, far away (Hollywood), George Lucas released the first - er, make that the fourth - episode of his epic Star Wars series.

Critics expected that original film to make a modest showing, but the heroes and villains of its futuristic Galactic Civil War captivated movie-goers.

Characters like Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo instantly became household names. The villainous Darth Vader could be identified by the sound of one ominous breath, and stores sold out of the movie's action figures before Christmas.

Lucas wrote and directed the film, creating a universe that has expanded to include two movie trilogies, television and radio programmes, books, action figures, comics, costumes and video games.

Lucas completed the films out of order, finishing the second trilogy in 1983 and only starting the first in 1999. Revenge of the Sith, out this week, marks the conclusion of the first trilogy, and Lucas says it will be his last Star Wars. He can afford to relax; Forbes magazine says Lucas is worth about $4.2 billion.

The first trilogy follows the events leading up to the Galactic Civil War, especially the conversion of trained Jedi Anakin Skywalker to the dark side.

The second trilogy follows Anakin Skywalker's son Luke and daughter Leia as they struggle against the dark side and the evil Darth Vader during the war. Jedi Master Yoda presides over the light side, training Luke to harness the mystical power known as the force.

The wealth of books spawned from the Lucas movies extends the history of the galactic battle between good and evil. Those endeavouring to take in the 25,000 year span of events should keep in mind Yoda's advice to young Luke: "Use the force".