So, I just watched all of Star Wars in the past three nights. (I know, it was a risky move showing up to work sleep deprived and distracted, but I am 20 years old and I was over feeling uncultured.) Now that I feel more in touch with our generation, to the Harry Potter series I will compare.
1. Unearthly shapes, sizes, and species.
Both the Wizardry world and the galaxy far, far away consist of numerous unearthly species living co-worldly, from a world of giants with pet dragons to being best pals with hairy rugs. Also worth noting is all the different monsters both Harry Potter and Luke Skywalker encounter throughout their adventures; I'm just surprised Star Wars didn't have demon mermaids in Episode I.
2. Misunderstood upbringing.
Both protagonists were raised in uninspiring settings by an aunt and uncle who did not understand them: Harry and angsty magic, Luke and his dreams of a life beyond the next agricultural season. Both extended families feared their children would grow up to be like their parents, which set up for very uneasy childhoods.
3. Magic and the force.
Being a wizard and a jedi are not entirely different. Firstly, the power behind them seems to be genetically inherited more often than not - except for mudbloods and that one instance of immaculate conception in Star Wars... something to save for another article. Regardless of etiology, these qualities make the person a super being. Unfortunately, neither you nor I can operate flying vehicles when sneaking out of the house, nor manipulate the weak-minded at the twirl of our hands (well I can, but that's different). And perhaps it's a good thing we can't: both the force and magic require great deal of responsibility and control; after all, there is a looming "dark side" for either.
4. John Williams.
Both films have unique A+ film scores. Enough said.
5. Yoda is a more cuddly Dumbledore.
Inspiring mentors who offer morality when necessary, Yoda and Dumbledore essentially only differ in the order they phrase their words. When either of these two characters are in a fight, I know that I can't be the only one not breathing with my eyes glued to the action. Nothing beats when wisdom and experience put on their game face.
6. Phallic weapons of choice.
The long weapons are also analogous: light saber and magic wand. Both are unproductive in the wrong hands and well cared for in the correct. Also, both can play offense as well as defense quite well (I really enjoy watching Jedis hit away bullets during open fire with their light sabers - they are so skillful!).
7. The guy to introduce them to the journey.
Because they grew up in the middle of nowhere (Tattoine and suburbia), both characters needed a little help getting on their way. For Harry, it was Hagrid who found him, introduced him to the world of Wizardry, and helped him settle in. Meanwhile, Luke wasn't sought after, no, but he was quite fortunate to come across Obi-Wan, who took the young Skywalker under his wing and showed him the galaxy as well as the power of the force. Rather quickly, too, Luke was hitting objects with his eyes closed real fast. Perhaps he got it from his father?
8. The rare overlap with the afterlife.
To have contact with the dead is rare in both stories' worlds and, yet, both Harry and Luke are fortunate enough (white men though, am I right?) to see beyond the grave. When Harry is down, he often sees his parents in their human form or as their respective Patronus throughout the series; Luke often has contact with Obi-Wan when he feels lost and confused.
9. The intimacy with their enemy.
Both Harry and Luke share deep, intimate bonds with their antagonists that date back to their infancy - although they don't learn of it until their adolescence (which is really too bad because as if being a teenager isn't hard enough as is). Also worth noting, these protagonists can even "sense" when their respective antagonist is close by. I rarely see this relationship type in other books and movies.
10. Vader and Voldemort.
Finally, can we touch on the fact that the antagonists are both deformed, hypovitamin-D sufficient, pale men who are primarily driven by their fear of mortality? Also, both of these men ditched their birth names and later took on names that start with the letter V. So I guess all I can offer is this: try to steer clear of pale Vince from work; he's probably a villain and we lack the resources to fight him because his power is simply too great.
