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Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)
Director: George Lucas
Cast overview: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford
Running time: 121 minutes
This is a critically acclaimed film, no doubt about that. In fact, it's regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. I can understand that, I suppose. At the time it must have been revolutionary, like nothing seen before, and it set the scene for a spawn of sequels and a multi-million dollar franchise that has seen imitations aplenty. Yet it doesn't quite work for me. I think most of that probably comes from my natural aversion to films of this nature - I'm not big on fantasy-type films, and this fits firmly in that bracket. That's not a fault of the film per se, but I begrudge giving a film a high mark when I haven't really enjoyed it.
I'll also mention that I'm reviewing this based on a viewing a bit back, so the details may be a bit hazy, but I'll proceed anyway. Firstly, the things I did like. The effects were decent, and excellent in fact for 1977, when big-budget films of this nature were, I imagine, something of a rarity - or, at least, they didn't come around as often as they do now. Another thing I enjoyed was John Williams' epic soundtrack - I'm a fan of his work on other films, and this didn't disappoint either. It's iconic, and it also has a timeless quality.
The characters are also very good, particularly that of Darth Vader - he has a chilling coolness in his presence that remains to this day in terms of rewatching it. Chewbacca, Han Solo and the like are also pretty good, etc.
So, in short, this is a decent enough film and I can fully understand why some people love it and consider it to be among the best of all time. I, personally, am not a massive fan and can't see myself watching it on regular occasions. I do like the entertainment purpose it set out to achieve, though, and think that entertainment should often be the driving motive in all films.
Quotes
Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along.
Obi-Wan: Use the Force, Luke.
[Han answers the intercom after commandeering an attack station]
Han Solo: [sounding official] Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal.
Voice: What happened?
Han Solo: [getting nervous] Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
Voice: We're sending a squad up.
Han Solo: Uh, uh... negative, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a few minutes to lock it down. Large leak, very dangerous.
Voice: Who is this? What's your operating number?
Han Solo: Uh...
[Han shoots the intercom]
Han Solo: [muttering] Boring conversation anyway. LUKE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE COMPANY!
Trivia
George Lucas was so sure the film would flop that instead of attending the premiere, he went on holiday to Hawaii with his good friend Steven Spielberg, where they came up with the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
While George Lucas was filming on location in Tunisia, the Libyan government became worried about a massive military vehicle parked near the Libyan border. Consequently, the Tunisian government, receiving threats of military mobilization, politely asked Lucas to move his Jawa sandcrawler farther away from the border.
Harrison Ford deliberately didn't learn his lines for the intercom conversation in the cell block, so it would sound spontaneous.
Trailer
Director: George Lucas
Cast overview: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford
Running time: 121 minutes
This is a critically acclaimed film, no doubt about that. In fact, it's regarded as one of the greatest films of all time. I can understand that, I suppose. At the time it must have been revolutionary, like nothing seen before, and it set the scene for a spawn of sequels and a multi-million dollar franchise that has seen imitations aplenty. Yet it doesn't quite work for me. I think most of that probably comes from my natural aversion to films of this nature - I'm not big on fantasy-type films, and this fits firmly in that bracket. That's not a fault of the film per se, but I begrudge giving a film a high mark when I haven't really enjoyed it.
I'll also mention that I'm reviewing this based on a viewing a bit back, so the details may be a bit hazy, but I'll proceed anyway. Firstly, the things I did like. The effects were decent, and excellent in fact for 1977, when big-budget films of this nature were, I imagine, something of a rarity - or, at least, they didn't come around as often as they do now. Another thing I enjoyed was John Williams' epic soundtrack - I'm a fan of his work on other films, and this didn't disappoint either. It's iconic, and it also has a timeless quality.
The characters are also very good, particularly that of Darth Vader - he has a chilling coolness in his presence that remains to this day in terms of rewatching it. Chewbacca, Han Solo and the like are also pretty good, etc.
So, in short, this is a decent enough film and I can fully understand why some people love it and consider it to be among the best of all time. I, personally, am not a massive fan and can't see myself watching it on regular occasions. I do like the entertainment purpose it set out to achieve, though, and think that entertainment should often be the driving motive in all films.
Quotes
Stormtrooper: Let me see your identification.
Obi-Wan: [with a small wave of his hand] You don't need to see his identification.
Stormtrooper: We don't need to see his identification.
Obi-Wan: These aren't the droids you're looking for.
Stormtrooper: These aren't the droids we're looking for.
Obi-Wan: He can go about his business.
Stormtrooper: You can go about your business.
Obi-Wan: Move along.
Stormtrooper: Move along... move along.
Obi-Wan: Use the Force, Luke.
[Han answers the intercom after commandeering an attack station]
Han Solo: [sounding official] Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal.
Voice: What happened?
Han Solo: [getting nervous] Uh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh... everything's perfectly all right now. We're fine. We're all fine here now, thank you. How are you?
Voice: We're sending a squad up.
Han Solo: Uh, uh... negative, negative. We had a reactor leak here now. Give us a few minutes to lock it down. Large leak, very dangerous.
Voice: Who is this? What's your operating number?
Han Solo: Uh...
[Han shoots the intercom]
Han Solo: [muttering] Boring conversation anyway. LUKE, WE'RE GONNA HAVE COMPANY!
Trivia
George Lucas was so sure the film would flop that instead of attending the premiere, he went on holiday to Hawaii with his good friend Steven Spielberg, where they came up with the idea for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
While George Lucas was filming on location in Tunisia, the Libyan government became worried about a massive military vehicle parked near the Libyan border. Consequently, the Tunisian government, receiving threats of military mobilization, politely asked Lucas to move his Jawa sandcrawler farther away from the border.
Harrison Ford deliberately didn't learn his lines for the intercom conversation in the cell block, so it would sound spontaneous.
Trailer