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With Star Wars: The Last Jedi being released soon to theaters worldwide, we here at Geek Motivation decided to review all previous films and to begin here is my review of the one that started it all, Star Wars: A New Hope.
Right away after the opening title crawl, the film starts off with an action packed opening sequence. Quickly are introduced to the rebellion troops and stormtroopers in a shootout. Which a point to observe from this opening sequence possibly shows the stormtroopers at their most accurate shooting of the whole Star Wars franchise. Shortly after we get our first glimpse of the main antagonist Darth Vader attempting to get information where the Death Star plans were transmitted to. As well see one of our favorite heroes in Princess Leia (portrayed by the late great Carrier Fisher) who sends R2-D2 and C-3PO to the planet of Tatooine in search of Obi-Wan Kenobi.
The movie then goes into a more in-depth plot set up when we are introduced to the main protagonist Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill) and his Uncle Owen. They purchase the droids and upon taking them home, Luke see’s a partial message from Leia to Obi-Wan. Luke seeks out to find Obi-Wan who he expects is a relative of the Ben Kenobi he knows but soon finds out they are the same. We get our first information regarding “The Force” between Obi-Wan and Luke when theydiscuss about Luke’s father. The Force is also mentioned during a meeting the empire has with Vader, Grand Moff Tarkin, and other leaders. Most still believe The Force to still be an old wise tale of an ancient radical religion. Vader quickly shuts down the doubter’s opinion by force chocking him to the point of almost death before Tarkin requests he release him.
The Empire shows its brutality side with viewers seeing that a torture technique device is going to be used on Leia to get information from her and then on Tatooine when Luke finds out his uncle and aunt have been burnt to death by the empire. This leads to Luke accepting to help Obi-Wan Kenobi in going with him on his mission to Alderaan and learn the ways of the force.
To get to Alderaan Obi-Wan and Luke meet up with smugglers Han Solo (played by Harrison Ford) and a Wookie named Chewbacca. Upon agreeing to their terms, the group must quickly escape after Han (who did shoot first) notices stormtroopers are near and they make their escape from the Empire out of Tatooine to Alderaan in Han Solo’s Millennium Falcon.
Upon the Death Star, Tarkin and Vader attempt to get the rebellions location from Leia by threatening to destroy her home planet of Alderaan. Leia gives up the location of the rebellion base but Tarkin still has the planet destroyed to show the power of the Death Star. After the destruction of the planet, the Millennial Falcon appears with crew confused where the planet is and looks into the distance at what they think is a moon, but that is no moon. They are trapped by the Death Star’s tractor beam and is forced to land on the Death Star.
The movie has great pacing as we go from one high stakes scene to the next with the crew hiding and coming up with a plan to deactivate the tractor beam and escape. Upon them sneaking into control center of the death star they learn that Leia is there who is awaiting her execution and come up with a plan to rescue her while Obi-Wan goes to turn off the tractor beam. We get a great part of quippy dialogue between Han and Leia jawing at each other like an grumpy old couple. After Obi-Wan is able to shut down the tractor beam, he encounters Darth Vader and we are given our very first Lightsaber fight between the two. The remaining group are able to get back on the Millennial Falcon. Once Obi-Wan sees them safe on the ship, he sacrifices himself to Darth Vader to allow them to escape from the Death Star.
The final act starts with them arriving on the rebels hidden base on Yavin IV where they meet up with the rebels and develop a plan to take out the Death Star with the new information they received of the Death Star plans from R2-D2. With his part of the deal complete Han and Chewbacca decide to take their reward and leave, even after Luke attempting to convince him to stay and help fight. Luke joins the rebellion squadron to help take down the death star. In an exciting sequence of outer space battle between the rebellions and the empire, all hope seems lost with the rebellion numbers dwindling and Vader closing in on Luke’s ship. Then in an act of redemption Han Solo returns to knock Vader off and go into space, this allows Luke time to take out the Death Star by using The Force.
Star Wars: A New Hope is a top-notch film for any type of audience as an Sci-Fi Action Adventure. The film was a major success when released in 1977 totaling world wide $775 million and earning a Best Picture nomination and nine Academy Award Nominations, winning seven of their ten nominations. Without A New Hope being a success, the Star Wars franchise would possibly not exist. I give this film a sold 9/10 and personally one of my all time favorite movies that can re-watch any day or time.
Written by: Devin Roberts
What was your reaction to viewing A New Hope for the first time? Let us know in the comment section below and make sure to look out for the reviews on the remaining Star Wars films and other related content by following Geek Motivation (@GEEKMOTIVATION) and myself (@therealdevin17) on Twitter!
