Amazing at the time, but dated - just a sci-fi western

Rating: 6/10 (15 February 2001)

When you get over the nostalgia (difficult, I know) and take a hard look at the facts - this movie displays: bad acting (with very few exceptions, namely Sir Alec Guinness), very mediocre directing, dated special effects, basic plot line (good against evil, final showdown, etc.), and very few redeeming qualities - perhaps the excellent score by John Williams.
If this movie was released today, it wouldn't get a fraction of the attention and income it did in 1977. This is true for a lot of movies, of course, but it helps to put things in perspective.
All this is not meant to take anything from the importance of Star Wars and its huge effect on the movie industry. However, it just doesn't stand the test of time.