STAR WARS (1977)

Country: U.S.A.

Genre(s): Action / Adventures / Epic / Fantasy / Sci-Fi

Director: George Lucas

Cast: Mark Hamill / Harrison Ford / Carrie Fisher

Plot

Long, long ago in a galaxy far, far away, farm boy Luke Skywalker is swept up in a plot to free the imprisoned Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Darth Vader and his imperial forces, which includes a planet-obliterating Death Star.

What I Liked

What is there possibly to be written in praise of “Star Wars” that hasn’t been written or said before?  I’m not even going to make the effort to come up with anything original and just detail what I love about this move, which is probably what anyone bothering to read this loves about it as well.

“Star Wars” was not the first Hollywood summer blockbuster; that honor belongs to “Jaws,” released two years earlier.  “Jaws” was the first film to put together an outrageous plot and eye-catching special effects to create unprecedented pandemonium at the box office and get virtually the entire world talking.  However, “Star Wars” does deserve credit as being the prototype for summer blockbusters in nearly every other since.  “Jaws” could be said to have a quest in its plot, but not the way that “Star Wars” does.  Writer-director George Lucas essentially gave us a tale full of the same sense of adventure one finds in epic poetry and ancient myths, filtered through twentieth-century escapist science fiction influenced by comic books, pulp novels, and cinema featuring characters like Flash Gordon and John Carter.  Familiar with the work of writer and historian Joseph Campbell, he took well-known (to the point of cliché) archetypes from myth, legend, religion, and fiction and rendered them relevant for a post-war, post-Watergate generation.  With these components, George Lucas reintroduced idealism and romanticism to audiences who had long since abandoned them as hopeless nonsense.

“Star Wars” is a testament to belief, not only in its plot (the all-encompasing “Force,” Luke’s rise from farm boy to savior, and Han Solo’s transformation from cynical pirate to hero) but in its very creation. Watching “Star Wars,” one can feel Lucas’ excitement for bringing the fantasies of his childhood to life.  The detail and creativity he demanded in creating convincing costumes, special effects, and settings is evidence of his passion for making the most of this opportunity to complete his dream project, despite next to no support from his production company and a relatively meager budget.

Let’s not forget all of the unforgettable and fun characters, creatures, and beings he gave us with just this single film.  Darth Vader, arguably cinema’s most memorable villain.  Han Solo, a role that transformed unknown Harrison Ford into a movie star.   R2D2 and C3PO, the robotic Odd Couple of outer space.  Chewbacca.  The cantina.  The Millennium Falcon.  The Death Star.  The list goes on.  Western popular culture has been transformed by “Star Wars” in a way that no other work of fiction from the past forty years can match.

On top of all that, it’s still so much fun to watch.  No matter how many times I’ve seen it.

What I Didn’t Like

Despite all the praise above, and despite what so many of its obsessive fans might proclaim, “Star Wars” is not a perfect film.  For starters, Mark Hamill, the least talented actor in the entire production, is somehow given the lead role as Luke Skywalker.  The amazing effects, characters, and design do a good job of hiding its one-dimensional characters and disappointingly simple plot, great for a popcorn summer flick, but ultimately without much originality or depth.  It wasn’t until the film’s tremendous success demanded sequels and prequels and the like that Lucas was able to bring his complete epic vision, with its much more intellectually satisfying themes, to fruition.  “Star Wars” did everything it needed to revolutionize filmmaking and create an unofficial nation of obsessive fans.  It is an entirely satisfying viewing experience for anyone who loves escapist cinema, but it has its weaknesses.

Most Memorable Scene

Sometimes I regret creating this category for my write-ups.  For the most part, I end up picking the film’s climax, which is almost by definition the most memorable scene of the film.  There are a few exceptions, but this isn’t one of them.  The X-Wing assault on the Death Star, with Darth Vader and his pilots in pursuit, is the most edge-of-your seat moment in the film (and maybe in any sci-fi film I've ever seen), not only for its completely convincing special effects and the drama inherent in what is at stake, but for the photography and pacing of the scene.  It’s terrific action filmmaking, one of Lucas’s finest moments as a director.

My Rating: 5 out of 5