Star Wars Episode Four: A New Hope Review

The film that started it all.

Rewatching just makes me happy to be a fan of Star Wars.

When everything goes a little south with a franchise or a series it’s always nice to remember a time when it wasn’t so corporate. No pandering or forced gags. Just a bunch of lads on a quest to save the galaxy from goths.

Seriously though... all black, a cape that serves no purpose, a mask to hide who he truly is and an obsession with the Dark Side... and somehow he’s still the most badass thing to every happen.

The tale of Luke taking the heroic leap to take on the Empire is simple but quite frankly one of the best stories ever told. Mark Hamell pulls off the character’s naivety and confidence greatly, making Luke a more than compelling protagonist.

Seeing Obi-Wan take the role of Luke’s guardian after watching the Prequels is just so satisfying, and seeing his end make it thar much more gut wrenching. There’s still a joy in seeing Alec Guinness play a character that has been immortalised into my noggin.

Solo didn’t do too much for Han and Chewie except for that bond which feels tighter now than on a previous viewing. There’s no denying Harrison Ford as the greatest scoundrel in the galaxy with his performance here as he cockily throws off any remark flying his way.

The late Carrie Fischer gave us the best Disney Princess, I’m aware this was not a Disney product upon release, and might I had she’s up there with Ellen Ripley in terms of badass-ery for myself.

The very recently late David Prowse gave an amazing towering and intimidating performance with the deep booming vocals of James Earl Jones to compliment him. The two did a more than amazing job to cement Darth Vader as one of, if not the, best villain ever put to screen.

The late Peter Cushing gives us our film’s secondary antagonist with Governor Tarkin proves that the reason for his roles in horror films prior was mainly down to how mesmeric his performance was when on set.

Anthony Daniels and the late Kenny Baker give us the iconic duo of C-3PO and R2-D2 who provide us with the film’s comedy along with the main quest our heroes much depart on. I couldn’t imagine this film without either of them and I believe they went a long way to embedding the opening act in my mind and heart forever.

All in all a more than fantastic start to this trilogy with very few flaws, none of which are worth mentioning. This isn’t just a great film. This is one of my favourites.

10/10