Not as good as you first thought

Rating: 6/10 (10 June 2005)

Now I'm not saying I don't like Star Wars. It's a great series of films. But Episode IV: A New Hope falls disappointingly short in retrospect.
when in first came out in was the pinnacle of special effects, and everyone was amazed. But as someone who wasn't alive in 77, it is quite easy to see it's shortcomings.
The plot is very basic. Seeing this film for the first time in 3 years i was surprised at how short it was. And simplistic too. Not very much depth or character development. With the exception of Alec Guiness and James Earl Jones, the acting is pretty poor two.
The special effects were good for their day, but I still find that clash between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader painful. It is a bit ridiculous now with all the lightsaber twirling in the prequels, but they weren't even trying. Just standing rigid and lightly bashing their swords together.
That said this is the one that launched so many other great films, and introduced great characters like Darth and Han Solo, and has to receive credit. A phenomenal achievement in cinema, but it's clear Lucas's skill needed a little more polish.