Cinemanic Reviews

Star Wars

I don’t have very much memory of myself at the age of seven. I’ve been reminded of school experiences from when I was that young, very few of which I remember. What I do remember is loving Star Wars when I initially viewed it at that age, and then moving on to glorify the film and its sequels as if it were a religion. You could say I praised it just as very many absurd cult fanatics praise films such as The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Within these past twenty-four hours, I re-experienced Star Wars for the first time in about three, if not four years. I certainly do not worship it as I did when I was half my current age, but my mind is still blown by how well-made this massive production is. Please enjoy my review.

Bottom Line: High quality source of inventive, brilliant science fiction entertainment.

“I find your lack of faith disturbing.” –David Prowse and the voice of James Earl Jones as Darth Vader

Directed by: George Lucas
Starring: Alec Guiness, Anthony Daniels, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones, Kenny Baker, Mark Hamill, Peter Cushing, Peter Mayhew

When looking upon a tale as brilliantly and elaborately crafted as STAR WARS, it’s almost inconceivable how small a seed the story was when it first began. I’ve heard from various diehard fans of the franchise that the story came to writer-director George Lucas in a “dream”. Don’t ask me whether the term is intended to denote that this was a vague story he was envisioning overnight, or that it was a “what if?” that occurred to him at the most unexpected moment, because it does not matter. What truly does matter is that Lucas’s dedication and preoccupation with the premise evolved into one of the most intoxicating, unforgettable tales ever presented on film. The epic introduces Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), an adolescent who has been living with his aunt and uncle for as long as he can remember. He has little knowledge of his mother and father, and is brought up with the decency to not mention them in conversation. Luke meets Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness), a man who is known a hermit named Ben, but apparently fought in the Clone Wars and trained Luke’s father to adapt to the powers of a universal bond know as “the Force”, and thus become a “Jedi”, a warrior who uses the Force for purposes that promote justice rather than darkness. When Luke’s two guardians are murdered by Sandpeople, he comes to a conclusion that he must follow in his father’s footsteps. While being trained by Obi-Wan to manipulate the Force, he pursues a journey to save a beautiful young woman known as Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the evil Darth Vader (portrayed by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), as well as the entire galaxy from a highly destructive, moon-shaped weapon called the Death Star.

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