Whenever a list is compiled of the most innovative and influential films ever made, there’s a good chance that Star Wars will be ranked near the top. Its groundbreaking mix of special effects and metaphysical ideas made this series one of the biggest blockbusters in the history of Hollywood. After its release, director and screenwriter George Lucas became a legend, Harrison Ford was heralded the greatest action hero of the late 20th Century, and “use the force” became the most quoted movie line. Its impact can be seen today as numerous Star Wars films, merchandise, books, projects, and yes, even its own section at a Disney theme park still maintain a large and avid fan base.
As for me, I was a huge Star Wars fan growing up. I was enthralled by the action-packed lightsaber fights and caught up in the exciting battles in space. I collected Star Wars action figures, owned every Super Nintendo Star Wars video game, and even had a Star Wars cassette tape (ah, yes, the days before CDs). Putting all this Star Wars fandom aside, do these films still measure up to all the hype? To answer this, I settled in to watch this iconic space trilogy again, starting first with the 1977 film, Star Wars – A New Hope. After finishing my film experience I had formed a surprising new opinion of this hit sci-fi movie.
Star Wars-A New Hope opens with a mammoth, menacing spacecraft attacking a small spaceship. Soon, we learn the smaller ship holds the Rebellion force led by Princess Leia, and they are trying to escape from the evil Empire. Unfortunately, the Empire is too strong, and they capture Princess Leia and her crew. However, all is not completely lost because Princess Leia knows the secret of how to defeat the Empire. Before, her ship is fully overtaken, she orders two droids, C3PO and R2D2, to deliver this important information to Obi-Wan Kenobi on the planet of Tatoonie. These droids escape just as a tall, ominous human-like machine, Darth Vader, and his group of Storm Troopers board the rebel ship and capture the Princess and her crew.
Meanwhile, the two droids land safely on Tatoonie. They are then kidnapped and sold to a family with a young man who has dreams of becoming a pilot fighting the Empire. His name is Luke Skywalker and after R2D2 plays Princess Leia’s message, he wants to help the droids locate Obi- Wan Kenobi. However, R2D2 abruptly leaves in the middle of the night to search for Obi-Wan, so Luke and C3PO set out to look for him. When they finally find R2D2, they are attacked by a group of sand people. Thankfully, the appearance of an old hermit, frightens the clan away. Luke and the droids realize that their rescuer is none other than Obi-Wan Kenobi. As R2D2 plays the message for Obi-Wan, Luke learns that Kenobi is a Jedi Master who has knowledge of a special power called the Force. Obi-Wan decides to save the Princess and asks for Luke’s assistance. Luke agrees and they travel to Mos Eisley, to find a pilot who will fly them to space. They hire a pair of smugglers, Han Solo and Chewbacca, to fly them to Leia’s home planet, Alderaan. They board the Millennium Falcon, which is a ship that has the capability of traveling lightspeed. While on board, Obi-Wan makes Luke his apprentice and teaches him the powers of the Force. He also warns Luke about the dark side of the force, which made one of his former pupils, Darth Vader, the evil machine he is today.
The audience learns that while the Rebel party was preparing for its mission, the Empire was also busy. It had created the ultimate weapon, the Death Star, which has enough firepower to destroy an entire planet. Led by the ruthless Governor Trakin and the evil Jedi Master Darth Vader, the Empire would stop at nothing to demolish the Rebels and completely rule the galaxy. The extent of their depravity is depicted during their interrogation of Princess Leia. When she refuses to disclose the location of the Rebel Base, they aim and fire the Death Star at her home planet, Alderann. Within seconds, it is blown to bits. Her rescue party with Han Solo and his crew of Luke, Obi-Wan, and Chewy aboard the Millennium Falcon arrive, but are suddenly, trapped by the ship’s tractor beam and are forced to land. They form a plan and the group decides to split up. Obi-Wan searches for the tractor beam that’s holding the Falcon while Luke, Solo, and Chewy set off to save Leia. The trio find the Princess and race back with her to the Falcon. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan has successfully deactivated the tractor beam just in time for the group to safely escape with Leia. They return to the Rebel Base and here Leia explains the significance of the message she uploaded to R2.
