Released: May 1977
Directed By: George Lucas
Run-Time: 121 Minutes
Rated PG
Cast:
Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford: Han Solo
Carrie Fisher: Princess Leia
Anthony Daniels: C-3PO
Kenny Baker: R2-D2
Peter Mayhew: Chewbacca
David Prowse: Darth Vader
James Earl Jones: The Voice of Darth Vader
Peter Cushing: Grand Moff Tarkin
Alec Guinness: Obi-wan(Ben)Kenobi
In 1968, a little science fiction movie called 2001: A Space Odyssey was released by Stanley Kubrick. While the film garnered mixed reviews, the one thing that everybody seemed to agree on was how realistic it appeared and the way that special effects were used was unique. It was nearly a silent film and relied mostly on what unfolded on screen and the music. Nothing like that had ever been seen or done before. 9 years later in 1977, the way movies were MADE was turned upside down by another little movie by the name of Star Wars. Released in May of 1977, Star Wars took the world by storm. It featured visual effects and techniques that nobody had ever seen before. Director George Lucas was inspired by the serials of the early to mid 30s and the Akira Kurosawa films. The success of Star Wars launched an entire universe of endless possibilities in terms of story telling and characters. The opening of Star Wars shattered box office records. People lined up for blocks and blocks. Some of them had seen it dozens of times. It was clearly a well-received film that made people interested in science fiction again. The film has inspired generations of not just filmmakers but also fans.
Drawing on the mythological archetypes described by Joseph Campbell, Star Wars tells the story of Luke Skywalker(Mark Hamill). A young and idealistic farm boy, Luke gets caught up in the civil war between a Rebel Alliance and the evil Galactic Empire that has ruled the galaxy for decades. Recruited by Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke and the two droids that were sold to him embark on an adventure that spans the galaxy. Meeting up with the rogue Han Solo(Harrison Ford)and Chewbacca(Peter Mayhew), Luke and Kenobi attempt to leave Tattooine without attracting Imperial attention in order to deliver the droids C-3PO(Anthony Daniels)and R2-D2(Kenny Baker)to Alderaan. For all three of you that have been living under a rock for the past 37 years, this is basically the introduction to Star Wars. What an introduction it is. The way a movie opens tends to be very important, because it sets the tone for the rest of the movie. When the Star Wars logo appears to the famous musical score by legendary composer John Williams, you know you are in for something special. Just when you think that the opening scrawl was awesome, it gets better. When the first ship shows up, it seems like it’s pretty big, right? Well, when the Star Destroyer passes overhead, audiences went wild. This was something new and spectacular. The opening sequence was just the tip of the iceberg. One of the main characters is perhaps the most recognizable villains in cinema: Darth Vader. he was big and he was scary. You knew he was a bad guy.
From the scavenging Jawas and the Imperial Storm-Troopers to Han Solo, Luke and Leia, Star Wars introduces us to a wide array of unique and colorful creatures and characters. All of them are memorable, and the way they are introduced is also memorable. The universe portrayed in these films is so vast, it’s hard to fathom. Star Wars draws its inspiration from many different sources. Akira Kurosawa’s Seven Samurai is one as well as the Flash Gordon serials. Star Wars has also been inspired by Westerns. You can tell that by looking at Han Solo. He’s basically a cowboy in space. Look at the way he carries his weapon and the way he moves. That reminds me of the Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns of the 60s. The themes present in Star Wars aren’t particularly unique. The battle between good and evil is basically the same deal in many movies that came before, but the way these themes were presented was original. The action sequences for example: The gun fights come right out of a good old fashioned western. The space battles are actually fairly reminiscent of the WWII combat plane footage. All of these sequences were done practically with models and miniatures. No CGI. The way that George Lucas moved the camera, nobody had done before. There is not a sequence in this movie that doesn’t stand out. The performances in this film are incredible and don’t come across as cheesy as you would expect from a 70s sci-fi flick. Star Wars doesn’t take itself too seriously and doesn’t overstay its welcome. It’s a faced-paced adventure considering its 2 hour running time.
I mentioned Joseph Campbell because a lot of the archetypes that he mentioned were used prominently in Star Wars. You have the young idealistic farm-boy who finds a mentor in an old man, and then they meet up with a roguish character. Star Wars isn’t the first to use these archetypes and it wasn’t the last. In fact, some of the movies that have been released in the past decade have taken inspiration directly from Star Wars. Eragon is a prime example. Unfortunately, Eragon, follows the Star Wars formula exactly. But that’s neither here nor there. The point is, is that when you watch movies these days, it’s hard not to notice that the same themes present in Star Wars are also present in movies like Lord of the Rings. Filmmakers like James Cameron and Peter Jackson have clearly been inspired by Star Wars.
Star Wars is a thrilling space adventure that has some of the most iconic themes, music and characters that we’ve ever seen. I know I tend to throw that word around a lot, but it’s absolutely true. I grew up with Star Wars, as did many people of my generation. It’s one of the most exciting movies ever made and even nearly 40 years later, it still manages to excite people of all ages. On a side note: In 1997, the Original Trilogy was re-released to theaters featuring new footage and special effects, including CGI elements. While it didn’t necessarily bother me at the time, the addition of the new effects actually degraded the quality of the film to a certain extent. Star Wars was special because Lucas had to use the technology of the time to make everything work, and it was exquisite. George Lucas’s reasoning for going back to “finish” his movies was for that very reason, the lack of technology. Truthfully, I think that rings hollow. He managed to accomplish more in terms of special effects because he didn’t have the technology that we have now. So, for Lucas to go back and tinker with his movies just doesn’t seem….proper. Granted, some of it works quite well, while other elements are completely out of place. With the advent of DVD and recently, Blu-Ray, Lucas continued to mess around with something that didn’t need screwing around with. Do these new additions detract from the experience as a whole? I personally don’t believe so, but it does strike me as odd.
Overall, Star Wars is probably one of the greatest science fiction films ever conceived. It has inspired generations of filmmakers to dare to experiment with movies the way that George Lucas did. This movie is filled with incredible gunfights and space battles, while peppered with awesome character interaction that is both amusing and heart-breaking. Never before has a movie captured the imagination of millions of people. For nearly 40 years, the Star Wars universe has expanded and blossomed into a cultural phenomenon that will never die. Star Wars is a film that is for all generations, both young and old, to enjoy. I truly hope that these films will be preserved for future generations, to show them how movies can be both fun and inspirational. Star Wars is one of the main reasons why I do this, why I write about movies. It’s because there is so much to tell. For me and many others, Star Wars is a timeless adventure that never fails to thrill. With amazing music, story and effects, Star Wars is where it’s at. 10/10.