Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope ***1/2

Rating: 9/10 (7 June 2005)

My comments are twofold, so please bear with me while I discuss my viewpoints, both past and present.
I think that from now on, with the advent of the newer STAR WARS prequels, this once 'sensational' groundbreaking film is destined to forever be relegated to a lower "STAR WARS ... PART 4" status. Although I was a kid of 15 back in 1977 when George Lucas' original film took the world by storm, I somehow was never as mesmerized by this science fiction classic as my friends seemed to be back in the day. At the time, I felt it was overrated and that it single handedly managed to change the comfortable horror and science fiction universe as I had always known it. I was a die-hard PLANET OF THE APES fan and collector in the '70s, but before long everything became STAR WARS, STAR WARS, STAR WARS -- and even my once-popular action figures of APES characters like Cornelius and Dr. Zaius bit the dust in favor of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Magazines like FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND transformed overnight in order to dedicate the content of all their new issues to this new phenomenon, cover to cover.
Well, times have changed and I've finally come to really like the original STAR WARS film. It's odd that I didn't really appreciate it until I grew up, whereas the reverse is usually the case in most people's lives! But unlike so many very dedicated lifelong STAR WARS followers, I'm relatively a newer fan; and therefore I am viewing it from a somewhat different perspective. I have no qualms with the changes that George Lucas made, simply because I don't "know" the difference. I'm positive I would NOT have liked him tampering with my favorite childhood movie, but you have to understand that I wasn't a fan at the time of this original premiere. And since I have pretty much stepped into this later in the history, re-discovering this classic after having just watched Episodes I, II and III -- I can see why Lucas felt some desire to try and "match" the effects and "new-ness" of the current prequels.
Of course, STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE introduces us to Luke (Mark Hamill), Leia (Carrie Fisher), the "elder" Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness) and Han Solo (Harrison Ford). Together they set out to defeat the evil Empire headed by Grand Moff Tarkin (the great veteran Peter Cushing) and his villainous henchman, the ultimate bad guy - Darth Vader. The effects were out of this world (no joke intended) in 1977, but seem kind of dated when seen after the more recent prequels. But it's still a thrilling space ride from start to finish, with a great performance from Alec Guiness and some contrasting characterizations in Luke, Han and Leia. It's got a good plot, the strong central theme of good against evil, and some delightful non-human side characters in personable droids R2D2 and C3P0, as well as that large and hirsute wookie, Chewbacca.
STAR WARS is a great if not flawless movie, but it doesn't really need to be perfect, as it remains an exciting and satisfying experience. The only flaws I would note (aside from it feeling slightly outdated) would be that Hamill, Ford and Fisher don't seem to be that seasoned; all the same, it's their characters which are varied enough to keep us interested in them (the young and adventurous Luke, the selfish and greedy Han Solo, the feisty and bossy princess). Also, it's a little underwhelming to see the formerly ruthless Darth Vader now come off as more of a "Yes Man" to Cushing's leader. Quibbles aside, STAR WARS: EPISODE IV - A NEW HOPE (as I prefer to call it as a relative latecomer to this saga) remains a wonderful science fiction/fantasy, done in the spirit of the old 1930s serials and swashbucklers. ***1/2 out of ****