Star Wars – A New Hope still holds up pretty well even after 44 years. Although the special effects have grown a little dated, they still work well enough to create a great sci-fi epic. Take for instance, the impressive design of the spaceships, specifically the appearance of the Death Star, the electrifying sounds of the lightsabers, and the intense galactic fight scenes. The combination of these elements help transport us to another world. Perhaps the best example of this film’s use of special effects is showcased during the climactic battle in the Death Star. It’s one of the most thrilling and exciting fight sequences you’ll ever witness. The screen is filled with ships barreling and careening through space, fighting to the death, against the backdrop of the ship’s indestructible walls. The way this scene is skillfully shot, you’ll feel like you’re fighting right alongside with the Rebels.
Some may still argue that the special effects border more on cheesy than impressive, but there can be no argument that the characters themselves have morphed into some of the most iconic characters ever featured in an action film. There’s the ambitious, young Luke Skywalker; bad boy turned hero Han Solo; and wise, veteran Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. Princess Leia is a refreshingly strong female character. And of course, one of the most memorable villains, Darth Vader, whose screen presence alone is enough to make viewers squirm. With such a well-rounded cast, there’s someone for everyone in the audience to identify with. We cannot help but become emotionally invested in these characters and root for them to overcome the odds and achieve their mission.
The special effects and the characters may have played a part in the film’s success. However, I believe John Williams’ magnificent musical score was the main reason why it was so highly praised. John Williams masterfully utilized a full orchestra to compose a powerful score that enables the film to achieve its larger than life scope. Who can forget the now famous beginning? The strong sound of trumpets carry the main theme as we read the backstory scrolling across the screen. Williams’ outstanding musical arrangement makes this one of the most magical moments in cinema history. Aside from the main musical theme, his compilations range from the majestic Jedi composition, the fun Mos Eisley medley, and the thrilling, climactic arrangement played during the attack of the Death Star. Just hearing the first couple notes of any of these themes makes me happy!
Another reason for the film’s success was the casting. Well-renowned English actors Alec Guinness and Peter Cushing, lead the cast as Obi-Wan and Governor Tarkin, respectively. Having these two distinguished actors share the screen with quirky droids and strange creatures, helped give the movie a certain level of credibility that many sci-fi films lacked at the time. Guinness in particular is crucial to adding to the believability of the film, and it’s his sophisticated acting performance that convinces the audience of the Force’s mystical power. In addition, he easily assumes the role of a trusted father figure for Luke while acting as a counterweight for Han Solo’s skepticism of the Force. Speaking of Solo, Harrison Ford’s acting style in this role is a revelation. Similar to his Indiana Jones character, he again proves his strength at playing cool, action heroes. His interplay with Princess Leia and Luke adds much needed comic relief. I found myself laughing during the scene in which the three of them start arguing with each other while trying to think of a way to escape from the Death Star.
The weakest part of the film though is the screenplay. While the story is good overall, the first third of the movie crawled at a slow pace and failed to keep my interest. It seemed like earlier parts of the film gave too much screen time to C3PO and R2D2. Perhaps the filmmakers thought these droids were a good way to introduce us to the rest of the characters, but unfortunately, they only bog the film down. It isn’t until we meet Obi-Wan that it picks up momentum. I didn’t care at all about their journey to find Obi-Wan, and I found C3PO’s constant complaining tiresome. While the droids were overused, the villains seemed underused and underdeveloped. Peter Cushing’s talents are wasted and as great as Darth Vader is, he remains fairly stiff throughout most of the film. Even so, it’s a credit to the film that it steadily improves as it continues. However, the next time I watch Star Wars – A New Hope, I think I’ll skip the first part of this movie.
There are two ways to look at this film. On one hand, it does a great job laying the groundwork for the next two films in the trilogy. We are introduced to a wide array of imaginative characters, ranging from droids to Jawas, and presented with a new universe, full of strange lands and new planets. By the end of the film, we have accepted this extraordinary, fantasy world George Lucas has created and understand the meaning of a Jedi, the Death Star, and the power of the Force. There’s plenty of material here for a successful sequel. Now on the other hand, without the two follow-up movies, Star Wars – A New Hope would still be exciting, but also a very flawed film. This reveals George Lucas as a stronger storyteller than screenwriter. While the plot and action sequences are well executed, the dialogue at times seems weak and the film doesn’t find its footing until the arrival of Han Solo. Either way, this film still holds up relatively well and provides a fun escape for anyone interested in viewing something critics hail as one of the most innovative movies ever made.
Brian’s Rating 7/10
One thought on “20/20 Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope – 1977”
Star Trek is superior.
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