Star Wars Reviews

Hello everyone! For my first blog, I would like to talk about my favorite franchise of all time, which is the first I have ever seen, and a very beloved franchise: Star Wars. To make a reference to internet reviewer, James Rolfe, he said that "Star Wars pays tribute to the movies of the past. The Flash Gordon serials are the prime example, right from the opening title scroll. Even Cloud City was from Flash Gordon, and all the wipe transitions. And the whole idea of the serial was that it happened in Episodes. It was all part of one large story. In the 30s and 40s, when you would go to the theaters to see a movie, you might see an episode of Flash Gordon. Unless you went to the movies all the time, you would probably see a few episodes, but no matter what, you would get into it. Metropolis was the first science fiction film, and one of the famous, to create a separate reality, a world run by technology. The robot in Metropolis bears a resemblance to C3PO. The Walkers are much like Martian Warhunters from the H.G. Wells novel, War of the Worlds. Also, from The Wizard of Oz, I can't help but think C3PO is the Tin Man, and Chewbacca is The Cowardly Lion. The way they meet all of these different characters as they along their journey, it's classic. The Jawas are like the Munchkins, the hologram of the Emperor is like the hologram of The Wizard, Yoda and Obi-Wan disapper when they die, so does the Wicked Witch, when Luke and Han disguise themselves as the Storm Troopers is like when Scarecrow, Tin Man, and the Lion disguise themselves as the Witch's soldiers. From the Hidden Fortress, they tell the story from the point of view of two humble characters, the same way as R2D2 and C3PO. We have samurais, where in Star Wars we have Jedis. We can't help but make the connection between swords and lightsabers. The severing of arms is also something you see in Samaurai films. It also pays tribute to Western films, like the bar scene from Mos Eisley is straight out of any given Western films. When Luke's family is murdered and his house is burned is straight out from The Searchers. A lot of references from Horror Films are also in there, like casting Peter Cushing and David Prowse is no coincidence. In "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell," Cushing, who often played Dr. Van Helsing, was Dr. Frankenstein, and Prowse was the monster. Christopher Lee, who starred alongside Cushing in Hammer's Dracula Series as Dracula, is now Count Dooku. Even Darth Vader rising from the slab is straight out of Frankenstein, and you can't help but feel Vader's cape is exactly like Dracula's cape. The title's are inspired from B-Movies. The characters are all famous archetypes, like Luke is the classic hero, Obi-Wan is the classic mentor, much like Frodo and Gandalf from Lord of the Rings, or King Arthur and Merlin from Sword in the Stone. Star Wars takes old ideas and turns them into something new shows how ingenious it really is. All ideas in general come from somewhere, and it pays tribute to all these old movies, literature, folklore, mythology, and ultimately, reflects our culture. It perfectly blends science fiction and fantasy. Also, it's interesting to note how history repeats itself. Lucas said he based the Emperor off of historical figures from Julius Caesar to Adolf Hitler. He said it starts off as a democracy, which turns into a dictatorship, and the rebels turn it back into a democracy again. So there will always be rebels, it's like a cycle. Also, Anakin is like a tragic hero, his son Luke starts to follow in the same footsteps, which is once again like a cycle. It takes classic science fiction, Japanese culture, Western culture, Biblical references, and retells them all at the same time. It's every epic story ever told rolled into one. Star Wars is more than just movies, it's everything. It's the force that binds us." Now...onto the review. This script I want to give credit to a YouTube reviewer that I used to work with when I had an account on YouTube, reviewreviewer1. He made the script, and I edited it to make it flow right. I will admit that I did add a few things while I posted the script on this blog. Without much further delay, here is my review:

