'Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope' Review

Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope Review:

The Force, Awakened

BY IAN TAN

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In 1977, George Lucas introduced audiences to a space opera that revolutionized cinema. It’s funny to think, with how popular the Star Wars franchise is now, that 33-year-old Lucas was afraid that the film would be a flop at the time of its release in 1977. Little did he know that his little sci-fi adventure would change the shape of pop culture forever.

The plot of A New Hope revolves around the conflict between the freedom-seeking Rebel Alliance and the evil Galactic Empire. In the midst of all the chaos, a hope emerges in the form of R2-D2, a little droid carrying classified information that could potentially aid the Rebels in destroying the Empire’s ultimate weapon – the planet destroying Death Star. As fate would have it, our little blue droid falls into the hands of an adventure-seeking Luke Skywalker, who is thrown smack in the middle of the action to learn the ways of the Force and join the Rebels in their attack against the Empire; classic hero stuff.

There’s so much to love about this movie, from the staggering visual effects of its time to its mesmerizing score and memorable characters. And boy, Lucas did a great job developing their individual character arcs. Every major player in A New Hope is given his or her moment to shine and to grow naturally within the overall story. Obi-Wan and Luke Skywalker are my personal favourites. As for Han Solo, I didn’t quite like him at first as I felt he was a bit of a jerk, but by the time he swooped in with the Millennium Falcon in the film’s climax, I was sold. Han Solo is awesome. And who can forget our big baddie, Darth Vader, who just steals the show with his screen presence and intimidating look. Here's to Darth Vader for being best looking villain in cinema history. 

They've come a long way from that fight on Mustafar

Of course, the characters aren’t the only great thing about A New Hope. The journey these characters take and the discoveries they make along their trek across the galaxy are as captivating as they are spellbinding. For a film that’s nearly forty-years-old, I feel that the special effects still hold up pretty well. Sure, the spaceships kinda look like miniatures, but that scene where the Millennium Falcon flies towards the Death Star still makes my jaw drop. I mean, look at the size of that thing! This is immersive filmmaking at its best. Not once did I feel like I was on Earth. Every set piece of every scene in this film feels so delightfully otherworldly you can’t help but anticipate what new planet, weapon or stakes Lucas will throw at the audience next. Speaking of stakes, it only occurred to me recently how many times our band of heroes find themselves in constant peril from TIE fighters, storm troopers and garbage compactors. All this, combined with the mythology of the Force, is handled adroitly; nothing ever feels convoluted or too much for audiences to take in. In fact, every new discovery only engrosses viewers into the story and its characters more.

 

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As many great things as there are to say about A New Hope, I did notice some flaws upon re-watching the film. The acting, for one, isn’t all that great. Mark Hamill, for instance, either overplays or underplays certain emotions. One of his introductory lines about wanting to go to the Tosche Station is a little cringe-worthy, and when he returns home to find *SPOILERS* his aunt and uncle’s burnt bodies, his face shows little to no emotion, ultimately making that scene less emotional than it could have been. Carrie Fisher’s performance isn’t all that convincing either, and she very much looks like she’s acting half the time. I have no complaints about Alec Guinness and Harrison Ford though. They played their roles flawlessly. James Earl Jones - the perfect pick for Darth Vader's voice - also gives Vader a commanding presence (voice-wise) and made the character his own, even though he didn't don the iconic suit. Still, I have to give kudos to David Prowse for being the man behind the mask.

 

Poor 3PO

Another nit-pick I have is that as much as the storm troopers are meant to be a threat, it’s hard not to think about how terrible they are at aiming their blasters. Then again, that might be a good thing. It sure added a great sense of fun to the action.

Overall though, Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope, or as some fans like to call it, Star Wars, has enough innovative visuals, an intriguing mythology and a good story to trump its shortcomings. It’s a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience that’s pure escapism.

Go Rebels!

Final Verdict

Star Wars – Episode IV: A New Hope gets 8.9 out of 10 stars – This is George Lucas at his prime.