A childhood memory worth preserving.

Rating: 7/10 (13 May 2013)

By some luck, the first time I ever saw this film was on VHS. It was the original in its mint condition, no extra Lucas digital crap. I remember that experience as if it was only yesterday. I remember falling in love with Star Wars. All the movies, all the games, all the toys, even. That was when I was about 5 and the dreaded Attack Of The Clones would grace the screen with its unholiness a year later.
How in god's name do you do it? How do you review a movie that defined you? That you have loved for years? As a matter of fact, I re-watched this film just so I could have an unbiased opinion.
The plot is that 2 droids on a ship are forced to leave through an escape pod and wind up on a dessert planet. They meet up with Luke Skywalker. They bring a message with the intent of reaching an Obi-Wan Kenobi. Luke knows a Ben Kenobi and believes they are somehow related. They make it to him and deliver the message. Obi-Wan then tries to teach Luke in the ways of The Force; a mystical energy that would give a Jedi (which are now extinct) his power. He meets up with Han Solo and Chewbacca and they try to rescue a captured princess from the grip of the evil leader of the empire, Darth Vader.
I could write a 300 page book on how influential this movie was and STILL not have everything done however I personally hate it "Oh this film was so influential" so was Plan 9 From Outer Space! I hate it when people say that because it puts me off so I will not say a single thing in that respect.
The acting is a mixed bag. James Earl Jones does a great voice as Darth Vader and David Prowse in that black suit of Vader with that combo Lucas made probably the most threatening movie villain to grace the screen. Alec Guiness does a good job as the mentor role and Harrison Ford does a good job as the scoundrel Han Solo. Those 3 are worth watching for alone. Mark Hamil and Carrie Fischer were pretty bad on their own right.
There is something about family films of this time; Return To Oz, Labyrinth, Willy Wonka etc. where they were something to be experienced. The "magic" of those films are alive, even today, with this actually being a better example.
Overall this is an enjoyable film. I even found it in me to tolerate the re-edits. A must see for all science fiction fans.