Is it worth the watch? "Star Wars: A New Hope"

1983. You’re telling me they had to wait three years after the cliffhanger in “The Empire Strikes Back”, before the resolution in “Return of the Jedi”. Also, I must confess I totally missed “A New Hope” which is on the movie list. I thought “A New Hope” was the one with Adam Driver. Plot twist. It is not. So, we’re going back and watching the first “Star Wars” movie. So, I guess we may also be waiting for a moment for the resolution in “Return of the Jedi”. Just trying to give you all an immersive experience with this watch list. As you should know, spoilers ahead.

“Star Wars: A New Hope” dropped in 1977. What a closer to the 70’s. We open with the Leia being captured by Darth Vader, and essentially outed as a rebel. While Leia deals with politics that will affect the entire galaxy, Luke is a simple farm boy living with his aunt and uncle on Tatooine. (I love that this movie is so big that if I spell Tatooine wrong it autocorrects.) Let’s talk about the Empire real quick. Darth Vader did not come to play. The breathing. The all-black fit. The cape. 10/10. An unforgettable villain from the beginning. I love the real explosion tied in with the fake laser guns. So raw. Truly magical. Vader is pretty chatty throughout the entire film. A little shocking compared to his more reserved nature in the sequel. Moving on. 

Why does C-3PO have a transatlantic accent? In almost contrast to the technology in “The Empire Strikes Back”, the technology in this film really is its own character. It makes sense. They are introducing the audience to an entire galaxy of people, politics, technology, and more. I think this movie sets up the other films, but I understand why people think the Star Wars franchise can be boring. It’s a lot of information to understand. The fact that they randomly ended up on the one planet that was housing Luke Skywalker is wild to me. Dues ex machina?  Do you think it was the Force? It’s the first film, but they did not hesitate to start with a complex storyline. 

Talking more about the technology. Do droids have rights? Are they their own kind of class of for lack of better terms people? It takes about 30 minutes to dive into the Luke/Leia/Solo plot. For that reason, it reinforces why some people don’t just love Star Wars off the bat to me. The opening plot is driven by the droids that we know nothing about. It seems the creative team behind the camera is trying to create sympathy for metals. It’s not bad, but I found it hard to care deeply about the outcome of C-3PO and R2D2 at the beginning of the series. At one point, C-3PO says, “Thank the maker”. Who is the Maker? I like the mystery that is naturally riddled throughout the first film. So many questions that can not be answered quite yet. Naturally insinuating, we have barely just begun. The CGI used for the creatures dare I say still stands. If anything, I think the Storm Trooper's costumes look like they’re costumes. You know what I mean? They look like they picked them up at Party Galaxy on the way to the mission. 

We meet Luke Skywalker 20 minutes into the movie. We immediately hear the theme of the rebel forces. Beautiful foreshadowing. Comment on the costume department. Why does Aunt Peru’s clothes look like she got them from Loft? I can definitely tell a budgetary difference between the first and second films. Natural sure, but very noticeable. Ok. So, this is a coming-of-age story. Let’s talk about Luke and Tatooine. Beautiful sets. Absolutely stunning. The purple sky with the two suns. I love the little car that Luke drives. You really are just thrown into the plot. After about ten minutes of looking for R2D2, Luke is caught by the sand people. Luke and Leia really are twins. So easy to capture. This is when Obi-Wan/Ben enters the chat. He’s so slay. Literally. He effortlessly uses the Force to save this random kid, then a whole motion is given to him via Facetime voicemail. Valid crashout for Obi-Wan. What are the Clone Wars? What do you mean he just hands Luke his dad’s lightsaber? There was an old republic? Wow, not Ben talking about Anakin/Vader as if they are two separate people when they are more like Jekyll and Hyde. This movie has so many layers, and I am nothing but impressed.

Question time. Is R2D2 the real hope? If that message was lost, where would everyone be? Doomed? So can anyone be a Jedi Knight? The emperor dissolved the Senate?! The governors are ruling with fear?! Is this just Rome? Oh, so Darth Vader is a Lord. I love the feudal societal terms that are used throughout the film. Something akin to what we have in the present day. I appreciate that Vader even though he is a traitor is very dedicated to the force. Another twin moment for Luke and Leia, he gets to see his home DECIMATED by the Empire. We quickly shift back to being on the Death Star. Where It seems a little beneath Vader to be doing his own torture. Also, not him torturing his daughter. Wouldn’t he know she was his daughter? Like he knew Luke was his son? The force and all? Continuity error. Back on Tatooine, the town is the first place where I thought the CGI did not hold up. It looks a little bit like a video game. Luke has great teeth considering they live somewhere with no dental coverage. Oh, not the droidphobia in the bar. The makeup and costumes instead of CGI for the animals and characters in the bar… ICONIC. Is it the most believable? No. Is it Hollywood magic? Yes. It is so genuine. We meet Han Solo about 45 minutes in. 

