“Finally,” you might be saying, “he’s moved on to the real Star Wars movies.” Well, yes I have. Not that I don’t consider the prequels Star
Wars movies, but these are the originals.
And they’re better…for the most part.
So, for further reflection, let’s journey back to 1977…or 1997…or
whenever I first saw this film in its entirety…
What I liked/loved:
The Story
Boy from distant planet must save the princess…and the
galaxy! Sounds simple enough, and it
really is. It’s a classic hero’s
journey, meeting strange and helpful people along the way. Some may say that George Lucas slightly
plagiarized this story from Edgar Rice Burroughs’ John Carter of Mars series, and they may have a point in places –
outlander, feisty princess, insurmountable odds, etc. But he does so in a way that had never really
been done before. Sure, it’s got some
cheese and schmaltz, but in the grand scheme of things, this is the most
straight-forward of the six films. It
stands solidly on its own, but does enough world/galaxy building in one film to
inspire five (soon to be six, seven, and so on) more films. It doesn’t get bogged down in super heavy
pseudo-spirituality or politics, but rather just follows the characters on
their journey. The climactic battle is
epic in terms of filmmaking and engaging the audience alike. The return of Han gives me chills every
single time.
The Acting and Dialogue
Look, Han gets the best lines. Hands down.
Harrison Ford just delivers them in a way that only he can. In fact, he’s the real gem of this trilogy –
and possibly the next film? I guess we
have George Lucas to thank for Harrison Ford’s stardom. Were he not cast in this movie, I doubt we
would ever have known him. His banter
with Obi-Wan and Luke is great, but when he meets Leia, you know they’re meant
to be together. It’s just obvious. It’s less about the line “your
worshipfulness” and more about how he delivers it. Mark Hamill is apt as Luke, but he really
gets the short end of the dialogue stick, as he’s the primary protagonist. Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia is up to the
task of standing toe-to-toe with Ford’s cocksure Solo. She has the second best lines, no doubt. “Walking carpet”, anyone? Alec Guinness is just a thrill to see on
screen. He’s not an over-the-top
thespian, but he’s very theatrical in his own right, which is exactly what the
role of Obi-Wan called for. Few actors
could deliver “That’s no moon. It’s a space station.” more believably than
Guinness. Peter Cushing’s Governor
Tarkin is essentially billed as the top villain, and he fills the role with
creepy tactfulness. However, do I even
need to mention Vader? David Prowse may
be the very tall, intimidating man behind the mask – which made his word-less
introduction so powerful – but it’s James Earl Jones’ voice that brings
cinema’s greatest villain to life. He’s
terrifying in all the right ways.
Physically intimidating, Force-using, and a skilled fighter with both
lightsaber and customized TIE fighter.
We only really scratch the surface of his villainy in this film, but his
presence is unmatched.
Unforgettable.
The Music
Even almost 40 years ago, John Williams was creating
remarkable music. The man is a
legend. And seriously, the cantina music
is fantastic.
The Ships
Star Destroyers! TIE fighters! X-Wings! Oh my bacon…THE
MILLENIUM FALCON! Seriously, could a
12-year-old boy ask for more? And for
the time, this was as real as sci-fi got.
Completely fantastic.
Rapid-Fire
Miscellaneous Items
R2-D2 and C-3PO. Their banter is fantastic, and makes the
first part a sort of road-trip movie.
Binary sunset. The
first time you see it, you realize this isn’t our world. Or solar system.
Strange creatures.
Chewbacca is just the tip of the iceberg. Look no further than the cantina scene.
“Questions That Need Answering”Why is the Tantive IV
firing back? It’s a counselor ship.
Why do the rebels fight back when boarded if they’re just
trying to slide by as diplomats?
Why doesn’t the cantina “serve their kind”? #droidlivesmatter
Why is The Force and the Jedi an ancient religion? It was thriving 20 years prior.
Where are the Death Star’s boosters, or how does it travel?
What I loathed:
Ben Kenobi vs
Obi-Wan Kenobi
I totally understand the need to change your name when
you’re in hiding, but why keep the last name?
Much like, why have Luke keep the name Skywalker, when he was fully
adopted by Owen and Beru Lars? But the
Kenobi debacle is worse, especially how much time is dwelt on the matter. “I wonder if she means old Ben Kenobi?” Really?
You think?
Inadvertent
Mentioning of The Force
I don’t feel like Vader’s mention of the power of the Force
being relevant in a militaristic setting.
I know that scene – pivotal, in that it’s the first time the Force is
wielded in the films – was designed to show said power and Vader’s ability to
wield it, but it still felt a little out of place. I’m perfectly fine with Han offering a
farewell of “May the Force be with you,” since Obi-Wan had said it when they
parted ways on the Death Star. I’m less
fine with the rebel commander saying it to the room full of pilots. As was stated in my questions section, the
Force was common enough for Jar Jar to know about it, but clearly there has
been a gag-order issued on it during the days of the Empire. So unless the rebels are just using it as a
way of sticking it to the man (Palpatine), then there was really no use for it,
from a continuity standpoint. Yes, I
know, this is a nit-picky thing; which probably didn’t matter when Lucas wrote
this stand-alone movie, but it bothers me now.
Luke’s General
Aloofness
I don’t understand his run-in at the bar. I don’t get his ability to man a gun in the
Millennium Falcon or fly an X-Wing, based on his very short experience as a
wasteland pilot popping womp rats. Plus,
he’s annoying. I really let it slide,
because he is supposed to just be a curious, if over-confident, teenager, bound
for bigger and better things. It’s kind
of the classic hero’s journey story line, but it’s heavily fueled by the Force…and
maybe luck.
Rapid-Fire
Miscellaneous Items
- Han versus Greedo. I still don’t like the debate…because there shouldn’t be one.
- “The door’s locked. Move on to the next one.” Typical government employees.
- The mind control droid just looks cheesy.
- The helmets. I don’t understand the giant helmets. Is the sky falling?
It’s hard to believe your eyes when you see “Written and
Directed by George Lucas” pop onto the screen after the closing ceremony, but
it’s true. Yes, the same man that
directed this genre-defining film is the same man that gave us Jar Jar Binks
and allowed Twilight to happen
because of his angst-y Anakin. However,
this is the film that inspired a new generation of filmmakers, including J.J.
Abrams. And it introduced a mythos that
was unseen in films before its time – or at least one on a whole new scale. And while it may have inadvertently created a
subculture of men who won’t leave their mothers’ basements, it has captivated
audiences around the world.
Here’s where it falls in my rankings (best to worst):
- –
- Episode IV: A New Hope
- Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
- Episode I: The Phantom Menace
- –
- Episode II: Attack of the Clones
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