George Lucas magical franchise launched

Rating: 8/10 (3 December 2019)

What with the imminent release of the first of a new trilogy, what better excuse than to visit the first cinematic release. Even if it is number 4 or episode iv in an intended 9 films.
The film was released back in 1977 when sci-fi had mostly involved television series and the odd film (2001: A Space Odyssey springs to mind).
With a modest budget of £11m compared to the same years Bond film that had a £13.5m budget.
The film begins with a signature introduction much like other film franchises.
The film's popularity is that it has elements of several other genres in a galaxy far, far away.
Westerns are represented in some of the locations including the Death Valley Monument and Tunisia.
An alien saloon provides an element of humour as well as harking back to a John Wayne cowboy scene.
War films are represented by the spaceship dog fights like The Battle Of Britain perhaps.
Excellent miniatures and optical effects are on a par with 2001 as already mentioned.
The signature start and torture scene of a main character Princess Leia reminds me of the old Bond films.
The cast is a mixture of new blood (in 1977) including Mark Hamill as the young hero Luke Skywalker and Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia.
Veteran screen actors are represented by greats such as Alec Guiness as Obi-Wan Kenobi and Peter Cushing as the aptly named 'evil' Grand Moff Tarkin.
The casting of Cushing reminded me of his roles in the old Hammer horror films.
Characters have varied names, some mentioned already. Human, droid, a dog/carpet/hairy creature called Chewbacca, a wookie.
Jabba The Hut, a slimy, overweight gangster alien creature.
The film has an element of popularity no doubt fuelled by sales of merchandise linked to the franchise.