Star Wars a New Hope Review 2.16.05

8/13/2019 Star Wars a New Hope Review 2.16.05

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Christopher Wemp

Period 3

2/16/05

Star Wars: A New Hope

Star Wars: A New Hope is a lee!dar" #ilm$ %etwee! the #as&i!ati! plot'

o(tsta!di! a&ti!' a!d mi!d )lowi! spe&ial e##e&ts' A New Hope is a! (!#oretta)le

mo*ie$

+ )elie*e the theme o# A New Hope was' Ne*er i*e (p$ +! the mo*ie' a! e*il

ro(p &alled the +mperials was attempti! to ta,e o*er the ala-"$ .he o!l" thi! that

stood i! there wa" was a small )a!d o# re)els that re#(sed to )ow dow! to the e*il that

stood )e#ore them$ Altho(h their !(m)ers were mi!is&(le &ompared to the miht o# the

e*il empire' the re)els &o!ti!(ed to #iht #or what the" ,!ew was riht$ eaders o# the

re)els were dis&o(raed as #rie!ds were ,illed' si)li!s ,id!apped' a!d how the" were

alwa"s o! the r(! with the deadl" +mperials o! their tail$ espite the !(mero(s traedies

the e)els e-perie!&ed' the" p(shed themsel*es to the limit a!d e*e!t(all" s&ored a ,e"

*i&tor" aai!st the +mperials$

.he s&ree!pla" i! A New Hope was *er" e!tertai!i!$ Ne*er o!&e was there

a d(ll se!te!&e' a repetiti*e word' or a m(!da!e &omme!t d(ri! the le!th o# the #ilm$

a&h spo,e! li!e was i!tertwi!ed with i!tellie!&e$ A!other )rillia!t aspe&t o# the

dialo(e &o!sisted o# the witt" h(mor thro(ho(t the s&ript$ Ne*er o!&e did + #eel )ored

with a!" o# the s&ree! pla"' whi&h added to the o*erall e!o"me!t a!d e-&iteme!t o# the

mo*ie$

+! Star Wars: A New Hope' se*eral &hara&ters4 perso!alities &ha!ed )" the

e!d o# the stor"$ (,e S,"wal,er' the mai! &hara&ter' was a simple #armer that spe!t his


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da"s wor,i! i! his &rops with his (!&le$ (,e4s pare!ts had died "ears ao' )(t he did

!ot ,!ow what &a(sed their premat(re deaths$ His (!&le was o# !o help whe! it &ame to

a!swers' as he de#tl" a*oided e*er" (estio! that (,e shot at him &o!&er!i! his

pare!ts$ Altho(h (,e had a ro(ti!el"' happ" li#e' he "ear!ed #or somethi! more$ He

wa!ted to lea*e the #arm a!d tra*el thro(h spa&e a!d e-plore as m(&h o# the e-pa!si*e

ala-" as he &o(ld$ (,e had a! e*e! reater desire to )e i! a real )attle$ .he stories o#

reat )attles he had &a(ht wi!d o# a*e him a "ear!i! that wo(ld !e*er )e #(l#illed

(!til he himsel# e-perie!&ed a )attle$ (,e e!ded (p etti! more tha! he )arai!ed #or'

as he soo! #o(!d himsel# a mem)er o# the )a!d o# re)els retaliati! aai!st the +mperials$

+ tho(ht (,e4s lare appetite #or ad*e!t(re tempered )" the e!d o# the mo*ie$ He had

e-perie!&ed ma!" )attles' a!d had #a&ed more da!er tha! ma!" me! wo(ld e*er dream

o#$ His idea o# a wo!der#(l )attle did !ot i!&l(de almost )ei! ,illed' so he lear!ed to )e

tha!,#(l #or what he had rather tha! dream e-&essi*el" a)o(t what he did!4t ha*e$

)i Wa! 7e!o)i was a!other mai! &hara&ter' altho(h the stor" did!4t re*ol*e

aro(!d him as m(&h as it did (,e$ )i Wa!' who was &o!sidered a 8edi 7!iht' ta(ht

(,e the wa"s o# the #or&e$ .he #or&e was a! i!*isi)le s()sta!&e that made the world

wor,$ !l" 8edi &o(ld tap i!to the #or&e$ !&e the" did' the 8edi &o(ld the! (se it to

ma!ip(late o)e&ts a!d twist the )rai!s o# the wea, mi!ded$ A 8edi 7!iht was a warrior

that o!l" *er" i#ted )ei!s &o(ld e*er )e$ )i Wa! se!sed the stre!th o# the #or&e i!