LOVE that Han Solo is hustling them. Ben hustling him harder though is a slay. So, Solo is being hunted by the bounty hunters because he’s in debt. I fear this information would have been helpful when I was watching the second movie. This movie seems like a theater kid’s dream. You’re in insane costumes speaking in various dialects, and the hair and makeup team is more than ready to give everyone something fun to wear. Not to mention - The capes. Is this the first time we see that bounty hunter? I want to know what kind of hairspray Chewbacca is wearing. Wait. Obi-Wan was a phantom in the second movie. Dang. Back on the Death Star, Leia seems pretty chill for just being tortured. Wow. They just nuked her planet. Insane. Not Obi-Wan feeling the planet explode. It must have been wild seeing Luke training after he trained his father. So, is Solo an atheist? The group conversations in this movie are spectacular. Wow, Solo’s ship looks teensy compared to the Death Star. How did they build that thing? I’m realizing that this movie for me is filled to the brim with questions.  

Vader sensing Obi-Wan. Am I going to have to watch the later-released prequel series? Obi-Wan Kenobi is played by Ewan McGregor! Oh, no. I am going to have to watch it. Let’s focus on the movie at hand. I love that Han Solo just leans against Chewie. Love them. Solo and Luke fighting the whole time is grand. Solo, you have no idea what saving this woman is going to do to you. The empire is committed to having everything in shades of grey, black, or white. I respect the commitment to fashion. Love the scene with Chewie being the bate. Solo on the intercom. LOL. “How are you?” I’m screaming - that may be the funniest moment of the movie. All the while, Leia is serving! It must be so sad for Vader. To be the one convinced to destroy the Jedi while also being the supposed lone survivor. Hopefully, after watching the prequel series, there will be some clarity on this subject. 

“Either I’m going to kill her or I’m beginning to like her,” Solo said to Luke almost yelling. Iconic. The best love stories honestly. How is there a snake in the ship? Don’t they have Storm Troopers on animal control? This water trash scene is so weird. NOT IT BEING A TRASH COMPACTOR. This might be my worst nightmare. I can not believe C-3PO convinced the Troopers to go somewhere else. WOW. The Storm Troopers do not have critical thinking skills. Who is helping Leia? SOLO. Luke was focused on saving everyone. Solo couldn’t help but focus on helping her. Maybe I’m overreaching there. My review. I don’t care. 

I totally forgot about Obi-Wan. He is just chilling slowly destroying the Death Star. Luke is awfully bad with a gun. Are laser guns like average guns? Do they have rounds or is unlimited energy? FACE OFF TIME! Vader says “You should not have come back” to Obi-Wan. He even though it is a small part is still just a man. A very very broken man. WHY DID BEN LET HIMSELF DIE LIKE THAT? Where did his body go? Luke seems to be grieving Ben way more than he grieved the aunt and uncle who raised him. The fight scene with the fighter jets might be my least favorite scene. It is just not doing for me what the other fight scenes have. I do love the swivel chairs though. Where can I get one of those? You know when I take a step back. These are just kids. 

This movie has humor that is mostly due to the delivery of it. Love. Rare in movies today. Wait. Did Leia just make Vader prey instead of the predator? Of course, she knew he would put a tracking device on the ship. Slay. #Womeningovernment. So the rebels believe in the force? Ok. The rebels are spiritual while the empire is not. Interesting. Is this movie, a comment on belief and how religion shapes the world around us? When Solo resigned and said with sincerity “May the force be with you,” it tugged at my heartstrings. He cares for Luke. Did they not know what Leia should say so they just have her handing out kisses? Ok? 

We’re back in the fighter jets for one of the last scenes, and I am less than enthused. Luke is not stressing at all about hearing Ben’s voice even though he saw him die. Luke heard about the Force and immediately bought in. No way Vader would go out there in his own ship. I know he has a control issue, but this seems a little crazy. I guess he is insane though. I am not loving that the last scenes are multiple shots in multiple different ships. Luke hears his friend die. Good night. This has a lot of death. Very little reactions to it though, except when Obi-Wan felt the planet being destroyed. He seemed to have some genuine concern. Love the way Solo entered the fight. I can not believe they blew up the Death Star. Oh, Vader has to have whiplash after that spin. Everyone seems pretty happy after all the deaths they have recently experienced. We quickly end the movie with Luke and Solo being rewarded for what they did with medals. Closing outfit slayed. Not them both walking toward Leia. That wink from Solo to Leia was crazy. What an ending to the first movie. Like this review, the movie quickly jumped from scene to scene an air of keep up or watch it again later. If I hadn’t already seen the second film, I do not know if I would be as inclined as I am to keep watching. I guess we’ll never know. With one more film in this trilogy, I am keen to find out how they are going to wrap this all up.

Photo from Wookieepedia - Fandom