I’ve seen this way too many times to be healthy but a recent re-viewing some things struck me in particular. For starters it’s very well structured – there’s not an ounce of fat on it as we go from opening ambush, to pod escaping, etc, etc. It’s a very good script – Lucas was right to make the original cuts and make a mistake putting them back in for the re-release; having a scene with Han and Jabba reduced the tension, because it meant Han had more time to pay him back; introducing Luke’s mate from his home planet
Secondly, Luke’s whining really does grate on the nerves (there’s a lot of it). And I found myself laughing at Princess Leia’s hair every time I saw it. But the two of them and Han Solo make a wonderful trio – a very juvenile trio, with some flirting but innocence behind it, kind of the main three out of BMX Bandits. (The Han Solo and Leia of this film seem like they’d never actually have sex, but the Han and Leia of Empire Strikes Back would.)
Thirdly, it was remarkable how much I found myself sympathising with Darth Vader. From the beginning the poor guy has to deal with hassle – Leia lies to him constantly; his officers let the escape pod go with droids; they let Luke escape on Tatooine; the Imperial generals are too cocky and refuse to believe in the power of the force; dodgy work from the pilots means he has to get out and shoot down ships himself. No wonder he’s so stressed.
This remains a marvellously entertaining film, full of action, drama, twists and turns. Alec Guinness, James Earl Jones and Peter Cushing give the film gravitas; Anthony Daniels, Harrison Ford and Kenny Baker bring the humour. Stunning art direction and costumes, it still seems a realistic depiction of how an inter-planetary world could operate, with droids and admin problems and different species. And every single time I watch it I forget that Han Solo is going to come to the rescue, and it remains a wonderful surprise when he does.
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