Our generation's Flash Gordon; this, the 1st film of the saga, is still the best one

Rating: Null/10 (18 July 2000)

Star Wars, now one of our classic science-fantasy melodramas, having been criticized for some valid reasons (too much tawdry merchandising) also takes a lot of unnecessary flack from critics who fail to recognize that they are criticizing elements inherent to the adventure-melodrama. Probably the most significant feature of this film, Lucas' great space-fantasy epic, is that it gave baby-boomers & later generations a chance to have our very own Flash Gordon styled film series. To understand the quality of episodic, Wagnerian opera and to realize how rarely this excellent dramatic form has been attempted through the last 12 decades, is to begin to understand the value of this gift. There are obvious similarities, such as how the musical themes are boldly attached to the characters' entrances. But a lesser recognized relation between Wagnerian opera and adventure-melodrama films is the simple-minded character studies (i.e. under-developed characters) and the accompanying simple-minded sentimentality that in both genres is enhanced by highly sentimental music.
The extreme popularity of such films as the Flash Gordon and Star Wars series is manifest in how melodramatic & otherwise sentimental scenes are utilized effectively within an adventurous environment. This reveals an improtant psychological factor in popular adventure films: melodrama & its inherent sentimentality sells. This fact may appear to be at odds with the current "tough love" styled psychological climate & the hard-edged adventure films that are currently popular. Nevertheless, sentimentality is integral to many films as it enhances emotional elements. It should not be underestimated. Some commented that Star Wars is nothing more than a kid's movie. Well, maybe it's time we grown-ups took a lesson from the little folks.
Star Wars is a veritable test of the filmgoing public's ability to innocently appreciate a movie, to play dumb and allow ourselves to re-experience the awe that is missing in today's jaded environment. All four films of the saga so far have equally tempted us to experience this element of human frailty so necessary in retaining our humaneness. And of course, many viewers have passed these tests with flying colors. But this original Star Wars film is by far the most operatic in style, thus it is the most innocent & sentimental. This stands to reason - the relative innocence of the film makers & their corporations before high success set in, less merchandising chutzpah intimidating the magic etc.
Though all four films have marvelous Wagnerian styled operatic music, with John Williams' themes playing timely and subtly upon each character's entrance etc., this first film introduces the characters' musical themes most dramatically and with the most sentimentality. The Princess's theme, Luke's theme, Obi-Wan Kenobi's theme, the theme of the Force are all extremely sentimental and moving, while the Empire's theme is dastardly and ominous. These musical elements, and other dramatic elements, are what serve to make this one of the most innocently sentimental films in the last 30 years. This sentimentality supersedes any dramatic weakpoints in the film, and there are many, at least as many as one may easily find in earlier melodramas. But it's the audience's responsibility, while viewing a melodrama, to overlook them and groove on the simple, sentimental moment at hand. Critics that overlook this point are foolish, indeed.
If, however, the viewer is having difficulty finding the warm sentiment in such melodramatic entertainment, I might offer a bit of advice on locating one's inner sentimentality. That is, perhaps the viewer might try to reach inside and find a place of vulnerable frailty. For example, as a person who lost his father at a young age, I am susceptible to warm father figures on film, such as Robert Young in TVs "Father Knows Best" & Hugh Beaumont in "Leave it to Beaver." That's why Alec Guinness, who plays Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi, is my favorite part. I have a young son and have therefore watched Star Wars dozens of times on our VCR, not to mention the several times I saw it in the theater when I was 21 years old. But I could watch this movie a thousand times, and each & every time I would get choked up, as I still do, over the Ben Kenobi scenes.