Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (George Lucas, 1977):USA
Reviewed by Kevin Tran. Viewed on DVD.
It’s hard to think of science fiction or fantasy movies, especially if you’re from the United States, without thinking of a world of Ewoks, light sabers, and X-Wings. It’s difficult to ignore Star Wars’ significance in film history, since it was one of the biggest films of it’s decade and garnered a huge, loyal fan base. Even if you have never seen Star Wars , you likely already know some of the film’s terminology: Jedi, The Force, The Death Star. You probably know the names of the good and the bad guys, and what kind of ship they fly in. I don’t think any other film has been so beloved and well known, leaving such a lasting impression on an entire culture. This is the impression it had on me:
Luke Skywalker, a young mechanic with huge dreams of being a pilot and a Jedi, stumbles upon a hopeless android and his robot companion: C-3PO and R2-D2. Before being captured by the powerful and menacing Darth Vader, Princess Leia, the leader of the rebellion against Vader, encrypts a message into R2. Luke delivers the message to Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi, one of the last living Jedi, who agrees to help Luke become a Jedi and save Leia. Because they need to get to her fast, they recruit the help of Han Solo, Chewbacca, and their spaceship – the Millennium Falcon. Together they land on the Death Star and embark on their plan to rescue the princess and end Vader’s spread of evil throughout the galaxy.
Although there seems to be a great deal of exposition and complexity in the plot of A New Hope, the film is told with a very traditional narrative. Lucas packs the film with a lot with sci-fi action and comedy. He creates an entirely different universe. The characters live in an entirely new and separate time, with different worlds; there is an entirely new set of rules. Having the technology and ingenuity to tell his story with film, Lucas demonstrates a level of creativity and imagination with Star Wars that rivals Georges Melies’ Impossible Voyage or Fritz Lang’s Metropolis. Everything in Lucas’ world is new and exciting. Star Wars is excellent at drawing you in and making you care for these characters, creatures, and robots. The result makes for a memorable film that engages its audience.
In looking at technical and theatrical aspects of Star Wars, we find that a lot can be done with the use of make-up, miniatures, costumes and special effects. Together with the strong performances from the cast, the mise-en-scene enables the audience to suspend their disbelief and become fascinated by the new wondrous things they see. Star Wars should be considered an important film because, like all great movies, it reminds us that something new can be shown on film: something exciting and captivating, that influences as well as inspires.
60 Comments
Jump to comment form | comments rss [?] | trackback uri [?]