Galactic Fairy Tale

Rating: 10/10 (12 May 2020)

This is one of my favorite films of all time, sci-fi films and it's my third favorite in the series. It's also the second sci-fi film I've ever seen that got me into the genre. I got into this film franchise when I was about eight, I was a real fan of the cartoon show "He Man and the Masters of the Universe" and I was looking for some movies that were similar to that series and my mom presented this film as she of course saw the film before I was born. Once I and my mom saw this film together, that film changed my life forever.
"Star Wars" isn't just a timeless classic but it's a phenomenon that is still going on to this day. From the expanded universe series (Legends and the recent one to be exact) that we see from the comic books/graphic novels, books, fanfiction (if you want to count it). TV shows like "The Clone Wars", "Rebels", and "The Mandalorian". Video Games like "Knights of the Republic 1 and 2" and "Jedi Fallen Order". The movies afterward like, the presequel trilogy (which I actually like despite not perfect) and recent trilogy episodes 7 though 9 (which I'm not a fan of, though movies 7 and 9 are watchable, 8 doesn't exist in this Jedi temple.). The mythology and legacy this film has created lives on.
There is just so much I love about this movie; you could easily make several long essay or do a long discussion panel about why but I'll just state some of the reasons.
The music in the film is awesome by one of my favorite composers John Williams. This film and the rest afterward have the best series of scores I've ever heard in any movie, there is not one track that isn't memorable, I can tell effort and love were put into each piece. From that theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time; just hearing the very first notes of that score almost blasted me off of my seat literally as they just came as a surprise after the first sentence we see at the beginning. That moment along with the rest of the sequence went to show you instantly blasted off into adventure.
I also really love how philosophical it is, this film was sort of my first introductory into Phylosophy, at the time I watched. I never even know about Philosophy or was ever aware of Joseph Campbell at the time until I took a collage course at PLU. So, in a way the film really taught me about the concept of heroism and the philosophy behind it.
Luke is one of my favorite protagonists, he and the film itself fall into Campbells path of the hero which isn't uncommon but it's the execution that makes it stand out. Luke I and we (or some) can relate or emphasize with him as he's pretty much an ordinary guy who is living a pretty ordinary existence but desires to go out and see what's out there. From the fact he lives in the country, I was born in a small town and lived in a few of them, also my mom lived in the country/small town. It's like with any of us that come to an age or that point in life where we want more, we want that's not just something for heroes but anybody that wants to get out of a small town or venture beyond the states.
I even like one moment when Luke at first is reluctant which is something I can be sometimes. Luke at first is reluctant which is something I can be sometimes. That doesn't mean he's chickening out or in some sense of doubtful, far from it. It's a common feeling because deep inside despite hearing the call, we don't' feel we're 100%ready, mentally, spiritually/physically strong enough, have something that still needs to be finished or learned any of those things. But of course it comes down to the other step where Luke loses his home and family which in a grim sense sets him on the course he needs to go as it reminds him of the evil of the empire that there is no safe place from it, but also sort of a coming of age parable on saying the past is gone it's time to go to the future.
Characters are great, each of them is memorable in their own way. I mainly love the rebel trio Luke, Han and Leia whom to me really are the heart of the film as they all balance each other out, work well together but most importantly actually make a difference. Luke of course is no surprise one of my favorite characters played by one of my favorite actors/voice actors Mark Hamill.
Leia Organa played well by the late Carrie Fisher. Her character was revolutionary for her time because despite the Princess role, she's anything but a damsel in distress, makes sense as this film was from the 70's and strong female characters were starting to sprout up like Jennifer Hart from the TV show "Hart to Hart", the angels from "Charlies Angels" (not a fan of the show for the record but like the theme song), you name it, it was a trend. I always loved strong female characters not just from the fact they can fight back but are actual characters.
Anyway what I like about her is that despite being in the upper class she doesn't let it get to her head, she is fiercely independent, can hold her own against danger, and has a strong determination as she is just a piece that serves a cause bigger than herself, which is the same with Luke and Han whether they all know it or not.
Of course, the other is Han Solo played by another on of my favorite actors Harrison Ford. Han is still my favorite role from him, and Han is another of my favorite fictional protagonists. He was just so cool, from that cowboy like outfit, that ship he drives the Millennium Falcon which is my second favorite ship in the franchise.
It's hilarious how it's always looked at like as junk, it makes sense if you think about it like how we look at an old car. In a way you can say we along with Han see it just as Columbo sees his old clunker car, despite old it still runs real well and has plenty of millage left, though with the Millennium Falcon it goes wicked fast with that light speed function.
Anyway, I love that he's tough and fiercely independent, even like his friend Chewbacca who is sort of the equivalent of a pet dog as he is loyal a good number two and muscle. On a side note thought Chewbacca was a werewolf as he almost looks and acts like one sometimes. He's got a sharp charisma and also has a sort of everyman perspective on everything, it feel like how any of us may react or feel about things like how he doesn't believe in the force, which is understandable everyone is entitled to their belief system.
But one thing I really like that I can emphasize with is he's also a little bit of a reluctant hero himself as he's a person that really doesn't want or even like to do the right thing, whenever it's brought up you can tell he sometimes grits his teeth. Though with him deep down he really does want to even though he has trouble admitting it, and most of the time he does it when driven/motivated to it. But also, does it because no one else will/can also what the heck else is going to do anyway.
I also really like him because all three you can say share one thing in common as that each of them is looking and want more out of life. Han despite all his travels and the money he collects, despite once again not admitting it, that he's unfulfilled there is something missing in his life. He's been going multiple directions throughout his life but never any real destination until now.
The action is great it goes a pace that almost never stops. The lightsaber battle between both Darth and Obi Wan Kenobi was solid, just those sounds those sabers made were just music to my ears. But it was also verbal sparing as both say some of the best lines to one another. That shootout in the detention center, it was so exciting how the firefight started just seeing Luke, Han, Chewbacca shoot up the place, I remember acting in excitement pretending I had a gun and just shot everywhere from those Imperial jerk and anything else shooting at the trio.
One of my favorite shootouts the turret action in the Millennium Falcon, I remember pretending to be sitting in that cockpit, turning in that chair and blasting away at the ongoing Ties. Along with that music from John Williams was just exciting really pumped you full of excitement.
To the final half with the aerial assault on the Death Star with those X-Wings which are one of my favorite star fighter ships. Early like the design of them and how they move, I wanted to fly one.
I remember as a kid on the edge of my seat when that X-Wing action happened I couldn't help but move with them have my hand up pretending I was flying one of them and just blowing away at the Death Star and the Tie Fighters; along with that music once again pumping me up with excitement. And there is that trench run which is one of the most suspenseful moments ever as you are just hoping someone mainly Luke will get though fast enough to blow the Death Star away.
Last this film was one of the films that inspired me in writing, filmmaking, and so many other things. When I saw everything that happened in that film, from the world and universe building it just made me wonder if I could create something just as good or at least really good things in life, and to this day I still create good things. But also it inspired me by making me believe in courage to have the ability to do what is right no matter what and how one person can actually become more than what they are, that they can actually go beyond their own homestead.
"Star Wars" is an adventure beyond your wildest dreams and a universe built and for the dreamers.
Rating: 4 stars