Star Wars - Movie Review

Dec 13, 2015
a new hope review
In celebration of the release of the new 'Star Wars' movie this December 17, we look back the previous installments of the franchise leading up to 'The Force Awakens', the seventh installment of the saga. To read our coverage, click here.

There’s a mystery as to how come ‘Star Wars’, a film from the ‘70s sells more toys than the newly released ones. For a film that has been tried to recreate multiple times and fail, being watched by children up to now, what is it really that makes ‘Star Wars’ the classic film it is today. Was it the nostalgia factor it brings to every man-child in his 40s? Is it the charismatic characters in which costumes fill up yearly Halloween parties? The world George Lucas made himself that spawns hundreds of video games and tie-in novels? What did ‘Star Wars’ made to become the most celebrated movie of all time, that a simple line alteration, and CGI blockade in the special edition re-masters angers millions of fans worldwide? 
a new hope review
Each one of us has different stories on how ‘Star Wars’ became a special thing in our lives. Mine was stepping in our living room as a kid, my dad popped in something to our old VHS player. When that yellow logo appears on our small television screen, with the classic John Williams score playing, I knew I was in for something special.
a new hope review
I still vividly remember that shot where the empire ship is slowly entering the frame, and how intimidating its presence was due to its size. On a single shot, one can easily point out who is the villain and the hero: the rebellion is the small one and the empire is this humongous terror of a ship that will leave no mercy behind, like a shark predating a small fish in the ocean.
a new hope review
This scene follows droids C3-PO and R2-D2 who is inside the rebellion ship being attacked by the empire, having no absolute clue as to the events outside. It’s an interesting thing to see them learn new things about this war the same way we do as viewers. From Princess Leia inserting something to R2-D2 to the two droids leaving the ship through an escape pod. The brilliance behind is the two’s conversation, in which banters uncovers the missing pieces of the puzzle. With dialogue, the storytellers manages to open the doors of this universe making it even bigger, again thanks to C3PO and R2-D2, leading them to meet Luke Skywalker and eventually Obi-Wan.
a new hope review
Luke Skywalker, for someone who started as being whiny and complaining a lot for not studying as he wants to, has some of the greatest story arcs on film. But on this film alone, George Lucas gave him a character transformation that doesn’t feel too rushed nor forced. A brief scene in the movie has him looking back to see his Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen one last time to fully grasp the anger he will have on the empire. It’s nice why Obi-Wan initially didn’t want him to return to his home because of the incident since hate and anger will attract the dark side. He knew what Luke is capable of, and of who he might become, as shown by offering his life during a lightsaber fight with Darth Vader. This temptation and desperation to stop the empire and the fact that his was allegedly father killed by Vader was a nice nod to this continuing transformation in the later films. Another mystery as to how Lucas screwed up the backstory of Anakin in the prequels. Sigh.
a new hope review
The fact that we know not much of who Darth Vader really was here aside from being Obi-Wan’s former apprentice was the best decision made by the filmmakers. The mystery surrounds him results to a more menacing appeal to the audience. The classic villain approach was given for this character, but he was not really about his clear intentions on stopping a thing to oppose him instantly and a real force not to be reckon with. He’s more to that. As an audience are unsure as to what it is, and that’s the beauty of it.
a new hope review
Han Solo will always be one of my all-time favorite characters on-film. Despite the occasional brashing and rebellious attitude, his charisma and charm is undeniably present, even when it doesn’t need to be there—which Harrison Ford manages to sell. Ford effortlessly portrayed the character to an extent where he became the character off-screen. His introduction in the Mos Eisley Cantina alone proved that there’s no other actor who can do the same as he did as Han. 
a new hope review
Simplicity is the main ingredient as to why ‘Star Wars’ was so good, which makes it even more accessible and watchable to the younger audience. To answer the question as to why this film is a big thing in pop-culture, one of the many answers to that was said by Obi-Wan early on in this movie when he described the “force”. There is no scientific and literal answer to the question, but what can be agreed collectively is that it surrounds us, penetrates us, and binds us as one. 
a new hope review
The timelessness of ‘Star Wars’ cannot and should not be ignored. Its big influence on contemporary cinema alone proved its game-changing aspect. Thousand attempts are made to re-create its success, but failed. Not because it already has a name, but it has become it. 

The geek rates it 10/10!

NEXT: The Empire Strikes Back
a new hope review





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