A Galaxy Far, Far Away That You Need to Visit!
STAR WARS! The title fills the screen in bright yellow font, accompanied by John Williams’ beautifully composed score as it blasts your eardrums! From here on out you are sent through a world where imagination roams far and wide. You’re no longer on earth, you’re travelling at light-speed on an intergalactic space adventure through the mind of George Lucas.
Star Wars is George Lucas’ directorial crowning achievement, a fantasy space opera masterpiece which took the world by storm in 1977 and continues to do so to this day.
His fun, fantasy adventure in a foreign world of interesting characters is like the old TV shows he enjoyed as a child, but evolved into something entirely new. Taking inspiration from classic shows such as Flash Gordon, Lucas creates a world of immaculate creativity in every frame.
If you enjoy any fantasy or science-fiction films like Lord of the Rings, you should love Star Wars. Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and the late Carrie Fisher are perfectly cast, each bringing a sense of charisma and chemistry to their titular characters who live in a galaxy far, far away. Their legacies will live on forever.
After a violent space battle of laser beams between two starships, a princess (Fisher) is captured and the plans to a worlddestroying space station are stolen by a duo of droids resembling a trash can on wheels and a golden robot. They coincidentally deliver the plans to a young farm boy, Luke Skywalker, played by Hamill, who is yearning for purpose in the galaxy.
From here, Luke, along with a Jedi Master named Ben Kenobi, a sly space smuggler named Han Solo, and his hairy, seven-foot ‘wookie’ co-pilot, as well as the two droids, set out on a mission to save the princess and deliver the stolen plans to the Rebellion.
The innovative special effects were ground-breaking in 1977, changing cinema forever, and are still impressive to watch after 40 years. Lucas and his skilled special-effects team at Industrial Light & Magic pushed the limits.
The film’s worn out appearance displayed through set design and costumes create a world that feels truly lived in.
From the incredible special effects and costumes, the scene of young Luke, staring at a binary sunset will remain iconic for eternity.
It captures both the beauty of the film and the ever-present lust for adventure and purpose Luke seeks. Every child should experience this film.
SCORE: 5/5