Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)

Directed by: George Lucas | 125 minutes | action, adventure, fantasy, science fiction | Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, James Earl Jones, Phil Brown, Shelagh Fraser, Jack Purvis, Alex McCrindle, Eddie Byrne

Few films have had such an impact on the film industry and contemporary pop culture as George Lucas’ original Star Wars trilogy. Even people who have never seen the movies know how to put the (mis)quote “Luke, I am your father” and understand the buzzing sound people make when they play with their plastic lightsabers. Star Wars was and is an unprecedented phenomenon. And it all started in 1977 with Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. When people were introduced to the legendary phrase “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” and composer John Williams’ unforgettable theme blared through the speakers for the first time.

The film that people saw at the time is not the film that is doing the rounds in 2011. In the meantime, George Lucas has made several changes to his original version. The 1997 Special Editions had the biggest impact, with new computer-generated effects that Lucas says increased the vibrancy and thus credibility of the universe. As Lucas grew older (and weaker?), he decided that a rebel like Han Solo would never just shoot a mercenary who threatens him, and infuriated many a Star Wars fan by letting Greedo get a shot first. unload. With the arrival of the Blu-Ray versions in 2011, it appears that Lucas still can’t resist tinkering with his films. For example, for completely incomprehensible reasons, he found it necessary that the cry with which Obi-Wan Kenobi chases the Sand People (for the insiders: the hunting cry of a Krayt dragon) had to be adjusted.

But they are details. The story of the young farmer (Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill) who takes on the Empire is still the same and has not lost any of its power. The film still has a freshness and playfulness that is often hard to find in large productions these days. The exploration of Luke Skywalker, who is forced to discover the world beyond his own planet Tatooine for the first time, has a universal eloquence independent of the state of CGI. It is precisely the clumsiness of Industrial Light & Magic’s house-garden-kitchen approach (which was created specifically for this film) that gives the Star Wars universe its soul. Not the smoothness of the computer generated images added later.

The mystique that hangs in ‘A New Hope’ about the Jedi Order and the Force that the Jedi Knights draw from still works amazingly well. The film is very clearly a stepping stone to a bigger story, but also works completely on its own. There is more than enough for the unsuspecting viewer to fill in for themselves. For example, who is hiding behind Darth Vader’s mask, or what the rebels’ next step will be after their victory over the Death Star, presented in this film as the ultimate weapon. Even with all the knowledge of the other five films, which complete the story, the tension in this film is still palpable. In addition, Alec Guinness (as Obi-Wan Kenobi) and Peter Cushing (Governor Tarkin) play very strong roles. The sometimes somewhat amateurish playing of Mark Hamill is endearing and the fierceness of Carrie Fisher (as Princess Leia) provides a wonderful group dynamic. Added to that, of course, is the insanely strong film score by John Williams.

It is difficult, if not impossible, to write anything definitive about the Star Wars films of the Old Trilogy (episode IV-VI). Every version that is released has a few changes, whether or not radical. For people who grew up with the films, this is often difficult to stomach, but newcomers may have less trouble with it. Either way, it’s this reviewer’s opinion that the Original Trilogy itself has enough power to warrant a rave review. Some adjustments are cringe-inducing, but you can learn to ignore them. As a story, ‘A New Hope’ has certainly not lost any of its power. The love and dedication with which the film was made are still visible and palpable. And that’s the most important.