Release Date: May 25, 1977
Starring: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Harrison Ford as Han Solo, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, Alec Guiness as Obi-Wan Kenobi, Peter Cushing as Grand Moff Tarkin, David Prowse and James Earl Jones (voice) as Darth Vader, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2
What better way to kick off the countdown to Star Wars: The Force Awakens then by looking back at the movie that started it all.
I could sit here and talk for ages about the impact Star Wars had on pretty much everything to do with filmmaking and film in general, but whole books have been dedicated to chronicling the story behind it and the legacy its had. I figured I'd just treat Star Wars as it really is, a movie, and give a simple review for it.
Here's a great plus right off the bat: the plot is simple. Star Wars tells the story of Luke Skywalker, a farmboy on the desert planet of Tatooine. After stumbling upon a desperate message from Princess Leia, who is being held prisoner by the evil Empire, teams up with Jedi-in-hiding Obi-Wan Kenobi, smuggler Han Solo and his partner Chewbacca, and the droids C-3PO and R2-D2 to rescue her and foil the Empire's schemes.
Star Wars took the familiar medieval tale of a hero on a quest to save a princess and not only re-told it in a brand new way, but also spun it on its head. Usually when we think "medieval hero" we think of the handsome knight, but Luke's just a regular guy who has to do chores and has a desire to explore the galaxy. He's a very relatable hero, so when he learns about his destiny from Obi-Wan, saves Leia, and blows up the Death Star, all of us feel we could do something similar. But not exactly the same because there are no weapons powerful enough to destroy an entire planet. Yet.
The supporting characters, too, are familiar yet endearing. Obi-Wan is the wizard/Jedi Master who serves as Luke's mentor and helps him take "his first step into a larger world." Alec Guiness brings a great sense of warmth to the character, and when he first appears on screen, we instantly know this is a character Luke can trust, and it makes Obi-Wan's sacrifice quite tragic. Leia's our fearless damsel in distress, Chewie's the muscle, and C-3PO and R2-D2 are the comic relief.
And then there's Han Solo.
Han Solo is a favourite among many because, well, he's a scoundrel. A charming scoundrel. Who owns a spaceship. And has a Wookiee for a co-pilot/partner-in-crime/best friend. And has most of the best lines in the trilogy. And, of course, he's played by Harrison Ford. But Han actually plays a greater role in the story than some realize. He's the most grounded character in Star Wars, the character who's most like the audience watching the movie he's a part of. Han's there to laugh at the stupidity of Obi-Wan's teachings to Luke while on board the Millenium Falcon, which is what many viewers probably did and sill do. If that scene didn't have Han laughing at Luke's training mistakes or remarking that "hokey religions and ancient weapons are no match for a good blaster at your side, kid," then it wouldn't be as dynamic and probably come off as, well, stupid. Han's mockery makes us root for Luke and his training in the ways of the Force even more.
Peter Cushing's Grand Moff Tarkin makes an excellent villain, delivering the arrogance and ruthlessness that makes us want to see him blown up, which does happen. But, in terms of iconic-ness, Darth Vader is the big bad here, though he's only really a supporting villain in this film. He's arguably the greatest,and is the most iconic, movie villain of all time. He's got the menacing stature, the dark robes, the voice, the mask! It's not until The Empire Strikes Back that we really see how sinister the man can be.
The technical aspects of the film deserve much praise as well. Whether it's Ben Burtt's sound design or the visual effects from the then new-on-the-block Industrial Light and Magic, it's all extraordinary for its time. Oh, and John Williams' score is incredible. Would you expect anything less? Some argue that all these things don't hold up today, but I strongly disagree. It's the right way of adding visual effects; they feel real. And that feeling has grown in the 40 years since Star Wars was released.
The only negative thing I can say about the original Star Wars is that some scenes are in the movie just to show off visual effects and serve as filler. Is this so bad? No. But the scenes that take place in the Jawa sandcrawler or the cantina cut away to the various kooky droids and creatures so often it can distract from the main action. And then there are scenes such as C-3PO and R2-D2's brief falling out and their trek through the desert or the Millenium Falcon's battle with the TIE fighters that don't move the plot along and thus aren't necessary. But, they do add to the fun an adventurous mood of the movie, so it's something I can easily look past. And the spectacle show-off scenes can serve as a lesson to so many filmmakers today that CGI doesn't have to be the answer to every problem.
Star Wars is a near-perfect film that ushered in a new era of filmmaking. It's got great characters, a good plot, incredible sound and visual effects, and a fantastic score. It's been an inspiration to me and to many others, and should continue to be.
Oh, and Han shot first. No question.
(source)
Rating: 4.5/5
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