Well I love The Original film, “Star Wars IV: A New Hope,” released in 1977. It was made by George Lucas after he ensured a deal which would give him full ownership, complete creative control, and final cut privilege with studio interference through his connections, education, and friendship with Alan Ladd Junior. He was the studio executive of Lucasfilm, became the soul storywriter, screenwriter, director, and executive producer. He supervised ILM, the model designer, prop and costume designers, which doubted demanding reworks. He worked with ILM day by day, chose the kind of sound, and supervised their music with detail. With casting direction, he chose the editors, and although the actors tried to take away his credit on the acting, the reports of the THX-138 actors and the Prequel actors, the self-admitted laziness of the original trilogy actors, Lucas being a control freak, great at casting show, which is not true, and the great direction on "American Graffiti" shows this. People who never believe in the Originals try to break him down by taking credit and disappointed fans just jump on the bandwagon. Also, Kurtz is the only one who arrogantly elevates himself as the creative mind while admitting Lucas was a control freak. So this film, although utilizing great technicians, musicians, lighters, actors, and a great producer is almost entirely Lucas, his wonderful great vision and the purest example of him.

The film went through many rewrites, improving everything and went through hard work and extra money in production, and only slightly suffered from some rewrites and edits, one made for gimmick the first 20 minutes.

It unfolds a detailed plan to defeat the Empire involving elaborate back stories, and a complex adventure with many different plans and trickery on the Death Star.

The film utilizes old elements like an evil technology Empire, genocide, using magic and things like disguises, being stranded, a seemingly normal person chasing after a destiny, yet at things like making the force also guide us, yet it controls us, and making it the all power of the galaxy.  Things like the Death Star, jumping into a garbage can, dangers of the sand people, using magic to create sounds, light sabers, escaping soldiers with a ship, having one character access the whole base and having to deactivate tracer beams, things like being captured by slave traders and Leia tricking them. It has cool twists like them being captured by the Death Star and them tracking the base. Also, the way it has Luke utilize his powers, Han saving them, and everyone except a few die in the battle is great. Also R2 walking away, Obi Wan saving him, the Jedi mind trick, the force training, R2 and C3PO tricking the storm troopers, them hiding as smugglers, the Jabba subplot was great and well developed in the special edition, them using C3PO to escape the can, jumping over the trench, and Obi Wan’s dramatic death were all great. Also, the story is mostly subtle. However, I will say it is very predictable and black and white, which feels part of the genre but still. Second, the film suffers from really spending a lot of time setting up the characters and the back stories having fewer stories. Don`t get me wrong, it has a lot of complex thick multi-layered stories, just not as much as the other films. Also, they establish the suppression of the Empire, clearly through their cruel actions, support of fear and destruction, and make the stakes clear.

However, like how people complain in the Prequel Trilogy (PT) that the separatists motivations were unclear when they just wanted to exploit people. Here it is clear they want to suppress and force their views on them. But, I am sad they cut out the scene where they mention that they started to nationalize the commerce guild, which I thought established a mire detail what the Empire rules, like showing how citizens viewed it. Also, how people joined the rebellion, and it has a real eerie suspense in how it showed how afraid people were with how the line of things can change. It also shows how interested Luke was in the rebellion. Yes, it is a bit political, but it is in the beginning like with Alien, Aliens, The Bourne Trilogy and Predator. Also, I love the crosscutting in the film and this would have made the opening build up even better.

This in my opinion was one of the worst editing decisions ever. This film could have been a bit extra long while still not making it thick and adding multiple layers and elements to the plot, making it more intellectual and sophisticated, but no.

The ending by the way suffered from slight problems in that common. Those other pilots that survived certainly deserve a medal also, well…that is about it.

Also there were some potholes like: Why did Leia go to the rebel base listed of transmitting the plans? Why did they have to kill Luke’s aunt and uncle? Also, why didn’t Obi-Wan try to escape with them??????

So it has very complex, thick, multilayered plots. They are very well intertwined, creative, clever, and also intellectual and exciting. Also the character sweep up, the back stories are brilliant, and it is a good combination of old and new. The plot holes are few and far between, not very fatal. The predictability is completely acceptable, and although it could have been even better, that means this plot could have been a 10 instead of a 9.5. So, it is great but I do think the editing was flawed.

