A Look Back ‘Star Wars: A New Hope’
In 1977 something happened. A young filmmaker named George Lucas released a film that would change cinema forever. The movie was an epic space adventure that had laser swords, a Wookie, spaceships and the most evil villain to ever grace our screens. This is a look back at Star Wars: A New Hope.
To get caught up and get the full effects of our journey towards Episode IX check out our other look backs
A Look Back ‘ Rogue One A Star Wars Story’
A Look Back ‘ Solo A Star Wars Story’
A Look Back ‘Star Wars Revenge of the Sith’
A Look Back ‘Star Wars Attack of the Clones’
A Look Back ‘Star Wars The Phantom Menace’
Summary/Review
Assault on Tantive IV
The movie opens up in incredible fashion, unlike anything seen before. The rebel cruiser, aka Tantive IV, screams past the screen as an Imperial Star Destroy chases. On board the Tantive IV is one of our heroes of the film, Princess Leia. She is on a secret mission to deliver stolen data tapes to the Rebel Alliance. These data tapes hold the weakness to the Empire’s new and dreaded battle station. The Death Star.
The rebel cruiser is overtaken by the Imperial ship to which Imperial Storm troopers board and take control of the Tantive IV. It is here we are introduced to Darth Vader. An evil Sith Lord who rules the galaxy along side the Emperor with an iron fist.
Escape
Hiding on the ship, Princess Leia is spotted by storm troopers who shoot her with a stun blast. They then take her before the evil Darth Vader. Prior to being stunned and detained. Leia was able to record a holographic message with the help of R2-D2. She sends the droid on a mission to take this message to Obi-Wan Kenobi on Tatooine.
To hide the actions of the Empire, Vader orders a message be sent to the Imperial Senate, informing them that the Tantive IV was destroyed, with everyone on board killed.
R2-D2 and C-3PO use an escape pod and reach the planet of Tatooine below.
Twin Suns
Upon reaching the surface of Tattooine. R2 and 3PO they quickly find themselves captured by little junk trading creatures known as Jawas.
The Jawas make their way to Lars homestead where we are introduced to Luke Skywalker. A farm boy who dreams of joining the Imperial Academy and getting off this desolate planet.
Owen Lars and his nephew Luke purchase the two droids, 3PO and R2, from the Jawas. It’s not long after that where R2 plays Princess Leia’s message to Luke on accident.
Later that day Luke gazes upon the twin suns and ponders what lies ahead for him.
R2 sneaks away and continues his mission in finding Obi-Wan Kenobi. The next morning 3PO and Luke set course on finding the little droid.
Luke and C-3PO find R2 the next day just before they are attacked by Sand people. Luke and his droids are rescued by Obi-Wan Kenobi or, as Luke knows him, Old Ben Kenobi. Obi-Wan takes Luke to his home.
The Hero Journey Begins
While at Kenobi’s home Ben offers Luke his father’s lightsaber. A Jedi weapon for a more civilized age. Obi-Wan recalls his own friendship with Luke’s father. Luke is told that a Jedi named Darth Vader betrayed and murdered his father.
After discovering Princess Leia’s message carried by R2-D2, Obi-Wan attempts to persuade Luke to accompany him to Alderaan. Luke refuses to go until he discovers that his aunt and uncle were brutally murdered by stormtroopers searching for the droids. Luke, Obi-Wan, and the two droids travel to Mos Eisley to find passage to Alderaan, Princess Leia’s home planet.
Smuggler Han Solo and his friend a Wookiee named Chewbacca, agree to take the four of them to Alderaan aboard their ship, the Millennium Falcon.
After brief scuffles with the Empire and henchmen sent by Jabba the Hutt, the Falcon escapes the Imperial Blockade at Mos Eisley and Han sets a course for Alderaan, unaware that the planet was about to be mercilessly destroyed by the Empire.
Aboard the Death Star
In Alderaan’s place, they find what seems to be an asteroid field. The planet was destroyed by the dreaded Death Star, on the orders of Grand Moff Tarkin, showing the full power of the Empire.
