Yes we made it, we made it through the prequel reviews, so it's time to revisit the original 1977 Star Wars, aka Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Even for a movie made in the 70s, there is little to complain about with A New Hope, that's not just me being biased as I didn't enjoy the prequels as much, it's also not me trying to be retro and relatable. Even though I wasn't born when the original trilogy was released I can still appreciate it for all it is, it is a wonderful movie that propelled George Lucas into stardom as it unleashed an entire fandom around the world. George Lucas built an entire world that he himself at the time had no idea how big it would become.
The prequel trilogy was all about answering questions, like how did Anakin Skywalker become Darth Vader? Who is the Empire? Why are the Rebels rebelling against it? What is a Death Star? How big is it? What makes Princess Leia a Princess? When the original Star Wars movie was released they didn't feel the need to give answers to questions you didn't have. It thrust audiences into this world and didn't treat fans like simpletons by answering questions. They went along with assuming audiences would pick up on what this world was like therefore giving the audience more credit than the prequel trilogy. The opening text crawl of the movie sucks you into mysteries surrounding this universe. Following this, audiences see one of the most iconic opening shots in film history, a Star Destroyer chasing a Blockade Runner across the frame. It's a magnificently composed shot however it opens up more questions, just how powerful is the Empire? And how badly are the Rebels outnumbered?
We are then propelled straight into an action scene that within the first line sews more seeds into the history of this world. "There'll be no escape for the Princess this time" suggests something had the Princess in a situation similar to this previously. As we are introduced to Darth Vader he also says "There will be no one to stop us this time" which as well as giving a bit of history to the Empire and the Rebels, also foreshadows the movie.
After nearly an entire act of the film, audiences get to meet the main protagonist of the movie: Luke Skywalker. Luke Skywalker serves as the opposite of Anakin Skywalker, not just for his hero stature, but for his favorability with audiences. Anakin was bratty as a kid and even more annoying as a young adult, Luke however is completely relatable. A wondrous guy who has been stuck in a dead end environment who just wants to explore. Something that audiences can relate to more than "I hate sand, it's coarse and it gets everywhere"
We then get to see Luke interact with another main character in the story, Obi-Wan Kenobi. It is this crucial scene in the movie after they have saved the droids that we get some insight into what this world is. Obi-Wan tells Luke about The Force, Jedi, the Clone Wars, Princess Leia, Darth Vader and him supposedly killing Luke's father. This scene may seem overstuffed with information but there is even more in the form of Leia's message. The most interesting part of this scene is Obi-Wan's reaction to the Princess's message. Of course when the movie was first released, movie goers had no idea why Obi-Wan was so shocked making the audiences eager to find out. However now the movie is the fourth in the series so modern day audiences know exactly what is going through the Jedi's head. Darth Vader's daughter lives, she is a rebel leader and is currently captured by her father (unbeknown to her), the Rebellion is in trouble and George Lucas manages to reveal all of this information in a few simple lines is an example of why this movie works.
After the group have met Han and Chewbacca and set out a plan, we get to see the infamous Han and Greedo scene. This is one point of the movie that disappoints me, not in the original but in the special editions that have altered this scene. The whole "who shot first?" has been a favourite argument among fans but since it was edited in recent versions of the movie, this slight change, alters Han's character. In the original it gives crucial information and shows what Han's character is like, he's a shady, wanted man that's willing to do anything to stay a free man. Now in the recent versions of the movie he only shoots in self defense making the scene that little bit less interesting.
Moving past the Greedo situation, we get to see our favourite Princess again. Some fans might despise her but I think Leia is an essential part of the movie. She also shows how a Princess isn't just a damsel in distress, yes she may get rescued by men but stay with me. Once Luke and Han break her out of her detention block, she takes the lead, she isn't about to let two men tell her what to do, she proves she is a born leader. She's a confident wise-ass which even for a female character in modern movies is hard to get right never mind in the 70s.
Of course I couldn't leave out one of the most iconic scenes in the movie, the showdown between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. Although this scene serves as the climactic build for the movie, it makes audiences ask even more questions. However the lightsaber duel itself isn't the best the Star Wars saga has seen, it isn't very well choreographed BUT it's all about Obi-Wan's mindset during this battle. His intense stares at Vader shows us that this fight is more important to him than lead on. His entire life since the events of Revenge of the Sith has lead to this moment. Which makes his surrender at the end so poetic yet confusing, why would he let Vader willingly kill him? Audiences at the time of the movies release wouldn't find out for some time but now we have our answers.
We may have just seen the death of the major character but the heroes get their comeuppance by destroying the Death Star. However they still don't kill their enemy, he simply gets knocked into space while everyone aboard the Death Star is killed in an explosion. Few movies show a celebration where the heroes of the movie don't really win, it shows audiences there's a bigger picture here and we've only just had a taste of what's to come. The final ceremony doesn't show how great our protagonists are but proves the real MVP behind the Star Wars story is that of John Williams. His music throughout the movie sets the tone that simply cannot be praised enough. It perfectly integrates into each scene and during the ceremony scene there is zero dialogue, making the iconic John Williams score really be at the center of this moment.
Easter Eggs
#1 Posters
The first easter eggs in A New Hope come in the first opening scene where the Imperial Star Destroyer chases down the rebel ship Tantive IV. Since this movie was made in the 70s, practical effects were used so these ships were hand made models which gave the modellers chance to leave their mark on these models. One of these creators stuck tiny posters into the cockpit of the rebel ship, one of which is a Playboy centerfold which can be seen on the right and a small Star Wars poster on the left. It's rather impossible to catch it out the corner of your eye during the scene but the photo below is of the model from the movie so it gives a better look.
#2 Metallic dice
When making the movie George Lucas wanted to give this galaxy a lived-in feel to make it seem a bit more realistic. Lucas included a set of hanging dice in the cockpit of the Millenium Falcon. Although a small, fun reference it has became an iconic part of the ship so much so that JJ Abrams bought a set off Ebay for The Force Awakens.
#3 THX 1138
This easter egg is arguably the most popular reference from the original trilogy and the most well known. George Lucas' references to THX 1138 has been referenced in all the prequels but the first nod to this movie from the Star Wars franchise is in A New Hope. This comes in the scene where Luke and Han are disguised as Stormtroopers and are moving Chewbacca through the detention level of the Death Star. Lieutenant Shann Childsen asks where they are "taking this...thing" and Luke claims he is a prisoner transfer from cell block 1138.
#4 Outrider
This easter egg doesn't appear in the original release of Star Wars but was added in for the Special Edition. As Luke and the group are entering Mos Eisley, Dash Rendar's ship, the Ourider from Shadows of the Empire can be seen taking off and leaving the spaceport.
#5 The Wilhelm scream
Another favourite reference throughout the franchise is the infamous Wilhelm scream. Although it originated in the western movie Distant Drums it is named after a character from The Charge At Feather River which also used the sound. Arguably though Star Wars helped improve it's popularity among movie makers and has now appeared in over two hundred movies. The sound effect first appears in A New Hope when a Stormtrooper is knocked into a Death Star chasm during Luke and Leia's escape.
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