Then, we have the wide array of great characters. Luke is very brave, supportive, loyal, determined, kind, witty, and believes in achieving greater goals, but doesn`t truly know who he is at first. He believes in principles, is very friendly, and supportive yet also very whiney (yeah people complain about it with Anakin, but he is whiney): “But I was going to go to toshi station to pick up some power converters,” “oh Biggs is right I am never going to get out of here” and rude “what a piece of junk.” Well, it often is justified and he isn’t mean, so like with Anakin, I really like him. He is a classic archetype, but he’s very friendliness and confused of who he is, and his loyalty makes him stand out. There was no problem though with why he at first wanted to go to the academy, meaning just a great job, and then all of the sudden, he wants to fight evil. In those deleted scenes, they establish he wants to go to the academy to join the rebellion, which would make his pain all the more painful and create more tension.

Also, his parents getting killed are supposed to show that hiding doesn’t work, which they tried to do. To hide from destiny is an interesting conflict. Also his deleted scene made it all the more clearer Owen could do without him. It showed how he missed his friends, and that they were leaving.

I know this probably makes me sound real whiney, but also that scene, which set up his relationship with Biggs, makes their reunion in the special edition all the greater. It would make for a motive and a dramatic death.

Then, we have Biggs. He is a very loyal, brave, supportive friend who would have profited from those deleted scenes.

So, the plot characters and structures are great, but if Lucas ever completely credits this with those scenes, it could be even more intellectual, sophisticated, multilayer, multiply perspective and more logical and dramatic.

Then, we have Owen, who is bossy, strict, yet supportive, kind, and a bit cold, but overall, friendly.
He is very original.

Beru is understanding, kind, friendly, sweet, and very hardworking, a loyal wife and mother. She is a very deep mother character.

Also, you might have noted I referenced them as parents often, but if they took care of him, supported him, and raised him, they are his parents.

Okay...then we have Leia, who is very responsible, brave, strong willed, self-confident, kind, supportive, sometimes a bit aggressive, arrogant, and very self-reliant. Her self-reliance, arrogance, and strong-willingness make her stand out.

Han Solo is brave and selfish but also a bit caring, witty, complaining, strong willed, and skeptical.

Chewbacca is a bit grumpy yet very kind and loyal.

C3PO is skeptical, cowardly, complaining, soft, grumpy, and bumbling, yet kind, loyal, and caring.

R2D2 is very stubborn, strong, wild, quite brave, and helpful.

Obi Wan is a brave, wise, philosophical, selfless, kind, intelligent, witty, warm mentor. His wittiness and warmness make him stand out. He also has a complex back-story of training an evil apprentice and surviving genocide.

Governor Tarkin is a real liar, suppressive, cruel, cold, aggressive, arrogant, and witty.

Darth Vader is very angry, vengeful, arrogant, aggressive, power-hungry, sadistic, and has a complex back-story of having been consumed by evil.

Luke and Leia really understand one another. Leia sees there is good in Han, and he looks at her spunkiness. Luke admires Obi Wan, who is loyal too, but annoyed by Owen and Beru, is annoyed by Han but cares for him, and Obi Wan is very skeptical of Vader’s evil.

Vader and Tarkin have mutual respect for each other.

Also, Luke becomes more spiritual, Han selfless, and Leia appreciative.

The film conveys how we can have a greater destiny, how running from evil is pointless, of how heroness is very important, how spirituality can be a great mentor, and how evil must be fought.

The characters demonstrate these themes and have a bit more in the plot.

Okay the dialogue is very well written, sharp, and to the point.

Now…romance. Although Lucas can sometimes use help, we should not forget he solely wrote IV where it started with witty lines like: “I don`t know who you are or where you are from but from now on you listen to me, got it.”

The pace is very built-up, but the deleted scenes could have helped at more plot build up.

Then, the actors are all fantastic. Mark Hamil really plays the charm, innocence, and kindness. Well sure, this isn’t one of the greatest of share but it was very good. Also, Alec Guinness is very witty and wise, Peter Cushing confident, David Prowse and James Earl Jones very intense and menacing, I thought Harrison Ford was very intense and funny, Carrie Fisher played the arrogance and kindness well, Peter Mayhew, who plays Chewbacca, is very real, Anthony Daniels, who plays C3PO, is very intense, Shelagh Fraser, who plays Beru, and Phil Brown, who plays Owen, are charming and natural.

