Star Wars (1977) - The one where it all began!

*PLEASE NOTE - THIS REVIEW IS BASED ON THE 1977 THEATRICAL CUT OF STAR WARS

The 1970s laid the ground work for some incredible moments in film history. Projects like Godfather, Jaws and Superman had audiences flocking out, and critics praised them across the board. But the film that grabbed the imagination of both was a simple space fantasy called Star Wars. Audiences couldn't get enough, and neither could the critics. With 7 Oscar wins under it's belt, Star Wars was cemented in pop culture. And while this particular instalment has been meddled with in recent years, the theatrical cut still lingers in the hearts of many.

It's easy to pick on the corny dialogue and stilted acting from the cast, but the one thing that this film has that the other instalments don't, is the ability to drive an audience's imagination wild. The majority of Star Wars film are brilliant adventure films, but without the achievements in this film, audiences wouldn't have bought into George Lucas' world of laser swords, robots and puppet creatures. The design of the world, it's inhabitants and the vehicles and weapons they use feel like a lived in world, and very alien to our own. Ben Burt's incredible sound designs helps add a sense of reality to this alien world. I don't feel like I'm seeing people in costumes in the middle of Tunisia, I genuinely believe I've entered another world. And while the effects for the destruction of planets and space stations are very lacklustre, the rest of the effects were ground breaking, and are still just as astounding to watch. Some of these tricks may seem primitive to modern audiences, but if it doesn't distract from the story, and helps you feel engaged with the world, that's a win in my books.

I will also give credits to the cast that while the majority of lines deliveries leave more to be desired, it's clear that they are embodying their character to a T. Harrison Ford embodies Han Solo from Day 1! Peter Cushing is a superb casting for Tarkin, and Sir Alec Guinness was a casting made in heaven for Obi Wan, who along with Cushing and James Earl Jones gives the best and most consistently well delivered performances. Guinness' performance again helps sell this world to any new audiences, as well as helping any new audiences to truly understand and accept the force as an ability in this series. If I had been introduced to the force via Episodes 1-3, there would be little sense of magic from the force, it's just there. Whereas with this film, the force has weight and a sense of magical wonder. When Alec Guinness talks about it, you truly buy into what he says, and begin to believe you can feel the force flowing around and through you.

The biggest saving grace for this film is the fact that it genuinely feels like a labour of love from one man. While many people were involved and often had a big hand in saving this film, it was George's belief and passion for the project that kept the ball rolling. We can thank his editors for saving us from a sloppy and by the books edit, the team at ILM for achieving ground breaking effects, and of course John Williams for producing yet another iconic sound of music, but without the foundations from George Lucas, this world would never have come to life. Very much like operating a ship, making films requires everyone providing their part to make it a movie to remember, but it's the captain that steers it in the right direction. Despite his persistent changes to this film and the two that proceeded it, Lucas' magic is still here to see, provided you can find the theatrical cut in good nick, or you just ignore the CGI enhancements.

Thanks to George and his team, Star Wars gave movies they needed to truly grab the audience's attention, and send their imaginations wild. Without Star Wars, films, marketing and merchandising could have turned out completely differently. And while I may not agree with every decision he's ever made, I will always appreciate George Lucas for the incredible achievement he pulled off back in 1977.

May the force be with this film... always!

SCORES

Story: 5/5

Characters: 4/5

Production: 3.5/5

Acting: 3.5/5

Music: 5/5

Total: 8.4/10