It’s been a while since I’ve seen Star Wars, but it was an absolute pleasure seeing it again. Another interesting point to note is that it was the first time I was seeing Episode IV after the prequel trilogy of Episodes I, II, and III. Owing to the added backstory from the prequels, a lot of the scenes in Episode IV - A New Hope had new and added value. The narrative process was strong, and the plot irrespective of its high dependency on sci-fi elements and special effects, remained interesting. Though I’ve seen all the Star Wars movies before, at the end of Episode IV I was in one of those, can’t wait to see Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back now moods. Pacing was good, and slow and fast elements/scenes were blended well. Being a new universe with new characters, new themes, and new twists, care was taken to gradually initiate the audience into the overall saga; ensuring that way that the viewers wouldn’t feel lost halfway into the movie. For most part concepts were kept simple, that way not losing out on the not so hardcore sci-fi junkies. To substantiate my point, I watched Episode IV with a newbie to the franchise who had only heard of Star Wars; comments after were that it was entertaining and made for a fun watch. That said, I guess it’s safe to say that Star Wars has universal appeal; including the uninitiated and non sci-fi folk. For the legions of Star Wars fans, this movie will undoubtedly be amazing and deserves a rating of Kick Ass by all means. Personally I got goose bumps nearly 10 times at various points, often supported by the brilliant Star Wars theme score.
Mark Hamill stars in the lead role as Luke Skywalker. He does a fine job of playing a teenager, bored with the mundane chores of being a farmer, and is eager to travel and explore the galaxy. Presented well was the awe in his eyes and expressions, for what the galaxy and his life had in store for him, outside of his home planet of Tatooine. Harisson Ford, who looks incredibly young, plays the role of Han Solo, a young hotshot spaceship captain. Though his methods are rash, and possibly bad boy hero like, he means well. Ford does a good job of portraying those varied characteristics, while adding some humor and spontaneity to the plot. Carrie Fisher plays princess Leia, a prominent leader of the rebellion forces, a member of the imperial senate, and a part of the royal family of Alderaan. Again an impressive performance; clearly imminent is her royal background and upbringing. Also noticeable is that her character is very capable and not sacred of getting her hands dirty based on the need of the hour. When it comes to characters, Star Wars is like an ocean, so I will hold off at this point. C-3PO and R2-D2 though just droids, with limited to no expression are vital components of Star Wars. Needless to say Star Wars is a beautifully crafted work of art. As expected with all movies employing vast extras and un-credited cast members, there are several amateurs who have limited screen time with mediocre performances; but it’s no bigge and doesn’t take away from the splendor of Star Wars in anyway.
The DVD I was watching was a Region 1 US release of the 2004 digitally remastered version of Star Wars – Episode IV. Picture quality was good throughout, and except for a few slightly darker scenes were definition was reduced, things were good for most part. The digital restoration process was obviously very successful. The audio was simply remarkable, with sounds effects being sharp and dialog being clear. Surround usage was perhaps one of the best I’ve ever come across, with 3D positional sound being very noticeable in several scenes. The surround mix was far superior to that of most action movies released nowadays. The soundtrack I was listening to was a Dolby Digital 5.1 track. The score again was brilliant; kudos to John Williams for the theme and sound of Star Wars. Most older movies come off cheesy when revisited, but that isn’t the case with Star Wars. While some of the scenes looked a little dated, overall it was amazing to see a movie from 1977 look and sound so good.
My Recommendation: Watch It + (Flip to the word legendary in the dictionary, and you’ll find a picture of Star Wars)
