First Things First…
I didn’t grow up on Star Wars, even though I’m old enough to have done so. I saw the original trilogy once when I was very young (in the 80’s) and again when I was in eighth grade (around ’94-’95). Then I didn’t watch them again until around 2015.
I don’t know why they didn’t resonate with me much as a kid, but I’ve grown to love the series as an adult. Now, there are plenty more hardcore fans than me, but one of the things I’m most excited about with Geeksbury is to go through as much Star Wars content as I can, in order, and including the Legends timeline.
There’s a ton out there, of course. So no time like now to get started with the movie that kicked off this phenomenon!
9 Things I Like
9. Trash Compactor
I’m starting with this scene because it’s the only scene I remembered from my first time watching the movie as a kid. The water in the compactor is disgusting, there’s an alien swimming around that wraps itself around Luke’s throat and nearly chokes him to death, and then the walls start closing in. I’ll always love this scene if for no other reason than it made such an impression on me and grossed me out all those years ago.
8. Iconic Score
There’s nothing I can say about this that hasn’t already been said. John Williams’ score is iconic.
Williams has been brilliant throughout his career, and it’s amazing to think this might not be his best work. But even if you prefer the scores for Jaws, Indiana Jones, Jurassic Park, or any of his other classics, this is as instantly recognizable as any music ever put in film.
7. This Galaxy Is Bigger Than the Rebels and Empire
Han isn’t part of the Alliance. He doesn’t even want to help Luke. He’s a smuggler, and it’s only a coincidence that he runs into Luke and Obi-Wan and gets caught up in their fight. He already has his own problems, including his debts to Jabba. In such a huge galaxy, everything doesn’t revolve around the Rebels’ fight against the Empire, and that’s reflected here.
6. Undersized and Undermanned but Never Outgunned
On a larger scale, the Rebels don’t stand a chance against the Empire. They’re too small and undermanned. Many in the Empire don’t take them seriously as a threat.
That’s why I love that on a smaller scale, in this one battle, it’s not some giant ship that manages to bring down the Death Star…
It’s an X-Wing that’s too small for their defenses to even notice until it’s too late.
5. Building the World of Star Wars
This universe is filled with exotic locations and very different settings, and that world-building begins here. Almost everything in this movie takes place on the Death Star, the Millennium Falcon, or Tattoine, so they don’t get too far yet, but this has the makings of an incredible universe. And there are already iconic locales, like…
“Mos Eisley Spaceport… you will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.”
And making Tattoine a sand planet—such a contrast to space and the ships—was a brilliant creative decision.
4. VADER
“I find your lack of faith disturbing.”
Darth Vader
Even if Darth Vader never uttered a word, he’d be an all-time classic movie villain. The all black costume, the billowing cape, the nightmarish helmet… and the trademark breathing all cut a deadly figure.
But there’s more to Vader.
There’s his intelligence—knowing they shouldn’t underestimate Obi-Wan…
There’s his tactical genius and willingness to get in the thick of the fight (even if he doesn’t stop Luke from destroying the Death Star) …
And there’s his total conviction in the Force, and the absolute menace with which he wields it. I don’t know if anything in Star Wars is scarier than watching Vader nearly choke one of his subordinates to death without ever laying a finger on him.
3. The Shit-Talking Princess
Even though Leia needs to be rescued, she’s not a damsel in distress. She’s as much of a hero as either of the men she gives medals to. She sets the Rebels’ entire plan in motion by stealing the plans to the Death Star. She also gets her message to Obi-Wan, and she refuses to reveal the location of the Rebels’ secret base, even in the face of torture and the complete annihilation of her home planet.
Leia suffers more than anyone. Yet she never complains about it, keeps a sense of humor, and doesn’t take anyone’s shit, including Han’s.
Maybe the moment she proves her mettle most is when she grabs the blaster out of Luke’s hands and starts shooting their way out when they don’t have an escape plan and says, “Somebody has to save our skins.”
And she does it while shit-talking at Han, telling him, “Into the garbage chute, flyboy.”
2. The Heroic Smuggler
“Well bring ‘em on. I prefer a straight fight to all this sneakin’ around.”
Han Solo
Han’s transformation into a true hero is no less drastic than Luke’s.
Sure, he doesn’t need to discover his bravery, as he’s already involved in danger throughout the galaxy. But we see signs of his selflessness periodically, like when he covers everyone else as they dive into the garbage chute first, and he’s the last in.