(,e as soo! as he met him$ Not wa!ti! the ala-" to #all (!der the shadow o# the e*il

empire' )i Wa! too, to trai!i! (,e the wa"s o# the #or&e$ %ei! a well ro(!ded ma!'

)i Wa! did !ot e-perie!&e a!" &hara&ter &ha!e i! the mo*ie$


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Ha! Solo was a!other importa!t &hara&ter$ Solo4s o) was to sm(le illeal

oods to his )oss' the alie! &alled 8a))a the H(tt$ )i Wa! lear!ed o# Solo4s a)ilities to

s!ea, )" +mperial ships (!!oti&ed' so he as,ed him to #l" himsel#' (,e' a!d two droids

to a!other pla!et$ Ha! Solo immediatel" too, (p the o##er' )(t o!l" )e&a(se he wa!ted

mo!e"$ *er"thi! i! his li#e re*ol*ed aro(!d mo!e"$ He pro)a)l" wo(ld ha*e sold

himsel# i# the opport(!it" had arise!$ Howe*er' Ha! ot more tha! he )arai!ed #or as

he ot himsel# &a(ht (p i! #ihti! the +mperials alo!side (,e a!d )i Wa!$ %" the

e!d o# the mo*ie' Ha! did!4t #iht #or mo!e"' )(t #or his !ewl" made #rie!ds$

Pri!&ess eia was a!other mai! &hara&ter$ %ei! a leader o# the ro(p o# re)els'

she was ,id!apped a!d held priso!er )" the +mperials a)oard the i!#amo(s a!d #eared

eath Star$ .he eath Star was a spa&e statio! so h(mo!o(s that #rom a dista!&e' it

&o(ld )e mista,e! as a pla!et$ .he eath Star a&(ired its !ame )e&a(se it also had

e!o(h #irepower to destro" a! e!tire pla!et$ Whe! Pri!&ess eia re#(sed to i*e the

lo&atio! o# the re)el )ase' the e*il di&tators o# the massi*e weapo! ordered her home

pla!et to )e destro"ed$ 9illio!s o# people were ,illed i! a se&o!d' i!&l(di! eia4s

#amil"$ Pri!&ess eia &ha!ed )e&a(se o# her hatred toward the +mperials$ !&e her

#amil" died' she' with the aid o# re)els' #o(ht with s(&h *e!ea!&e that o!e &o(ld o!l"

wo!der what ,i!d o# torme!ti! she had )ee! p(t thro(h$

.he last mai! &hara&ter i! Star Wars: A New Hope was arth ader$ arth

ader was the mai! *illai! o# the mo*ie$ %e&a(se o# a )ad' #ormer i!(r"' his )od" was

&o!!e&ted to a ma&hi!e s(it that was &olored a deep )la&,$ His head was &o*ered with a

)la&,' i!timidati! #a&e mas, a!d helmet while a )la&, &loa, draed )ehi!d his

imposi! #i(re$ arth ader was the leader o# the +mperials$ He was a 8edi li,e )i


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Wa! 7e!o)i' )(t )e&a(se o# his e*il!ess' he was !amed a sith$ arth ader4s &hara&ter

did!4t &ha!e thro(ho(t mo*ie at all$ %e&a(se he was disho!est' &r(el' reed"'

de&ei*i!' a!d a)o*e all' e*il' it was importa!t he sta"ed that wa" #or a total e##e&t i!

