Star Wars Episode IV

Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope

9 out of 10

Running time: 2:09

MPAA rating: PG (Mild sci-fi violence.)

Peruvian rating: Apta para Todos

Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Peter Cushing, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, voice of James Earl Jones.
Director: George Lucas
Script: George Lucas
Photography: Gilbert Taylor
Score: John Williams
Distributor: Twentieth-Century Fox

Note: This review was written a couple of years ago, and might need a couple of re-writes.

It can be said that, just like a friend once told me, if you haven't seen the original Star Wars (now called Episode IV: A New Hope) you haven't lived. Or you haven't lived enough, in that case. It is a science fiction classic, made when every fantasy and science fiction movie that was made wasn't successful enough or good enough. It's a movie that anyone who has ever gone to the cinema knows, and that knows that is good. But... why is it so good? Why was it so successful? Why are there legions of fans out there rooting for the characters presented in these movies, going to conventions and dressing up in the costumes of their favorite characters?

The plot is simple enough, but that doesn't mean that it's bad. In fact, it works, and in an incredible way. The moment the movie starts we are introduced to the Rebel starship, the Tantive IV, which is under attack by the forces of the Empire. The Imperial ship takes control of the rebel one, and the feared Imperial leader, Lord Darth Vader (voice of James Earl Jones) enters the rebel ship looking for the plans for a battle station. She encounters Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) the princess of Alderaan, but she claims that the doesn't have the plans. As all this happens, two droids, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) escape the Tantive IV carrying the station's plans. As the rebel alliance has these problems with the Empire, the two droids land on the desert planet of Tatooine, in which they encounter a naive farmer called Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and an old man who once was a Jedi, called Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness). Together, they try to travel to Alderaan in the Millennium Falcon, which is piloted by Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and the Wookiee Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), to give the plans to the rebels.

As said before, this is a classic movie and someone who hasn't seen it doesn't really know the world of cinema. It is like a classic fairy tale located in a science fiction world. There's even the typical fairy tale characters: the idealistic protagonist (Luke), the selfish sidekick (Han Solo), the damsel in distress (Princess Leia), the main bad guy (Darth Vader), the two characters who are picked up on the road, and who finally become useful (C-3PO and R2-D2) and the old wise man. (Obi-Wan). All these classic fairy tale characters make the movie really work and have a magical sense and feel.

In acting terms, there is really nothing special in this movie, although each of the actors are adequate in their roles. Mark Hamill is believable as the naive hero of the story, Harrison Ford has a selfish enough attitude to believe his character, Han Solo. Carrie Fisher is rebelish enough in her Princess Leia character and Alec Guinness brings elegance and pride to Obi-Wan. As said before, none of the acting is superb, although the ones that stand out are Luke and Obi-Wan.

In the end, I think that it can be said that this is one of those movies that will always pass the test of time; it will never age. Its special effects may be somehow outdated as well as the hairstyles (all the 70's feel, really) but that doesn't really diminish the quality of the movie. In fact, it makes it better an more interesting as a piece of our cinematic history. It is a very good movie full of adventure, romance and an impressive and tightly paced space battle at the end. In conclusion, it's definitely a movie no one that likes to watch movies should miss.