Ultimately, he discovers he can be better than what others think of him, or even what he thinks of himself, when he returns to help Luke at the end. He may not have destroyed the Death Star, but the medal he receives at the end is just as well deserved.
Even Leia says about Han, “He certainly has courage.”
1. The Ultimate Hero’s Journey
“I’m not going to Alderaan, I’ve got to get home, it’s late, I’m in for it as it is… I can’t get involved. I’ve got work to do. It’s not that I like the Empire, I hate it, but there’s nothing I can do about it right now. It’s such a long way from here.”
Luke Skywalker
Luke staring off at Tatooine’s binary sunset as the Force theme starts low, then soars, is roughly 30 seconds of perfection. It wordlessly encapsulates everything he feels—the sadness and uncertainty that will come if he gets to leave behind the only life he’s ever known, along with the yearning for something more—a bigger purpose, a greater destiny.
Of course, Luke is annoying and whiny in the beginning, but it works for the story because he’s the reluctant hero on a hero’s journey. He’s convincing in all aspects of his character—the farm boy who can’t wait to get away from home and his family; the scared kid who declines getting involved in this battle because it’s too big for him; the idealistic trainee who clashes with his selfish partner; and the hero who rescues the princess and outmaneuvers the bad guys to win the battle.
He’s not as much fun as Han, but Han is a more effective character because he has Luke to play off of.
2 Things I’m Mixed About
2. Droid Bromance
R2-D2 is one of my favorite Star Wars characters—period.
The dynamic between him and C-3PO is great, with R2 as the bold adventurer who gets shit done, while 3PO is the whiny nag who still winds up invaluable in the end—often in spite of himself. They arguably develop an even better bromance than Luke and Han’s.
Even more interesting is the fact that we only understand the words from one half of their conversations—and yet we’re never in doubt about R2’s meaning based on 3PO’s reactions.
But, we spend a lot of time with just them wandering at the start of the movie. After the excellent opening scene, where they escape the ship while Vader takes Leia prisoner, the plot sputters until Luke comes in.
1. No Duel for the Ages
I don’t want to be too hard on this scene. It’s old. And special effects and fight choreography—especially when it comes to light sabers—have advanced a LOT over the years.
But it has to be said that Darth Vader vs. Obi-Wan Kenobi—two of the great Force users in history—is tame.
It lacks a great death stroke, since Obi-Wan chooses to sacrifice himself. And I know that sacrifice gives the scene emotional heft. But even when he’s trying, it looks like they’re fighting in slow motion. Neither seems to have any moves in his repertoire other than swing from his left, then swing from his right.
4 Things I Don’t Like
4. Jabba Doesn’t Need to Be Here
I think Jabba is an addition to the later versions of the film after George Lucas started tinkering. But he’s not a good or necessary addition. His conversation with Han is almost identical to Han’s conversation with Greedo. Jabba just repeats the same reasons he’s mad at Han that Greedo had already told him, and Han has the same responses.
I have no problem with fan service when it adds something valuable. But this doesn’t.
3. The “Death Star Destruction Package” Priority Order
Once the Rebels finally have the plans to the Death Star, they analyze them, devise a plan, and send out their fighter pilots in almost no time.
Now, in a world where spaceships zip through the galaxy beyond light speed, maybe this isn’t unrealistic. But the Death Star is the galaxy’s most fearsome weapon of mass destruction, which we already saw obliterate a planet. Diagnosing its weaknesses and then figuring out a course of action should be a little more complicated.
2. Leia No-Sells Alderaan’s Destruction
Leia watches her entire planet get vaporized by the Death Star in a split second. Yet she doesn’t seem overly phased by it. In fact, I’d even say Luke is more upset about Obi-Wan’s death than Leia is about losing HER PLANET. Seems out of whack to me.
And speaking of Luke being upset…
1. Let’s Not Overdo the Mourning
I understand the protagonists being upset about Obi-Wan’s death. After all, he’s helping them fight the Empire, and he’s a Jedi Knight. But Luke mopes as if Obi-Wan had been training him for years. How long has it actually been? Five days?
And before he discovered Obi-Wan’s true identity, Luke referred to him as a hermit. Clearly they weren’t spending much time together on Tattoine while Luke was farming. This isn’t Dumbledore and Harry here.
Tim Matassa
Hah! “Droid bromance.” Perfect way to put that.