&o!trast$

.here were se*eral relatio!ships i! A New Hope$ .he #irst + !oted was

)etwee! (,e a!d )i Wa! 7e!o)i$ ;po! their #irst meeti!' the d(o )e&ame i!sta!t

#rie!ds$ %e&a(se )oth were #o&(sed a!d dedi&ated' their #i(res made a ood pair$

.he other importa!t relatio!ship was )etwee! Ha! Solo a!d Pri!&ess eia$ Whe!

the" #irst met' Solo4s witt" &hara&ter a!d reed" mi!d were traits that eia #o(!d *er"

(!attra&ti*e$ .he" were alwa"s )i&,eri! a!d ar(i! with o!e a!other' whi&h led to

some h(moro(s s&e!es$ .hro(ho(t the mo*ie' Solo was tr"i! to wi! eia4s heart' )(t

was !ot *er" s(&&ess#(l$ !l" )" the e!d o# the mo*ie did eia )ei! to appre&iate him$

A New Hope had a *er" smooth stor" e*ol(tio! a!d plot$ !e o# the

thi!s + e!o"ed was how the stor" e*ol*ed at a (i&, pa&e$ +! other words' the )a!d o#

&hara&ters me!tio!ed )e#ore &o(ld !e*er seem to et themsel*es o(t o# tro()le$ +! the

)ei!!i! o# the mo*ie' (,e' )i Wa!' a!d Ha! Solo parti&ipated i! a dari! &hase i!

whi&h the +mperials were the predators a!d the" were the pre"$ %arel" es&api!' the"

tried to rela-' )(t #o(!d themsel*es &a(ht i! a tra&tor )eam o# the eath Star$ !&e

i!side' the &hara&ters res&(ed Pri!&ess eia a!d #e!ded o## storm trooper warriors as well

as arth ader himsel#$ !&e aai!' the" )arel" es&aped$ .he" &o(ld !e*er (ite seem

to et themsel*es o(t o# tro()le' whi&h alwa"s le#t me o! ede a!d wo!deri! what was

oi! to happe! !e-t$ + #o(!d that + &o(ld easil" #ollow the plot witho(t )attli!

)oredom or &o(!teri! &o!#(sio!$


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+ #elt the mai! &o!#li&t o# the mo*ie was )etwee! the e)els a!d the +mperials$

.he +mperials so(ht (ltimate power while the re)els so(ht #reedom$ .here wo(ld o!l"

)e o!e wi!!er' so )oth sides had the press(re o# ,!owi! that i# the" lost' the" wo(ld

lose e*er"thi!$

+ tho(ht the mai! &lima- o# the mo*ie was whe! the re)els la(!&hed a #i!al

atta&, aai!st the eath Star itsel#$ .he odds o# s(r*i*al were horri)le as the #irepower

o# the eath Star easil" tripled the amo(!t the e)els had$ .he s&e!e was *er" i!te!se'

as all o# the past )attles had led (p to it$ .he res(lt o# the )attle was *er" satis#"i!' )(t

also le#t me h(!r" #or a se(el$

.he time depi&ted was !ot *er" &lear$ A! ope!i! title #or A New Hope said'

A o! .ime Ao i! a so that &lari#ied thi!s a little )it' )(t

!o "ears were e*er me!tio!ed$

.he &ost(mes were e-&elle!t$ While the" were!4t #ashio!s that &ommo! people

wo(ld wear' the" #itted i! with the mo*ie per#e&tl"$

.he props were also ood$ Areas portra"ed as pla!ets were *er" &o!*i!&i! to

the e"e as well as weapo!s a!d *ehi&les$ .he &reators o# this mo*ie are to )e appla(ded

#or their e##orts i! realism$

.he setti! o# the mo*ie was spread to ma!" di##ere!t pla!ets$ %e&a(se a lot o#

the mo*ie re*ol*ed aro(!d &hasi! a!d res&(i!' it was appropriate to ha*e a! e-pa!si*e

area #or the mo*ie to ta,e pla&e$

+ reall" li,ed the wa" the mo*ie was #ilmed$ Ne*er did + #eel &la(stropho)i& d(e

to &lose &amera shots' !or did + #eel di??" #rom #re(e!t &amera mo*eme!t$ + reall" li,ed

how the &amera too, ad*a!tae o# liht a!d &olors to i*e the )est pi&t(re possi)le$ +