The worlds are detailed, creative, and elaborate, and so are the vehicles and creatures.

The action is very complex, exciting, and big. The effects are amazing, detailed, colorful, and realistic. The sets are very detailed, the set design elaborate, the costumes detailed are elaborate, the props real and grimy, the location beautiful, the puppets and models almost all hold up well, the cinematography is colorful and very harmonious, the direction creative and smooth, the editing very, very, very, very, very, very exciting, the sound very creative, the music emotional, intense building, sweet endearing, exciting with the action, the exciting opening, the haunting epicness themes, the Tatooine future dreams song, and the funny Jawa themes all being excellent, and the geography is great.

So, the film is an outstanding masterpiece and truly brilliant but it could have profited greatly from another special edition which will edit in scenes not again, redo sound and visual effects. Also the film was a lot of fun but not very dark and dramatic compared to the others.

Then we have the 1980 sequel, “Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back,” where Lucas used the talent of Lawrence Kasdan and Kershner for adding great dialogue, acting, and direction, but people try to make it seem like they made the film. Well, not only that, but in comparison to the prequels…okay well first of all the first film completely makes this a coincidence. Second, well…if you mean they made the story, now the plot and stories tone, pace, character relationships and arcs, themes, messages, and action all came from Lucas. They were hired when this was mostly done to work it out. Lucas made the substance as storywriter and the cast worked it out in detail with dialogue, atmosphere, most minor characters traits, detailed settings, and Kershner directed and created the acting for this.

Moreover, Lucas served as a studio executive, who can really have a lot of control, executive producer, a very involved writer but more of VSO. He actually co-wrote the screenplay, directed the second unit, and co-directed the film like he would with Return of the Jedi.

This is based on his production and script knowledge as heard on the DVD commentary.

Empire Stirkes Back adds extra layers of complexity to the plot with Luke missing, clever hiding tricks, betrayal by Lando, detailed training of Luke, hyper drives malfunctioning, has even more rich environments with Dagobah being very mystical and mysterious, Hoth having cool snow monster, added city being very detailed, elaborate, and rich, the meteor sequence were awesome, the action this time involves even more creativity like walkers and asteroids. The film has even more intense atmosphere, the music with the imperial March, snow planet theme, force training, awesome deep spiritual romance theme, and intense ending improved.

The characters are even more kind, sweet, and very natural around each Hothe. Leia shows more of her kind and vulnerable side, Luke is even more unconfident and we explore his flaws, Leia’s love for Han, and Han's braveness. Lando perfectly resembles Han from the first film and leads to great twists and a lot more ambiguity. Yoda is very complex. He is wise yet critical, arrogant, funny, playful, and clever. Lando is a bit selfish and disloyal but learns to do what is right. So yeah, the acting, the imagination, the moral ambiguity, the even deep character development and arcs, and complex well developed story are all great. The tone is a lot darker.

Also Bib was awesome. He was greedy and self-confident, cruel, a business man, very strong and a nonsense guy.

The acting of Billy Dee Williams, who plays Lando, is great, but to quickly reference internet reviewer Plinket, not every black actor who also plays cool roles need to be a Playboy typecasting isn`t a rule. Mark Hamil is even more intense, Vader showed more of his loving, panning, strong, determine, and cruel side. All the new imperial soldiers have distinct personalities one being skeptical and clumsy, the other fearful. The whole cliffhanger is great, the dialogue is funny and often enthralling like, “stop that. My hand is dirty” and, “I happen to like nice men. I am nice” and “you should wear girl’s clothes all the time.” The film also has the famous, "I am your father" line. All of Yoda’s wise talk, but part of the romance, and a lot of Yoda did come from Lucas and just started the romance in IV. The lighting adds to the mood, the camera work and editing are fluent, the effects even more detailed, the sets and costumes, props, and cinematography wonderful. Harrison Ford is even stronger, Fisher is more warming, and Frank Oz and Anthony Daniels rock.

