{"id":9345,"date":"2009-08-29T17:30:53","date_gmt":"2009-08-30T00:30:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=9345"},"modified":"2021-01-15T01:32:05","modified_gmt":"2021-01-15T08:32:05","slug":"star-wars-1977","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=9345","title":{"rendered":"Star Wars (1977)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;The force will be with you, always.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster-192x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"192\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-56575\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster-192x300.png 192w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster-654x1024.png 654w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster-82x128.png 82w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster-173x270.png 173w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Poster.png 719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 192px) 100vw, 192px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nIn a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) joins the rebellion against the Empire by teaming up with Jedi master Obi-Wan Kanobi (Alec Guinness) and rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to rescue kidnapped Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the clutches of evil Darth Vader (David Prowse\/James Earl Jones).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Alec Guinness Films<\/li>\n<li>Androids<\/li>\n<li>Harrison Ford Films<\/li>\n<li>Kidnapping<\/li>\n<li>Peter Cushing Films<\/li>\n<li>Revolutionaries<\/li>\n<li>Science Fiction<\/li>\n<li>Space Opera<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Response to Peary&#8217;s Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nAs Peary notes, writer-director George Lucas&#8217;s <em>Star Wars<\/em> &#8212; which borrows liberally from countless other films (including Kurosawa&#8217;s <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=1114\"><em>The Hidden Fortress<\/em><\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=3361\"><em>The Wizard of Oz<\/em><\/a>) and pop culture references (serials such as &#8220;Flash Gordon&#8221; and &#8220;Buck Rogers&#8221;) &#8212; is &#8220;arguably the most influential film ever made, although one can legitimately question whether its profound effect on future movie product [design], in Hollywood and worldwide, has been positive&#8221;, given that we&#8217;ve all &#8220;overdosed on special effects, toys, and intergalactic wars&#8221;. Peary (ever the &#8217;70s liberal!) accurately argues that the film unfortunately &#8220;makes war look like fun&#8221;, and that the characters are, regrettably, designed to be shallow &#8212; Mark Hamill is particularly annoying as callow, whiny Luke Skywalker (though it could be argued that he&#8217;s well-suited for the role). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-scaled.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-1024x427.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"267\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-63433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-1024x427.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-300x125.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-128x53.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-768x320.jpg 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-1536x640.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-2048x853.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/Star-Wars-Hamill-604x252.jpg 604w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Sophisticated modern viewers seeing <em>Star Wars<\/em> for the first time may actually wonder what all the fuss is about, given that much of it comes across today as either campy (i.e., the infamous &#8220;cantina scene&#8221;) or dated, and the special effects &#8212; while revolutionary at the time, and still largely impressive &#8212; have since been surpassed.  <\/p>\n<p>With that said, the film is, as Peary notes, both &#8220;craftily made&#8221;, and (with the possible exception of Hamill as Skywalker) &#8220;brilliantly cast&#8221;, effectively balancing veteran and young actors. It deservedly won a passel of Oscars: for special effects (the final battle sequence &#8212; while it goes on for too long &#8212; is especially well done), costume design, sound effects, art direction, editing, and best original score (by John Williams). Harrison Ford is hunky and memorable in his breakthrough role as Han Solo; Carrie Fisher (only 17 years old!) is effectively spunky as Princess Leia (those buns!); and Alec Guinness couldn&#8217;t have been better cast as the &#8220;wise and noble Jedi warrior Ben &#8216;Obi-Wan&#8217; Kenobi&#8221;. Film fanatics, regardless of their personal connection with the movie, will doubtless agree that its &#8220;tremendous spirit, sense of fun and adventure, excitement, hip humor, imaginative characters, and fast-paced, uncomplicated story&#8221; deservedly &#8220;touched a universal nerve&#8221;, and that <em>Star Wars<\/em> remains indispensable &#8220;must see&#8221; viewing. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Harrison Ford as Han Solo<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-harrison-ford.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-harrison-ford.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9349\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Alec Guinness as Obi Wan<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-guinness.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-guinness.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9351\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-princess-leia.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-princess-leia.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9350\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>C3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2D2 (Kenny Baker)<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-c3po-r2d2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-c3po-r2d2.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9352\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Memorable sets<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-sets.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-sets.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9353\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Groundbreaking special effects<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-special-effects.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2009\/08\/star-wars-special-effects.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-9354\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>John Williams&#8217; rousing score<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nOf course.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Categories<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Cult Movie<\/li>\n<li>Historically Relevant<\/li>\n<li>Oscar Winner or Nominee<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> (<span style=\"color:red;font-weight:bold;\">Listed in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-static\/1001Movies.htm\"><em>1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die<\/em><\/a><\/span>) <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0076759\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/movies2.nytimes.com\/books\/97\/08\/24\/reviews\/guinness-starwars.html\">NY Times Original Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.rogerebert.com\/reviews\/star-wars-1977\">Roger Ebert&#8217;s &#8220;Greatest Films&#8221; Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.reelviews.net\/php_review_template.php?identifier=38\">ReelViews Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/www.qnetwork.com\/index.php?page=review&#038;id=767\">Q Network Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/star-wars\">Time Out Capsule Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;The force will be with you, always.&#8221; Synopsis: In a galaxy far, far away, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) joins the rebellion against the Empire by teaming up with Jedi master Obi-Wan Kanobi (Alec Guinness) and rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford) to rescue kidnapped Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the clutches of evil Darth Vader (David Prowse\/James Earl Jones). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Alec Guinness Films Androids Harrison Ford Films Kidnapping Peter Cushing Films Revolutionaries Science Fiction Space Opera&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=9345\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9345","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-responses-to-peary"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9345"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9345\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63434,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9345\/revisions\/63434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9345"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}