"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee"

I wanted the first post of this blog to be about someone early in history, during a time when women weren't known for their abilities to act independently.  A time when even the independent women had to be put in something sexy to get attention; when her words came second to her body.  Before the time when television and movies had women cops, women doctors, women superheroes, even women psychics there was a princess.  Her name was Leia Skywalker.




Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope came out in 1977.  Our first view in the movie was pretty basic:  "Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope."  Here we go again.  Another woman in danger needing a man's help to get out of her dire situation.  That was what we first thought but our view quickly changed upon second and third glance.  We find out that this isn't your basic damsel in distress. This girl can take care of herself.

We see this further as she heads up command teams working with the rebels to take down the death star.  She doesn't take any crap from men, especially that Han Solo.  Yea those two can't stand each other.  But I digress.  Leia is at the forefront of the action in all the movies.  Moving to The Empire Strikes back we see her independence go even further.  Not worrying about getting killed herself Leia stays in the rebel base on Hoth until she's sure everyone has gotten out ok.  It is only after that darn Han Solo makes her leave that she finally worries about her own safety.  It is Leia that figures out how to save Luke as he is hanging in space with only one arm.  She uses the force.  That's right, women CAN use the force.  Finally in Return of the Jedi we see Leia go in undercover as a bounty hunter to save her boyfriend herself.  I know all you Twilight fans are shocked that she didn't curl up in a comatose state for months but that's right, she put it all on the line to save the helpless man.  She then fought the rebel forces teaming up with captain Han Solo and going to the moon: Endor where she enlisted the Ewoks help to fight.  She saved her boyfriends life several more times while fighting the empire and ultimately came out victorious

Her looks are something that definitely separate Princess Leia from other women of the time, and I'm not talking about the classic Leia hair.  I mean that they literally strapped down her chest for the movie.  They didn't want her looks to distract from her!  She is rarely in a beautiful gown.  Usually it's something simple, modest, and mobile.  Now lets talk for a second about the bikini in Return of the Jedi.  Many people would probably say that this outfit was pretty scandalous and quite revealing.  Others (men) would say it's hot.  If we put some context to the outfit we should be able to get a better understanding on what it meant.  Leia was taken by Jabba the Hutt and made personal slave to him.  She had a chain around her neck and was put into that bikini against her will.  Jabba is clearly a bad guy.  He did after all freeze Han Solo in Carbonite.  The idea that Leia was in this skimpy outfit had a negative connotation with it.  It was not supposed to be a sign of her sexuality but a sign of her captivity and all that came with it.  This is clearly the point of the movie when she is the weakest.  When she is working with the Rebels on Hoth her hair has a basic up-do to keep it out of the way.  When she is fighting with the rebels on Endor it is the same.  She is almost always in pants and I can't think of a time besides the bikini that she wasn't fully clothed and modest.  When she is dressed up it is beautiful and still simple.  The look is empowered.

Leia Skywalker is amazing.  She didn't win the guy, the guy won her.  She watched as her home planet got blown up and came out of it strong.  She kissed her brother and didn't need counseling.  She almost got killed several times and never used her sexuality to get herself out of a situation. Lastly she had the best quotes.  Let's go through some of the best.

-"I don't know who you are or where you came from, but from now on you'll do as I tell you, okay?"

-"Someone has to save our skins. Into the garbage chute, fly boy."

-"Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"

-"Darth Vader. Only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this."

-"Why, you stuck up, half-witted, scruffy-looking Nerf herder."

-"Captain, being held by you isn't quite enough to get me excited."

-"I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."

-"I don't know where you get your delusions, laser brain."

-"Well, I guess you don't know everything about women yet." (kisses Luke)

-"You have your moments. Not many of them, but you do have them."

-"Occasionally, maybe... when you aren't acting like a scoundrel."

-"We don't need any of your help"

-"I know where Luke is!"

-"All troop carriers will assemble at the north entrance. The heavy transport ships will leave as soon as they're loaded. Only two fighter escorts per ship. The energy shield can only be opened for a short time, so you'll have to stay very close to your transports."

-"Oh, Han, it's not like that at all.  He's my brother"

-"General, count me in."