The geography is even more complex.

Then we have “Episode VI: Return of the Jedi,” released in 1983, which is my personal favorite of the franchise. Lucas again wrote the story, executive produced, supervised and co-wrote the screenplay, co-directed and directed the second unit, brought Kasdan in again but having the new producer, Howard Kazanjian, and a new director who was great with actors and the camera, Richard Marquand, who also became great at effects. I love how detailed and integrate the whole part is. I mean that was flawless and so well set up. The whole trap thing is brilliant and the whole plan on Endor and Luke turning himself in added to the tension.

The space battle builds well. Luke having to face Vader worked well and the Ewoks could defeat the empire case. They use the environment to hide, turn the speed of the speeder and size of the walkers against them, and the shot in between the parts of the suits and slingers always work. It brilliantly shows mind defeats powers.

They made the characters even more serious, showed Luke as a Jedi, Han as truly selfless, Leia as a very motherly but supportive figure, and the film has many themes regarding redemption, and Vader is the best in the film too. The theme about bravery and team work, the true powers of spirituality and love are perfect. I agree the turn to the Dark Side was flawed, but the whole Jabba the Hut part and the seriousness of the characters are even better then in Empire Strikes Back.

Also, I did have a problem with how little they showed of the destruction of the star destroyers and not enough of the fighters. The Death Star was used in a very different way and it couldn’t have been done differently because nothing beats the Death Star.

Also, the twist of Vader turning good was even better than “I am your father.”

Also, Leia helping Han, and Han comforting her were very genuine and kind. The dialogue is just way better than the first 2 before and the philosophical conversation is the most intellectual.

Also, with the speeder chases, the detailed space battle, and the even more emotional and exciting music, the best geography, and they dwarf the sequences in the first 2 films. Also the film has a lot of cutesy moments but also some of the darkest. They have the cruel part on the sail barge, and then Yoda dies. Luke is left all alone, has to kill his father, Leia is faced with Luke being her brother, Luke is always serious, and also Vader dies. He almost turns to the dark side and the rebels and his friends almost all died.

Also the emperor is one of the best villains. He is sadistic, all knowing, self-confident, witty, cruel, power-hungry, and mean-spirited. Jabba was cruel, and sadistic, abusive, selfish, and grotesque.

Mark Hamil was indeed perfect, but also Ian McDiarmid and James Earl Jones are wonderful, Carrie Fisher did do her parts with the Ewoks, and it ended well. I don`t get it regarding Harrison Ford to be honest. He was very anxious regarding the first 2, and hesitant in the third, but eventually did agree to return, and he is still witty and sarcastic. He just acts a lot more fatherly, like as Indiana Jones. He just becomes a more supportive and kind person. Sebastian Shaw appeared briefly at the end as the ghost of Anakin Skywalker along with Obi-Wan and Yoda, but just to note for those who have not seen the Special Edition DVDs yet, Shaw is replaced by Hayden Christensen.

Before we start the Prequel Trilogy, I just want to note that I like all six Star Wars films equally as one giant epic film. I don't see the hate for the Prequels, although I do agree the Original Trilogy is far superior, but I am not a Prequel hater. For more information, please read my review of the Prequel Trilogy.

Then, in 1999, we have “Episode I: The Phantom Menace,” in which Lucas did the same for as IV. I thought it was awesome, also telling Palpatine take over in detail, showing Anakin became a Jedi, Obi Wan, a night Palpatine, first scheme and the return of the Sith. Also Anakin was a very complex character. He was kind, selfless, brave, idealistic, optimistic, a dreamer, very attention asking boy, brave, also very venerable. Padme was responsible and caring, supportive, tolerant, nice, a strategist, shy, and her shyness and Anakin's ideas, optimism, her tolerance, and responsibility are all very original. Qui Gon is so original, a wise master who is stubborn, unorthodox, self-reliant, brave, kind, selfless, fatherly, but can be arrogant and cold, but alas fair, and Obi Wan is orthodox, unconfident, colder, but still brave, witty, and selfless.

