STAR WARS

STARRING: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels

1977, 121 Minutes, Directed by: George Lucas

 
Nothing can explain the excitement of an impressionable ten-year-old (probably the best age to have seen it for the first time!) sitting in a darkened and hushed movie theatre watching a giant star ship slide through a starry expanse at the start of this movie!

What 2001 was to a previous generation, this movie was to a newer one. It was the realisation of a dream come true. For this generation, too young to remember 2001 on the big screen, this was the epiphany, the moment of realisation. Star Wars was unlike anything we have ever seen before.

Thereafter nothing would be the same . . .

Sure, the special effects wizardry seen in Star Wars is put in aid of a pure 1930s space opera pulp story, and not in metaphysical speculation like 2001. But try explaining that to that 10-year-old kid . . .

Followed by Empire Strikes Back (in 1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
 

• Read the script.
• Read a book review of George Lucas: A Biography by John Baxter.
• Watch the trailer.
• We bitch and moan endlessly about the Star Wars "Special Edition" DVDs . . .

Voted
# 3
of the
Top 100 Sci-Fi Movies
of all time
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