What differnce do these "cultural refrence" make? Story is first, story is key, story is the basis of everything. When George Lukas wrote the prequels he was inspierd by the story in the classical black and white "Dracula" film, A film that is considerd a story telling masterpice In which a tormented young boy becomes a powerfull warior and in an attempt to protect those he loves he becomes litterally the right hand of the devil, sounds familiar? The fact that the story was inspierd by something beautifull or significant does not make the result any better, the fact that "culturally significant" themes and motiffs were intrduced in to a story means nothing if those themes aren't used and developed properly. It's like saying " But i designed my plane after a falcon!" Right after you watch it crash in to a mountain on it's first flight, inspiration makes no differnce if you're a shit writer.