Landmark film

Rating: 9/10 (10 August 2019)

How do you even review such a film? Hey, news flash, this was a great film, let me tell you all about it. One thing I'll say, it holds up over the years, and over repeat viewings. I loved how Lucas unfolded the story on the remote and arid planet of Tatooine, and the first half of the film is especially good, with all sorts of little things that add interest upon a re-watch.
Some highlights overall:

The scene with Luke Skywalker looking out at the double sunset, contemplating his destiny, as we hear a soaring part of John Williams' soundtrack.

The band and all those aliens in the Mos Eisley space port.

The menace of Darth Vader, one of cinema's all-time great villains. One of the imperial guys is skeptical of the Force and says to him "Don't try to frighten us with your sorcerer's ways, Lord Vader. Your sad devotion to that ancient religion has not helped you conjure up the stolen data tapes or given you clairvoyance enough to find the Rebel's hidden fort..." Vader responds "I find your lack of faith disturbing," and begins choking him from a distance. And how about James Earl Jones for the voice? Perfect.

That epic moment between Darth and Obi-Wan, with this line: "You can't win, Darth. If you strike me down I will become more powerful than you could possibly imagine." How all of this would tie into the sequels and prequels was also just brilliant.

Favorite bit of humor: C-3PO misinterpreting the cries of joy from the garbage compactor and saying "Listen to them! They're dying, R2! Curse my metal body! I wasn't fast enough!"

The second half of the film, starting with the bickering between Princess Leia and Han Solo during the rescue and from then on, gets to be a little cartoony and glossy for my taste, and to be honest I didn't think much of Hamill or Fisher's acting throughout the film ... but I feel as though I'm nitpicking, when I could have listed a lot more highlights that I almost take for granted now (the sand people, the whole concept of the Force, the character of Chewbacca, the amazing effects, Obi-Wan bamboozling the guards, the gravitas Alec Guiness and Peter Cushing bring to their parts, Luke swinging with Leia across that bridge ala true swashbuckling legends from Hollywood past, etc etc). Definitely a landmark film.