Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

Rating: 10/10 (4 March 2005)

This is where it all started, the original trilogy and saga of science-fiction epic adventures, from Oscar and Golden Globe nominated writer/director/creator George Lucas. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away" the universe in ruled in fear by the Empire, and a new threat has been completed, the Death Star battle station. The rebels however have managed to capture the plans for the station, and Senator Princess Leia Organa (introducing Carrie Fisher) places them into the memory of droid R2-D2 (Kenny Baker). R2 with companion droid C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) escape the ship and land the desert world Tatooine, the Princess meanwhile is held captive by the Emperor's trusted servant Darth Vader (acted by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) and battle station leader Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing). R2 and 3PO meanwhile eventually end up with farm boy Luke Skywalker (introducing Mark Hamill) who lives on the planet with his Aunt and Uncle. While cleaning R2, he comes across the message from the Princess, mentioning Obi-Won Kenobi (Oscar and Golden Globe nominated Sir Alec Guinness), an former Jedi Knight who they find in the desert. After his relatives are killed, Luke wants to learn the ways of the Force and become a Jedi. They contract pilots of the Millennium Falcon, Han Solo (introducing Harrison Ford) and Wookie Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) to take them across the galaxy at light speeds. They travel to what was the Princess's planet, Alderaan, but they are pulled in by tracker beam by what destroyed it, the Death Star. After avoiding the stormtroopers, and rescuing the Princess, they eventually escape after removing the beam, but Obi-Won was killed (and became one with the Force) after being killed by his former pupil, Vader. The concluding scenes are the craft and laser battles with the Rebels and the Empire, Darth Vader escapes (giving way to the sequel), and Luke eventually blows up the Death Star (with a great explosion), and the heroes are rewarded, a happy ending. It won the Oscars for Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Visual Effects, Best Film Editing, Best Music for John Williams and Best Sound, and it was nominated for Best Picture, Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen and a Special Achievement Award (for creation of alien, creature and robot voices), it won the BAFTAs for the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music and Best Sound, and it was nominated for Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Production Design/Art Direction and Best Film, and it won the Golden Globe for Best Original Score, and it was nominated for Best Motion Picture - Drama. Harrison Ford was number 5 on The 100 Greatest Movie Stars, Sir Alec Guinness was number 12 on The 50 Greatest British Actors, he was number 2 on Britain's Finest Actors, and he was number 11 on The World's Greatest Actor, Obi-Wan Kenobi was number 37, and Han Solo number 14 (Heroes), and Darth Vader number 3 (Villain) on 100 Years, 100 Heroes & Villains, Star Wars was number 24 on The 100 Pop Culture Icons, the film was number 1 on 100 Years of Film Scores, it was number 8 on 100 Years, 100 Quotes ("May the Force be with you."), it was number 91 on The 100 Greatest Scary Moments (Darth Vader), it was number 27 on 100 Years, 100 Thrills, it was number 9 on The 100 Greatest Family Films, it was number 4 on The Ultimate Film, it was number 39 on 100 Years, 100 Cheers, it was number 15 on 100 Years, 100 Movies, and along with Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, both were number 1 on The 100 Greatest Films. Outstanding!