Appreciation for Episode IV
Back on May 4^(th), I had planned to make a post with some of my thoughts about Star Wars, Episode IV: A New Hope. As these things often do, it got pushed aside and now here we are at the end of July and I’m finally getting around to it. Since I had time, I decided to dress up in costumes to share my love of this film and I invited a few fellow fans to join me. The pictures are primarily as these characters appear in Episode IV with a couple of bonus pics, including my namesake, at the very end. If this is well received, I may do other films. If there’s something you’d like to see, drop a suggestion in the comments. I make no promises but if I do another one of these, I’ll try and pull from your requests first.
Star Wars is one of those rare films that has wormed its way into the very fabric of our culture. There’s been a lot written about it over the decades since it was released and as I sat to write about it, I wondered what I had to say about it that hasn’t already been said more times than I can count. The only answer I had was to explain what it means to me and why I love it so much. So, this is less a review of the film, and more a contemplation on my relationship with it.
As a child, the opening immediately pulled me in. The boring words didn’t last long and look! Spaceships! As an adult, I appreciate the scrawl being just long enough to set the scene. It’s efficient storytelling and gives us everything we need to know, and the John Williams score instantly sets the mood. I’ve lost count how many times I’ve seen this film but to this day, seeing the words, “A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away….” makes me so excited I can almost burst into tears.
At its heart, this is a simple film, a familiar but welcome telling of the hero’s journey. The humble farmer becomes a hero of the rebellion and defeats the evil empire. He even rescues the princess along the way with the help of his newfound friends. It’s got magic, laser swords, blasters, spaceships, and a dizzying array of characters all inhabiting incredible worlds and places. It’s everything a young mind needs to ignite the imagination.
That’s exactly what it did for me. It opened my eyes to the endless possibilities for stories, heroes, and villains. As I got older, my affection for the film began to include appreciation for the groundbreaking effects and the sheer amount of effort and willpower put into the creation of the worlds and the characters that inhabit them.
The sound design is iconic. This film gave us lightsabers, tie fighters, and the most recognizable breathing ever put on celluloid. When I’m on my deathbed, you could show me a picture of a tie fighter and I’ll hear it in my head.
The acting is on point with two legends of the silver screen, Peter Cushing and Alec Guiness. Not to mention, this is the film that would make Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, and Carrie Fisher household names. It seems impossible to imagine a world where we don’t all know these actors and these characters, even if you’ve never seen the movies (and if that’s you, what are you waiting for?). I’d like to note that this is one of the first films I can remember seeing with a strong female lead. The princess, even captured, has strength and stands up for herself. She takes control when needed and isn’t just a passenger in her own story.
To say the score is legendary is a disservice to it. Every piece of music complements the visuals and the story perfectly. The score is so good you can attend screenings where the music is played by a live orchestra. I recently had the privilege of doing this for Episode V and I cannot recommend it strongly enough. Hearing it played live gave me goosebumps more than once that night.
Star Wars will always hold a special place in my heart. I’ve spent countless hours watching and discussing the films, playing games, playing with toys, collecting figures, you name it. This is one of those films that helped shape my view of the world at a young age. Women could be strong, the good guys can be flawed, and laser swords are still just fucking cool.
Special thank you to my guests, in order of appearance:
Nemi u/sonya-snow
Vex u/Vexthryss
Scarlett u/Scarlett_ropepup
Shalu u/UnluckyShalu
Miss Gia u/Obj-Throway
Droid u/droid_tect
All Pics by own members using PixAI