Unaware that they are coming up on the Giant Space Station, The Millennium Falcon is pulled aboard by its powerful tractor beam.
Hiding in hidden compartments on the Falcon, Solo and the crew ambush two stormtroopers of the Imperial scanning crew. Now disguised as the two stormtroopers, the group begins to figure out how to escape.
Rescuing a Princess
Obi-Wan separates from the group to disable the tractor beam, leaving the others alone. While connected to the Imperial Network, R2-D2 discovers Princess Leia is aboard the station. Luke convinces Han and Chewbacca to rescue her with the vague promise of a grand reward. Han and Chewbacca reluctantly agree.
Luke plans to march into Detention Block AA-23, claiming that Chewbacca is part of a prisoner transfer. C-3PO and R2-D2 are instructed to remain behind, and the trio sets off on their rescue attempt. Luke’s plan works flawlessly in that they are quick to subdue the officers and guards in the princess’s cell block.
Unfortunately, no one thought to plan for their escape, and Leia takes charge, blasting a hole in a nearby grate and jumping through while Han and Luke hold off a squad of stormtroopers. Chewbacca, Luke and Han all dive after the princess into the unknown.
Unfortunately, the grate covers a chute that leads to a garbage compactor that is also home to a resident dianoga. Soon after landing, the creature pulls Luke under the surface, but releases him and is scared away when the Imperials realize where the heroes escaped to and activate the compactor.
As the walls closes in Luke desperately calls to C-3PO over his comlink asking for the compactor to be shut down. R2-D2 is able to shut down the compactor just in time. Although amidst the muffled cries of joy over the comlink, C-3PO is briefly convinced that his master and friends have been crushed.
After escaping from the trash compactor, the group hurries back to the Millennium Falcon, hoping that Obi-Wan has successfully shut down the tractor beam. They encounter stormtroopers on their way to the ship, evading and blasting their way past them
Sacrifice
On his way to meet the rest of the group Obi-Wan is confronted by Darth Vader. After a short duel with his former Padawan, Obi-Wan sacrifices himself, thus becoming one with the Force and allowing Luke and the others to escape. Horrified and angered having witnessed Obi-Wan’s demise at the hands of Vader, Luke takes his final blasts at the stormtroopers and dashes onto the Millennium Falcon.
After a battle with a squadron of TIE fighters, the Millennium Falcon meets the Rebel Alliance on Yavin 4, and the information in R2-D2 is turned over. General Dodonna plans the attack on the Death Star, an attack so audacious as to receive an unenthusiastic reaction from the pilots. To add to Luke’s dismay, Han leaves after receiving his reward.
Death Star Battle
The Rebel strike force begins its attack on the Death Star, as the space station approaches the Rebel base on Yavin 4. A group of starfighters assaults a trench on the Death Star’s surface to hit the station’s vulnerable spot before it can destroy the Alliance’s base.
Most of the Rebel ships are picked off by Imperial fighters who are led by Darth Vader. Just as Vader opens fire on Luke from his personal TIE Advanced fighter, Han returns in the Millennium Falcon and attacks the Imperials, resulting in Vader’s ship getting knocked out of the trench.
Luke, aided by the voice of Kenobi and guided by the Force, accurately fires two proton torpedoes into a small exhaust port leading to the Death Star’s reactor, and the battle station explodes.
A New Hope
The few remaining ships return to Yavin 4 and a victory celebration commences, complete with medals for the heroes, Han Solo and Luke Skywalker, presented by Princess Leia.
Luke Skywalker, the New Hope for the Galaxy, has just started his Journey to greater things.
Story Impact
In regards to what this movie meant for the overall narrative, it is the start of Luke’s journey towards becoming a Jedi and Leia’s journey to being a strong leader within the Rebellion. We see the first MAJOR victory of the Rebellion which sparks hope across the Galaxy that the tyranny of the Empire can be defeated and brought down.
What it Mean to Me
As a 9/10 year old watching Star Wars for the first time I was absolutely engrossed by the visuals and story that George Lucas had created. While It was the mid 90s when I first saw the film, nearly 20 years since it’s initial release. It immediately became my favorite franchise and continues to be today.