Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope Review

The Case

Okay, we're all familiar with the legendary, and sometimes infamous, Star Wars films.  We've all seen the movies - and if you haven't, I demand you stop reading and go watch them NOW! - we've all heard the quotes, we've all used the phrase "May the Force be with you."  Wait - doesn't everyone use that phrase in everyday conversation...? 

Uh, anyway, what I'd like to do here is rank the six SW movies in order from "The Best Flick of all Time That Makes Me Weep With Joy Every Time I Watch It" to "Oh My God, What The Heck Is This Abominable Monstrosity of a Thing and Why Does It Have The Name 'Star Wars' Attached To It?!"  For simplicity's sake, I'll refer to my ranking system on a numerical scale for the rest of this review.

Star Wars Movies - From Best to Worst:

#1 - Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
#2 - Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
#3 - Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
#4 - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
#5 - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
#6 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace

Episode IV: A New Hope

Regarding the original Star Wars trilogy (Episodes IV, V, and VI): I love them.  I have watched them all too many times to count, beginning at the age of 3 and continuing on until the present.  They're so enjoyable, and they deserve to be viewed as often as possible!  In my mind, the prequel trilogy is blasphemous and doesn't live up to the Star Wars name, so skip it if you haven't already been exposed to its depravity.  Just watch the originals.  And by that I mean the REAL originals, not the Special Editions.  Han shot first, man.  It's a fact of life!)

The Good

This is the original.  The one and only.  The mac-daddy of Star Wars films.  A New Hope introduces us to that galaxy far, far away, and it is quality stuff!  I love everything about this movie.  Honestly.  Everything.

The story is off the hook!  Spaceships, sorcerers, laser guns, lightsabers, daring rescues, climactic battles - that's some good sci-fi right there!  The plot of the story moves really well, too, and it's so fun.  I mean, it reminds me of the television show Heroes! 

*whisper*  Save the princess.  Save the world!

Characters like Han Solo, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker, Ob-Wan Kenobi, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader really strike a chord.  They're epic.  And often funny.  The writing can get to be a mouthful - and an earful - but the performances make it enjoyable and entertaining.  I mean, can you beat wise-cracking Han Solo or saucy Princess Leia?  I think not!  Even the walking carpet is phenomenal, and all he does is growl!  A New Hope sets the tone for the following Star Wars movies, and it does it very successfully.  Nothing beats the feel of the original Star Wars flicks - nothing!

And they even have good special effects!  I know, I know, they're not like the prequel effects - which in my opinion is a good thing - but they hold up even for today's standards, and this movie was released 30 years ago!  Impressive.  Most impressive.

And I want to be a crew member on the Millennium Falcon.  That ship might be a hunk of junk, but she's the best hunk of junk ever, and I love her!  It doesn't hurt that her captain is a bit of a hunk himself, either...

The Bad

Okay, the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Vader is a little lame.  There, I said it.  I'm sure it was cool back in the day, but after the epic battles in the prequel trilogy, the slow, molasses-like sword fight between the old guy and the half-man, half-robot with the crazy breathing apparatus just doesn't cut it.  See, some of you are clenching your fists and glaring.  Your thoughts betray you - I sense your anger.  But really, can you honestly say the fight with Darth Maul in Episode I wasn't waaay cooler than this fight in Episode IV?  Can you?  No, I didn't think so.

And believe me, I like the stormtroopers.  I do.  What I find disturbing is their absolutely apalling aim.  And, of course, the tendency to bump their helmets on the bottoms of the Death Star doors...

The Verdict

Five stars!  Nothing beats the original space saga, and Episode IV: A New Hope is a Force to be reckoned with!