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| Yoda and Luke in a pivotal scene |
When I think of the original Star Wars trilogy I think of genuinely magical movie moments...
Yoda lifting Luke's ship out of the swamp with the force; Lando Calrissian's euphoric scream after he destroys the Death Star, Obi Wan Kenobi deftly using a Jedi mind trick on a hapless storm trooper...
Before cynical executives started packaging our sci-fi action epics as franchises, these three films felt like a story that legitimately unfolded over three distinct films and in my mind (sorry Lord of the Rings lovers) they have yet to be topped as a trio of pop perfection.
The prequels have done much to sully our collective memories of Star Wars and while I'm hopeful J.J. Abrams' take on the saga is an improvement, it'll be hard to recapture the sheer excitement and imagination the original films do.
It's a testament to their staying power that successive generations of kids fall in love with them all over again, year after year, despite all three having been released over thirty years ago now.
Tonight, for fun and to commemorate the eventual release of The Force Awakens, I'll be viewing (or trying to): Star Wars (a.k.a. A New Hope), The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi back-to-back. Here are my lasting impressions of each film:
It's hard to imagine now how fresh (and strange) this film must have been to audiences when it debuted in the summer of 1977. Sci-fi had largely been about either trips to outer space or invasions from outer space, but George Lucas brilliantly created his own world, with cultures, languages, philosophies and politics. Unlike the prequels, the first Star Wars film wisely leaves many things a mystery: such as the true meaning of the force, and the evolution of Darth Vader's nature. It's a relatively simple film on its surface -- but the characterizations lift the somewhat episodic storyline into the stratosphere.
The greatest find in this film is Harrison Ford, who arrives with so much swagger and charm it's simply shocking that he never became a movie star earlier. In this film he seems one step ahead of the entire cast (save perhaps the great Alec Guiness, who is flawless as Obi Wan). He is essentially setting up the standard by which all modern action heroes are compared. His Han Solo is cocky but careless, seemingly selfish but ultimately noble. Virtually every blockbuster's lead role owes a debt to this performance.
Star Wars is also perhaps the original film most tainted by future editions. While the special effects certainly could have used an update in some scenes, Lucas has chosen to significantly alter the intent of whole scenes of this film, stripping it of its edge completely. I am relieved that he has not excised the slaughter of Luke's aunt and uncle, but the choice to make Han appear to shoot Greedo first (forgive me if you haven't seen the film) is unforgivable. This film demands to be seen in it's original, unaltered form because it is a masterpiece, warts and all.
This critically acclaimed 1980 follow-up is not only one of my personal favorite films of all time, but also is the one most routinely cited as the best by hardcore Star Wars fans. Sometimes they can take this position to the extreme point of snobbery, but I will try to explain why it's the one that resonates the most with me.
Of the first three movies, it's the most emotionally fulfilling. The three main plot threads of this film are each wildly compelling in their own way. You have one of the great movie romances between Han and Princess Leia, where near death circumstances help speed up their budding sexual tension. By the time she utters "I love you," and he says, "I know," they've both earned our affection and our sympathy. Luke's journey to enlightenment on Dagobah is no less astounding. Although the Yoda character would become a self parody in the prequels, he is a highlight here and his tutelage of Luke in the ways of the force -- to me -- form the backbone of the entire trilogy.
Finally, there is Darth Vader's arc, which isn't as expressive (due in no small fact that his face can't show emotion) but perhaps has the biggest impact.
Thanks to James Earl Jones' miraculous vocal performance (worthy of an Oscar I'd argue), Vader's revelation (SPOILER ALERT) that he is indeed Luke Skywalker's father is one of the most indelible moments in movie history. What's more is that it comes after the most brutal and intense lightsaber fight in the entire series. It's child abuse on a profoundly rich scale. Speaking of scale -- from the ice planet of Hoth to the sumptuous vistas of Cloud City, this is arguably the most visually stunning Star Wars film.
Although it's more character driven than its predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back doesn't skimp on visual wonders -- from the asteroid field to the encasing of Solo in carbonite, I will never forget the visuals in this movie.
Much has been made about the film's ending and how it is a "downer." I've never felt that way. Luke has defied his father -- and yes, paid a price -- but he grows up a lot from that encounter and is never the same callow youth again. Luke doubles down on the good side of the force. Sure, Solo is captured and appears to have an uncertain fate in the hands of Boba Fett, but the rebels gain a strong new ally in Lando. I think it's a story of both redemption, loyalty and growth.
This film sometimes gets a bad wrap as being a somewhat lesser film that the other two. No one is quite throwing around Godfather III-style insults about it, but the nerd griping does start to begin here -- which I think is absurd. Return of the Jedi is an incredible film, right on par with its predecessors, and I say that without a single caveat. The Ewoks? They're funny and adorable -- and do nothing to detract from my enjoyment of this film.
That said, this film too has been irreparably damaged by Lucas' meddling. Future editions of the film have added distracting and cheesy effects to an otherwise excellent entry, the most egregious of which is a dance number featuring a poorly rendered CGI creature said to be inspired by soul singer Joe Cocker. Some have argued that Lucas' descent into trying to appeal to toddlers began here but the film has enough gravitas to beat back his more inane preoccupations.
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| Leia rocks the infamous 'slave girl' outfit |
Curiously women overwhelmingly tell me this film is their favorite. It certainly provides Leia with a bigger piece of the action pie. Although she is saddled with an undeniably objectified role (albeit pretty hot) during the classic Jabba the Hutt sequences, she pretty much plays the most masculine half of the romance with Solo in this film.
Her character starts to become aware of not only her true relationship to Luke but also her own abilities with the force. Luke and several other characters find satisfying closure in a film that feels like a reward for the fans as much as it is a stand alone success.
We finally get to see Jabba, I am choosing to pretend the awful rebooted scene inserted in the special edition of Star Wars didn't happen. We finally get to see the Emporer as more than just a creepy hologram. And Darth Vader is unmasked in a powerful and truly heartbreaking scene. Mark Hamill doesn't get enough credit for his acting here. While Harrison Ford steals the show in the first two films, I feel like this one belongs to his portrayal of Luke. Cloaked in black, with a much more knowing smile, we see his maturation as a man and it leaves us with a sense that all is right in the universe when the film comes to a close.
I'll be lucky enough to be viewing the 1977, 1980 and 1983 releases of these films on DVD -- in a rare cave-in to fans, George Lucas allowed them to be reissued in that form for a limited time only. Even if the picture quality isn't great, I know the movies will be,
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