It may seem like I’m late to the Star Wars party. Well, yes and no. These reviews were actually started (and almost completed) the end of last year when I showed my wife the Star Wars original trilogy and prequel trilogy for the first time (as she is not from this country).
Since we were in a hurry to watch them all prior to the release of Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens it ended up on the back-burner.
Since today, May 25, 2016 is the 39th anniversary of the original release, I figure it’s better late than never or as Han Solo said…
As I wrote this originally..
The original Star Wars movie, later retitled “Star Wars: A New Hope” was released on May 25, 1977. I was around 5 ½ years old when I saw it in theaters. My parents, worried how a young kid would react, went and saw it beforehand to make sure I could handle it.
It passed whatever test they put it up against and I was allowed to watch it.
I loved it.
I remember being mesmerized by it.
I loved Han Solo. I wanted to be a space cowboy just like him.
Being 5 ½, a lot of what it was about went over my head. It would take many years and multiple viewings to full grasp what it was about. In fact, I still think I’m learning about it.
Since then, the following five films have been released, with the original being restated:
- “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (May 25, 1977)
- “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (June 20, 1980)
- “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (May 25, 1983)
- “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (May 19, 1999)
- “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” (May 16, 2002)
- “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” (May 19, 2005)
- “Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens” (December 18, 2015)
- “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story” (est. 2016)
- “Star Wars: Episode VIII” (est. 2017)
- “Star Wars: Episode IX” (est. 2019)
- http://www.denofgeek.us/movies/star-wars/241723/full-star-wars-movie-release-calendar
Much debate has ensued about the two trilogies, which set is the best, the role of CGI, over-commercialization, “selling” out, whether Disney buying the rights from George Lucas was a good thing, and much more.
In fact, in just 10 days, on 18 December, 2015, the latest edition “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be unleashed on theaters throughout the whole galaxy (or so it would seem).
My wife is from Brazil and was born after the first trilogy was released and hasn’t been privileged to watch them. I knew she would watch the newest version with me, but I didn’t want her to go in blind. So, we’ve been watching the films in the order of their release date so that when we go see “The Force Awakens” she’ll be caught up.
For a few years, I’ve wanted to go back and watch movies that I first watched when I was a young kid and see how they’ve held up over time. When you’re young and innocent, everything holds a lot of mystery: special effects, voice-overs, lighting, trick photography, and even what you’ve experienced in your life.
Would the films I enjoyed and loved as a kid be disappointments? Would they hold up?
That is my task.
Without further adieu, I give Star Wars: A New Hope.
Age/year when first watched: 5/1977
Age/year most recent viewing: 44/Dec. 2015
What I remember from back then:
- Light sabers were cool. How could I get one?
- Han Solo was even cooler. I wanted to be like him.
- The creatures were odd, bizarre, and intriguing.
- The Millennium Falcon was awesome. If I could get one of these with a light saber, my life would be set.
- Could never figure out if the Storm Troopers were robots/droids or guys in armor. The confusion came from them dying when being blasted, but the blasts appearing to “fry” them as though they were droids, as opposed to “killing” them as though they were soldiers.
How it held up:
I’d seen Star Wars now and then over the years. If I was ever flipping through channels and came across it, I could immediately get lost in it.
I think I’ve always under-estimated R2D2. He’s not just a robot or a droid, but he’s a droid’s droid. Very sure of himself, very confident. No fear!
Could he be the original “hacker”? Hacking into the Death Star main computer to open the garbage chute to set them free.
Favorite quotes:
Han: “Do you think a princess and a guy like me could…”
Luke: “No.”
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&ved=0ahUKEwjun–ovvHMAhVNT1IKHUT6DQQQjRwIBw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.tumblr.com%2Fiphone%2Fsearch%2F*swgif&bvm=bv.122676328,d.aXo&psig=AFQjCNGXRE1TP8kBZpk9LnXjIjh1ZfOpew&ust=1464137210280190
This is a phrase that some friends and I have used over the years when inquiring of friends whether we think we were suitable for a particular girl.
Luke: “I got him. I got him.”
Han: “Don’t get cocky!”
Love it because Han has to be number one, and the fact that Luke is getting cocky kind of steals Han’s thunder.
Favorite scenes:
The sound the Tusken Raiders make, which could be compared to a seal barking.
Cantina scene when Greedo gets shot after Han shoots first.
Things I still don’t have resolved:
I’m still unsure why the X-wing fighters had to travel so far in the “canyons” within the Death Star to reach the exhaust port to launch the proton torpedoes. They travelled so far, with many of the Red team perishing, and then suddenly at the end here comes Han Solo to help save Luke’s hide.
Why does Leia think Luke is too short to be a Storm Trooper? Can’t Storm Troopers be short? Did Luke alter the uniform of the trooper he stole to make it fit his smaller frame? If so, how hard is it to do that?