That's an insightful summary! George Lucas was indeed inspired by Akira Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" when developing the plot for "Star Wars," particularly the perspective of the story being seen through the eyes of two lowly characters. The universe of "Star Wars" shares many thematic elements with Frank Herbert's "Dune," such as the desert planet of Tatooine resembling Dune's Arrakis and the concept of a galactic empire. The stylistic influence of Flash Gordon can be seen in the serialized adventure feel and the distinctive, retro-futuristic aesthetics. Lastly, Lucas's groundbreaking use of special effects and meticulous attention to detail in production set a new standard for filmmaking, much like "Jaws" did for the thriller genre.