Believe it or not, I had not seen Star Wars (1977) [or Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977)], until a few months ago, in between Christmas and New Year’s. I knew I had been wanting to see it for a while now, given how lasting the entire storyline and often-referenced characters, quotes, and scenes have been.
To state the obvious, the entire series and brand have turned into an enormous industry with a fiercely loyal following.
But I was pleasantly surprised while watching it, even with a critical eye, to see how the film, itself, was truly an underdog, not in terms of the storyline, though, which, of course, is good versus evil and underdog versus the the big bad, Vader.
Instead, what I liked most about Star Wars was the sense that George Lucas and the now-famous cast of Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, among others, did not have an inkling that the movie and series would turn into what it has. They were having fun with it, winging it a bit, and hoping for the best. This stands in stark contrast to the shallow, over-budget and too-cocky Hollywood “blockbusters” we see too often these days.
The movie itself is an underdog which won the Super Bowl many times over. And I can identify with that on many levels, given my own life and experiences.
For that reason, and a few others, it will always be a special one for me.
Luke Skywalker joins forces with a Jedi Knight, a cocky pilot, a wookiee and two droids to save the universe from the Empire’s world-destroying battle-station, while also attempting to rescue Princess Leia from the evil Darth Vader.
🙂
😉
Hehe not surprising she beat me to the first post.
What you describe is even more evident when you watch the ‘original’ 3 and the ‘new’ 3.
Will check it out, Bernie. Thanks!
Bernie you are so right. That is why the next planned trilogy is really bothering the fans of the first trilogy.
Chess, I can’t believe you didn’t see this up until now….You’ll like the 2nd one (Empire) as well – the last not so much.
Cheers
Agreed. Sir Chess nails it again. Star Wars was fucking cool precisely that way. Empire Strikes Back also had the go for it attitude. Then Jedi whatever came and imploded the whole thing. Fantasy movies are always one step into a dork vortex. Are they really worth the time? Stars Wars was.
Thanks, iron
Star Wars was and is a movie that is just incredibly fun to watch, there are many great scenes. Hard to believe you hadn’t seen it before.
That said, my favorite is the next one, The Empire Strikes Back.