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also e!o"ed the wa" the #i!al eath Star assa(lt was #ilmed$ .he &amera did a #a!tasti&

o) o# s(ppl"i! me with a se!se o# speed a!d da!er' whi&h wo(ld ha*e )ee! prese!t i#

the )attle had reall" ta,e! pla&e$

.he lihti! a!d &olor o# the #ilm were as o(tsta!di! as the &amera wor,$ Ne*er

was there a washed o(t s&e!e d(e to hea*" s(!liht' a!d !e*er was there a deep dar,!ess

d(e to the la&, o# s(!$ .here were poi!ts o# e-&elle!t &o!trast i! lihti! a!d &olor$ +

!e*er missed a )eat o# the mo*ie' a!d the wo!der#(l (se o# lihti! a!d &olor e!ha!&ed

m" positi*e e-perie!&e$

.he so(!d e##e&ts were e##e&ti*e a!d realisti&$ With e*er" &hase or #iht s&e!e

&ame o(tsta!di! so(!ds$ .he" were e!ri&hi! a!d added to the o*erall e-&iteme!t o#

the mo*ie$

.he m(si& was tr(l" wo!der#(l$ +ts *ariatio!s a&&(ratel" re#le&ted the

temperame!t o# the mo*ie$ .he mai! so! was' a!d still is' (!#oretta)le$ +t was pla"ed

ea&h time the e)els s(&&eeded at somethi!' a!d a dar,er to!e was pla"ed i# the e*il

+mperials did somethi! to wro! the e)els$ .he m(si& mirrored the so(!d e##e&ts with

e-&elle!&e' a!d &o!tri)(ted to the reat!ess o# the #ilm$

.he spe&ial e##e&ts i! A New Hope were *er" ood #or their time$ # &o(rse'

spe&ial e##e&ts ha*e impro*ed o*er the "ears' )(t the e-plosio!s' laser )lasts' lare

pla!ets' a!d alie! #i(res loo,ed startli!l" realisti&$ +t was hard to )elie*e that those

e##e&ts &o(ld )e m(stered (p i! the de&ade i! whi&h the mo*ie was made$

diti! o# the mo*ie was !ot o)*io(s' )(t it was there$ # &o(rse it had to )e

do!e whe! people piloted spa&e ships a!d were shot dow! i! a ia!ti& e-plosio!' )(t the

editors did a s(per) o) o# hidi! the edited mome!ts$


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.he a&ti! i! A New Hope was phe!ome!al$ All &hara&ters #it their roles

per#e&tl" a!d i!tera&ted well with ea&h other$ .he parts were pla"ed so well that + &a! !ot

imai!e a!" other a&tor that wo(ld ma,e a )etter or e*e! e(all" ood &hara&ter i! the

mo*ie$ .he a&ti! was !othi! short o# )rillia!t' a!d sho(ld )e (sed as a model i! the

ma,i! o# other mo*ies$

.he i!te!ded a(die!&e #or A New Hope is e*er"o!e$ +t is !ot so *iole!t as to

e-&l(de a "o(!er e!eratio!' is !ot too &ompli&ated to &omprehe!d' a!d is rele*a!t to all

aes$

A New Hope is a &om)i!atio! o# &omed"' drama' m"ster"' a!d a&tio!$ .here

are se*eral #(!!" o&&(rre!&es i! the #ilm' ma!" dramati& pea,s' a!d m(&h m"ster" a)o(t

who arth ader4s tr(e ide!tit" was$ + tho(ht the mo*ie had a ood )le!d a!d )ala!&e

o# ea&h o# these &ateories$

.he ire&tor o# Star Wars: A New Hope was


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*is(al mi!(te is a mi!(te well spe!t$ *er" s&e!e i! the mo*ie is a ood o!e' a!d

there#ore the mo*ie will )e treas(red #ore*er$

Documents

Star Wars a New Hope Review 2.16.05