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Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Star Wars: A New Hope |
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The Galactic Empire is readying a terrifying new weapon, a moon-sized Death Star capable of destroying planets, when young Princess Leia (Fisher) steals the plans and loads them into a small robot named R2-D2 for transport to the rebel forces in hopes of identifying a way to destroy it. The squat robot and a partner, quirky translator android C-3PO, escape to the desert-like planet of Tatooine, and come into the possession of the farming family of a restless teen named Luke Skywalker (Hamill). The robots and Skywalker link up with old retired Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness), who hires a hotshot free-lance pilot named Han Solo (Ford) to take them to the rebel outpost. They rescue the princess and have many close shaves before reaching the rebel base and preparing to take on the Death Star -- headed by powerful, black-helmeted Darth Vader -- in battle. This 1977 tribute to movie serials and Samurai warriors (Toshiro Mifune was considered for the role of Obi-Wan) was written and directed by George Lucas at the age of 34 on a budget of $11 million. Twentieth Century Fox was so sure it would be a disaster that it made plans to cut out much of the special effects and turn it into a TV special, and almost sold its stake in the film as a tax shelter; instead, the film made more than half a billion dollars on its original worldwide release (singlehandedly pulling the studio back from the brink of bankruptcy), another half a billion in its 1997 USA rerelease, and nearly a billion in video rentals and sales -- and spawned a gigantic franchise. It wears quite well after a quarter century, sporting a rough-and-ready heart and sense of humor (not to mention the humanity of both human characters AND 'droids) that have been almost entirely leeched from some of its later sequels/prequels.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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A great movie a head of its time!
--Kyle, Resident Scholar
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Luke Skywalker, a naive farmboy, becomes involved in the desperate rebellion against the evil Galactic Empire, and discovers that he has Jedi powers. A classic of modern film with boundless energy and a simple, powerful appeal.
--Artemis, Resident Scholar
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A young farmboy named Luke Skywalker is pulled into the events of the Galactic Civil War after dicovering a message from a distressed princess.
--Steph Swanger, Resident Scholar
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Luke Skywalker joins forces with Obi Wan Kenobi to fight the dreaded Death Star. ALong the way he hooks up with Han Solo, Princess Leia, and to robots; c3po and r2d2.
--kaity loder, Resident Scholar
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The Rebel Alliance tries to destroy the Empire's evil Death Star, and succeeds. Luke Skywalker, a moisture farmer on Tatooine, losese his mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and helps destroy the Death Star. Princess Leia and Han Solo are supporting characters.
--Samuel Anandan, Resident Scholar
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“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away,” there lived this princess....well, you get the drift. But “Star Wars” is no ordinary fairy tale--it's no ordinary tale at all. Written and directed by George Lucas, this movie certainly made history, launching perhaps the largest cinematic project ever--Lucas has set his own eyes on the stars, as the magnitude of his series is mind-boggling and spell-binding! As the movie opens, Princess Leia (Carrie
Fisher) is a hostage to the evil Empire, yet she has managed to send out a message for help, and this message falls into the hands of young Luke Skywalker. Luke ( Mark Hamill),combined with other circumstances, undertakes this mission to rescue her and to work toward the overthrow of the Empire (lead by Darth Vader, among others). With mentor
Obi Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and two droids R2-D2 and C-3PO, Luke takes off in one of the most spectacular sci-fi episodes extant!
--Bill Hobbs, Resident Scholar
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Luke Skywalker (Hamill) must rescue Princess Leia (Fisher) from evil Darth Vader (David Prowse w/ voice of James Earl Jones) with help from Han Solo (Ford), and learning from Obi Won Kenobi (Sir Alec Guiness) the ways of the force. An ominous space station called the Death Star is capable of destroying whole planets and the Princess has stolen secret plans that will destroy it before it is too late. May The Force Be With You!
--Alan, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Star Wars Movies |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 36.7%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 43.3%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 20%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
he'll/she'll become:
- great warrior
Mental/Magical powers focus
Yes
kind of powers:
- clash between people with mental powers
Robots & Computers & VR
Yes
Plotlet:
- helpful robots doing good
Invasion from human defender POV?
- overt invasion (very visible of monsters/aliens)
War and Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- mental battles
- sword fights
- spaceship battles
- laser battles
Part of a series?
- Star Wars
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- farmer
Age:
- a teen
Has special powers?
Yes
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Body type
- average (man)
Events of movie makes character more...
- tougher
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- telekinesis
- mind control
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human freighter/transport
- really, really giant spaceship/station
- one or two man fighter/scoutship
- futuristic human warship
- a space station
A substantial portion of this movie takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- inhabited by friendly aliens
- unfriendly aliens
- neutral aliens
- empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside our solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Desert?
Yes
In Space?
- asteroid
Misc settings
- bar/restaurant
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Kinds of F/X
- exploding bombs
- exploding spaceships
- exotic spaceships
- exotic aliens
- exotic big cities
- exotic alien landscape
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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