The movie that taught my generation how to dream.

Rating: 10/10 (11 April 2004)

If there is one thing about my childhood I can be thankful for, it's the fact that I was a boy between 1977 and 1983. I got to grow up with three of the most inspirational fantasy films ever made. It all started with Star Wars Episode IV in 1977.
We all know the story about this battle between the forces of good represented by a fragmented rebel alliance and the forces of evil represented by an intergalactic EMPIRE. And yes, my sister and I had all of the toys, clothes, sleeping bags, trading cards, etc...

Let's just focus this review on the last twenty or so minutes of the film. Perhaps the greatest and most inspiring scenes in film history. I'm talking about the rebel assault on the approaching Death Star.
Who couldn't be moved by a dozen or so tiny ships flying out to face this massive battle station positioning itself to wipe out their entire army tucked away on a little moon. How about the shot of these ships locking their wings in attack position with the giant Death Star looming in front of them?
Some really neat camera shots as the battle begins. The rebels seem to be wreaking some havoc in their concentrated attack, until Darth Vader and some Imperial fighters join the battle. The rebel fighters are searching for a tiny ventilation shaft to drop some "proton torpedoes" into. It seems this is the only vulnerable point on this massive space station. One of the fighters actually gets a good shot at it...
We get a shot from inside the Death Star. Moff Tarkin (played superbly by veteran horror film actor Peter Cushing) is approached by one of his underlings.
"Sir, we've analyzed their attack pattern and there IS a danger. Should we have your shuttle standing by?"
Tarkin's over-confident reply:
"Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? I think you overestimate their chances!"
The battle rages on. Most of the rebel ships are blown to bits. It looks like Luke Skywalker will be one of them also until...
"You're all clear kid, now let's blow this thing and go home!"
Luke, without the aid of his targeting computer, takes one last shot. The Death Star has the moon with the rebel base in sight...
Luke lets out a sigh of relief as his torpedoes drop down the shaft...
Tarkin gives the order to fire:
"You may fire when ready."
We get a shot of about four remaining rebel ships turning towards home.
We hear a technician inside the Death Star:
"Stand by..."
BOOM!!!!!!!!!!
We see the gleeful medal ceremony back at the rebel base.

Thank You George Lucas!!!!
I'd give it a million of ten stars if I could.
So sayeth the Hound.