Obi Wan learned how to follow his heart, Qui Gon to rely on others, Anakin to let go, and Padme, who was also a pacifist, to fight for her people. Anakin admires Qui Gon and Obi Wan, and Obi Wan likes but distrusts him, Qui Gon and Padme struggle a bit, but they respect each other, Palpatine is more manipulative and a liar, Panaka is loyal, brave, but skeptical, Mace Windu is skeptical, yet also wise and a leader, but a bit harsh.

The geography is the best.

I liked seeing the Jedi temple. Yeah, they live in a building. Oh, they are normal people. This is the biggest disappointment since then…not in the Original Trilogy (OT), and Luke using a light saber instead of bending air, PT then the OT???

Seeing the Jedi Council in action was great. Also, the dialogue was witty and deep, and the film had good themes about corruption, manipulation takes over, cooperate corruption, letting go and fighting for what you believe in.

The acting is great. It is so complex. The cinematography, direction, geography, props, sets, and costumes are amazing, and the music is so mysterious. The sound is great.

Also, the motivations of the trade federation were unexplained and my problem was more with Obi Wan’s character then the acting because he is just to kind-less. Liam Neeson was great, Ewan McGregor ok, Ian McDiarmid great, Natalie Portman wonderful, Samuel L. Jackson great, Jake Lloyd ok, Ray Park as Darth Maul was a great villain, Ahmed Best was hilarious as Jar Jar Binks, and Brian Blessed played great as Boss Nass. Pernilla August was very worried and caring as Anakin’s mother, Shmi Skywalker, and Andy Secombe was dastardly as Watto. Keira Knightley as Sabé, Amidala’s decoy, did a spectacular job, and looks an awful lot like Portman.

“Episode II: Attack of the Clones,” released in 2002, had Jonathan Hales co-write the screenplay. II told 5 different plots and 3 different stories setting up Palpatine's power, the Clone Wars, the storm troopers, and Padme leaving, and the return of the Sith. It sets up Anakin’s fall, the romance, Anakin’s relationship with Palpatine, and Obi Wan showed Yoda that he can train a Jedi.

The dialogue I thought was deep and intellectual. Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Temuera Morrison and Anthony Daniels were all stellar intense, deep, and fluent.

The action was so complex, the effects detailed, the cinematography colorful, the music emotional, the sound intense, the editing added to the intensity, the camera work was haunting, and the themes about taking over the war vs. negotiations, also the power of genetic manipulating over fear and war were all furthered.

Anakin became more depressed and annoyed, Padme gets a back-story, and along with Anakin, switches gears of growing up, and love for nature, Jango and Dooku, as I commented on, the film is just a blast. The geography is awesome.

“Episode III: Revenge of the Sith,” released in 2005, was again done by just Lucas.

III has a very complex plot, although the second most complex. It's very dark, has a great climax, and has mostly the same great characters, wonderful action, effects, cinematography, geography, props and sets. It completes the themes greatly and has great dialogue. Anakin turns evil over frustration, fear, power-hungry, and arrogance, Grievous is cunning, sadistic, arrogant, clever, and obnoxious, and the drama is great. I think Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Matthew Wood (who plays Grievous), Ewan McGregor, and Hayden Christensen are wonderful, but Samuel L. Jackson a bit flawed.

Also, I wanted to defend one exchange. The part on the balcony when Padme says she is beautiful because of her love, Anakin tries to out-love her, and she turns it into a joke, acting like she would be seen by him as beautiful cause of her love. That is just cute flirting and how he says it isn`t what he meant but she acknowledges it is probably true.

"The Clone Wars," released in 2008, was great, having great action pace and great voice acting for Obi Wan, Ahsoka and Anakin. The clones and the plot is great, and it has good themes, but it is very obvious, predictable, lacks good music, and I am sorry, but Anakin isn`t as developed as in the others.

I hope you liked my very first post, stay tuned for more of my reviews. One last thing: "May the force be with you....always."