Review of Star Wars (1977) by Don H — 28 Jul 2018

A review I wrote for the first six Star Wars films.

"A long time ago --- in a galaxy far, far away.".

The screen fades to black for a short moment --- and then...

DA, DA, DA DA DA, DA DA DA DA DA, DA DA DA DA DA plays in the background as the plot written in yellow font scrolls down the movie screen.

As someone who considers himself to be somewhat of a film historian, and someone who has seen and admired the films of directors such as Ozu, Bergman, Hitchcock, Keaton, Chaplin, and others, the opening to each "Star Wars" film remains the best opening I have ever seen at capturing both the audiences attention, and making you instantly aware that what you are about to witness something truly epic. And that is precisely what each "Star Wars" film is (Yes, even the prequels.) --- epic.

I guess I can see why the prequel films are hated as they are; they have less than stellar performances from some of the actors/actresses participating (I.E. Jake Lloyd, and Natalie Portman), and many of the attempts at humor flat-out failed; but I am not one of those "Star Wars" prequel-haters. I think prequel-haters are both misguided, and missing the point. The story told by "Episode I: The Phantom Menace," "Episode II: Attack of the Clones," and the best of the three, "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is important --- it is the origin of the future master of the Dark Side, Anikan Skywalker---A.K.A---Darth Vader.

We see him in childhood as a slave; we see him as a bullheaded young adult; and we see him as violent agent of all that is evil. Anikan is played played by Lloyd in "Episode I," and then by Hayden Christensen in the two preceding films of the prequel trilogy.

When Anikan is a child, he is taken in by a younger Jedi named Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) as Obi Wan's first apprentice as a Jedi. Anikan begins to show signs in "Episode II" that he is vulnerable to the Dark Side. He falls in love with Padme Amidala (Portman), and acts out in rage on multiple occasions --- two things that the Jedi just do not do. Sensing his vulnerability, the evil Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) --- a Sith lord, which is the antithesis of the Jedi, ceases on his young admirer, Anikan to seduce him to the Dark Side of the Force, and Vader is born, and Anikan discarded.

There are several things done well in the prequels:

1. They are just fun to look at; the battle scenes are impressive in both their choreography and scale. And as a major plus in my book, we are able to see younger versions of Obi Wan and Yoda (Frank OZ) in action --- instead of just as a couple of old, wise dudes.

2. The Anikan story told in each of the three films --- particularly in "II," and "III," is both fascinating and compelling. Anikan, according to prophecy, is the one who is expected to destroy the Sith and bring balance back to Force; he instead does the exact opposite; and ushers in a reign of terror on the galaxy. There are scenes in "III" involving Anikan and Palpatine that had me absolutely glued to the screen. In fact, after the pointless General Grievous scenes are over, the entire third installment of the prequel trilogy is a thrill ride with solid writing, and intense acting from McGregor, Christensen, and McDiarmid.

3. They enhance and compliment the original trilogy in many different ways. Most notably, they give us a mental picture of what the galaxy was once like before the Empire took over; and they add to the legends of Yoda, Obi Wan, and Darth Vader. Without the prequels, those characters just are not as impressive. Sorry.

And 4 If you are a true "Star Wars" fan, I would think you would be highly interested in seeing the origins of several of the main characters from the original trilogy. The story told in the prequels is important to me as a fan of the series, and I find myself consumed by intrigue each time I view them.

While I am a fan of the prequels, I will never say that they were better than, or as good as the original trilogy. These three films are as iconic as any films in American-movie history. They are: "Episode IV: A New Hope," "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back," and "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.".

Anikan's son, Luke (Mark Hamill), whom we seen the birth of in "III" is a young adult, and does not yet know that he is the only hope the galaxy has of defeating the Empire of evil Lord Vader, and evil Emperor Palpatine. He also does not yet know that Vader is his father, and a young princess named Leia (Carrie Fisher) is his twin sister. Leia knows as much as Luke.

The iconic characters Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), and an older Obi Wan (Alec Guinness) join Luke and Leia in a well organized rebellion against the oppressive regime of the Empire that ends in Luke becoming and Jedi, doing what his father was unable to do when he was a young Jedi --- turn down the power that comes along with the Dark Side. The scene in which Jedi Luke tosses his light saber to the side, and turns down Palpatine's offer to turn to the Dark Side, is probably my favorite scene in the entire series. I watched it the other day; and it stills sends a tingle down my spine, and makes me shout "Hell yeah!" within the confines of my mind.

What really is there to say about these three films that has not been said already? They're fun, captivating, dark at times, humorous at other times, and altogether, they are simply magical. I have seen three of the films in the theater shortly after they were released, and I envy those who were lucky enough to attend the 1977 film early in its release --- before it became what it is today. What must they have thought as they walked out of the theater? I'm assuming the word 'Special' popped in the minds of many film goers at that time.

As a fiction writer myself, I am always more impressed by stories that create entirely new worlds for its audience to get lost in. "Lord of the Rings" is this best in this category from a writing standpoint in my view, and "Star Wars" is 2nd.

Films such as "Star Wars" serve a great, and much unappreciated purpose in society: They both encourage, and contribute a great deal to creativity and imagination in children an adults alike. That is what it did for me. "Star Wars" is one of the first things in my life that gave me a burning passion for storytelling. And for that, I always be thankful to George Lucas for their existence. And I will always smile when I hear it's unforgettable opening theme.