‘Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope’ is pretty good
From Disney+ and Lucasfilm Ltd.
Hello! I hope, whoever and wherever you are, you’re having a most beautiful day and that you’re staying sane inside amidst the chaos of COVID-19. For those who are still working, I hope you are safe and well. I can only imagine how world-changing the opening shot of A New Hope must have been for cinemagoers when it first came out. Panning down to the planet, soon revealing one ship being shot at by a comparatively mammoth one. How awestriking that must have been! Granted, even if it’s not the best film in the franchise, I would argue this is the most iconic one – purely for the mark it made on the world. As a launching point for the franchise, this film has so much going right. Yet as a continuation, it’s still pretty good, but there’s a lot about this story that’s more fascinating than anything else.
There are plot holes in the Prequel Trilogy. This was never going to be avoided entirely, as they weren’t all written out at once – and even then, some will slip through. I’ve discussed those plot holes in my reviews of Episodes I through III (which you should check out if you haven’t already!). There, they’re something one must simply set aside to enjoy the films. Here, it’s an entirely different beast; it’s almost an activity in itself seeing the aftermath of the Prequels play out here. With vague references to events or characters not recognising one another the way they perhaps would if the movies had been written altogether… Obi-Wan, you’re seriously going to tell me you don’t recognise R2-D2? C3PO? The biggest hole, though, ended up being why R2 didn’t tell anyone anything about the Prequels – especially 3PO. In all, it added an additional layer of entertainment to my viewing experience.
Obi-Wan gives Luke Anakin’s lightsaber. Taken from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lucasfilm Ltd, cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
Also, before I go on, stun settings are apparently a thing. I think Leia when she’s first captured by the iconic Stormtroopers, is the only case of anyone using a stun setting on anyone. Lucky for Leia, the one instance in all the movies happens to be her! But yeah, I completely forgot that ever happened – I suspect George Lucas did, too.
The action is definitely more oriented to space battles – the first thing that comes to mind is easily the climax, in which Luke and co. take on the Death Star. This is easily one of the best action sequences in all the films, leaving you on the edge of your seat, breath held firm. Not only does it serve as a thrilling action sequence, but it also explores multiple characters, giving them fantastic character development as they make defining actions. Han Solo, played fabulously by Harrison Ford comes to mind, revealing he has it in him to become a hero, after all. Though the other action sequences don’t quite compare – especially the fight between Darth Vader and Obi-Wan, though I see that more as a story moment than a proper battle. Truth be told, the incredible fight choreography in the Prequels is one thing I will say is leagues ahead in quality, especially if their ‘duel’ is anything to go by. Yet far more of the battle sequences take place in space, so it’s not as much of a big deal as it could have otherwise been.
Episode III did it better, though I would be lying if Obi-Wan’s final move wasn’t awesome. Taken from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lucasfilm Ltd, cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
Speaking of the characters; I think it’s pretty well-established by this point that A New Hope is more or less a space western (and yes, it is a western film) adaptation of Joseph Campbell’s work, especially that of The Hero with a Thousand Faces published in 1949. The main characters are as archetypal as you can get: the Hero is young Luke Skywalker, son of Anakin Skywalker and played by a then very young Mark Hamill. The Mentor is Obi-Wan, now far older and instead played by Alec Guinness (and for someone who so vocally hated the Star Wars movies, he did a pretty good job). Han Solo, beginning as the roguish anti-hero, is the Ally. R2-D2, played by Kenny Baker, is the Herald, kicking the story along with his message to Obi-Wan – all to name a few. And they may be well-established character types, but I’ll give it to Lucas: very rarely have they been done better than in Episode IV. The characters are icons, easily identifiable and even easier to like. Even Darth Vader, voiced by James Earl Jones and played by David Prowse is a character we can’t help but like just a little bit (though I would be lying if I said I wouldn’t mind a version with Prowse voicing Vader – I highly recommend watching this video for a good laugh). Best of all the characters, I think many would agree is Princess Leia Organa, another contender for the best heroine in the Star Wars films. There may only be two female characters in this film, so there’s not much of a competition, but Leia stands on her own tier. There’s undoubtedly much of her mother’s spirit in her, which is never a bad thing! (Also, quick shout out to the Millennium Falcon, the best ship in the saga.)
About Luke, quickly, I will say that it’s quite easy to pick a favourite character, mainly because poor Luke, while excellent in the final act, is tremendously whiny in this film. We can choose our favourites more easily because we know it won’t be him, not by A New Hope standards, anyway.
Did George give Hayden Christenson a copy of A New Hope in Attack of the Clones and say, “Act like that, but ragier and creepier!”? We’ll never know. Taken from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lucasfilm Ltd, cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
The story is also basically a rendition of Joseph Campbell’s work. Luke is the hero, and the journey is his – even as other characters are on the stage. The plot has him in his everyday life suddenly being thrust into a far larger world, one where he might not come home again at the film’s end, but does carry the story through its three main acts: the leaving home, the loss of his mentor as Obi-Wan becomes more powerful than Vader could have possibly imagined (a skill he learned through his communications with Qui-Gon, though his mentor isn’t mentioned in this Trilogy), and the dogfight on the Death Star. A well-known story (in that most follow it to some degree) but done incredibly well.
But what is a Star Wars film without George Lucas’ infamous dialogue? I will concede that his work is probably the best here in Episode IV, but there’s a lot of clunkier expository dialogue to be found. Still, clunky it may be, but I would be mad if I didn’t also concede that this movie has quite the treasure trove of iconic lines, my favourite being, “Only Imperial Stormtroopers are so precise.”
All of this aside, there is one element that elevates all the Star Wars films like no other. It’s not the plot or the characters or even the dialogue, Gods forbid. John Williams, my friends. Revenge of the Sith is still my favourite of the four, but the Force Theme is well in my top five songs. My good golly gosh, do I love the Force Theme, as Luke is standing on a small dune looking to two suns dramatically – it may just be my second favourite scene in the film for the music alone, that’s how good it is. John Williams, thank you yet again.
A scene with music to bring one to tears. Taken from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lucasfilm Ltd, cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
But wait, I hear you ask! There’s something you’re forgetting, you say! And you’re absolutely right! …
What about Chewbacca? Where’s his medal?
Any problems this film has pales in comparison to the utter lack of Chewie’s medal. And that’s a fact.
#ChewbaccaDeservedBetter. Taken from Star Wars: A New Hope by Lucasfilm Ltd, cinematography by Gilbert Taylor
So… yeah. A New Hope is legendary in so many ways. It’s not a perfect film, and there are certainly elements that are more clunky than anything, but it’s pretty good – this is a film you can throw on, sit back, and escape for two hours. It’s light-hearted fun with an exciting end; how can I dislike that?
Now for its place in the ranks…
1. Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
2. Episode I: The Phantom Menace
3. Episode IV: A New Hope
3. Episode II: Attack of the Clones
So there we go! I genuinely enjoyed this film, but what about you? Did you enjoy it? Hate it? Somewhere in between? Let me know in the comments!
But that’s all from me today. I post (temporarily) on Tuesdays and Fridays! All the same, thank you for reading, and I hope you have a most beautiful day!
— Charis.
