A New Hope for... um... A New Hope

Ok, Its safe to say that I never fell out of love with Star Wars, but the trooper that weathered multiple Star Wars Celebrations has been a little low in the morale department since the release of the films that shall not be mentioned. The fun that I had once felt, the link to my childhood, riding my schwin 10 speed to Chestnut hill plaza ( that, BTW, showed the film for over a year) to watch the film dozens of times seemed to be gone... the spark was ever so dim.

Recently my youngest son has been into Star Wars, always wanting to watch one of the movies and thank the lord, he usually choses ANH. I guess in the interest of full disclosure I should mention that he does watch the prequels and did once say that “Luke and Jar-Jar” were his favorite characters ( I am a father... i must learn to forgive) but the film he watches most is definitely ANH.

I have been falling in love with that film again, I love the Dirt the grime of a well used galaxy. I love the action, the music and the drama. I totally agree, ESB is by far the best written and dramatic, but I believe the best and most fun of all the films is ANH by far. I would venture to say that for the most part (with the exception of the space battle at the end) that the added effects only detract from the film. During the road block scene ( which I love) at one point the screen is blocked by some roaming CGI beast... for no apparent reason and the added CGI stormtroopers look terrible in almost all scenes. Regardless to these elements the fun is still there, the artistry of that time periods SFX can still be admired.

The scene when Luke, after the argument with Uncle Owen, walks outside and looks up at the Twin Sunset as John Williams score wells up around us is masterful. The use of Music and quick cuts during the Battle to blow up the Death Star still can make you hold your breath. The Millennium Falcon... that a reason to love the movie right there, what a ship, so believable, with its blasted exterior and well used interior... Because they built it, the sets and the exteriors and it shows.

So at the end of the day, I have to say I have been enjoying ANH more and more, though I am usually interrogated through the whole movie by Owen with “Why’s and How Comes, I have to say it is as good a movie now as it was when I first fell in love with it all those years ago.