Star Wars (1977)
No A New Hope, the movie as it was seen by countless millions back in the year of my birth.
I have not actually sat down and watch this in years.
What struck me is how much this is a movie of the 1970's. It might be responsible of the block-buster mentality of the 80's. But this is very much a 1977 film.
The way the actors look, how they are dressed, the set design (a lot of black a red combinations). The way it's shot.
The special effects still hold up perfectly fine today. Though you can really notice that certain scenes suddenly have double the amount of film grain (when Luke firsts uses the light sabre in Ben's little house)
The story, nothing new really there, but I like the economy with which Lucas tells it. We start of by following some droids who have no idea in what situation they are in. We don't get to know their names until 20 minutes in. We don't even get to see the films hero for the first 16 minutes. The story only tells us what we need to know to understand the plot or the characters, nothing more. The bloated behemoth that is the Star wars Universe is still very lean here.
I never thought Lucas was a brilliant director. He lacks the visual flair of Spielberg or DePalma, and lacks the cinematic insight of a Scorsese, but here he does just fine.
The acting? Well the actors have become so iconic;y linked with these characters that's it's hard to judge them. Hammil, never a great actor is just right for Luke. Ford can already been seen having some of that charisma he would use so well in the 80's. Carrie Fisher is annoying as hell, which is what is required for the role.
The music. This (and maybe Jaws) is John Williams signature work. Of all the Star Wars scores it's the most linear, and the most accessible. I love the fact that despite all the big themes and huge orchestra, there is not a note too many, or a cue that it does not need. Brilliant still.
What I watched was the 2007 "bonus" version which is the only version of the "original" Star Wars ever issued on DVD. I combined it though with the uncompressed gutsy CD quality PCM track from the 1983 laserdisc (the DVD has mediocre sound)
I always liked Star Wars. I still do.
***1/2 out of ****
FILM: Star Wars (1977)
Started by Stefancos, Jun 13 2011 05:54 PM
15 replies to this topic
#1
Stefancos
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 05:54 PM
#2
Jason LeBlanc
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 05:58 PM
Once again Stefan, that was on the 2007 DVDs, NOT the 2004 DVDs.
-Jay
#3
Stefancos
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:00 PM
Unimportant
#4
Quint
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:29 PM
I think he did more than just fine, I think Star Wars is brilliantly directed. Seeing it again recently made me change my belief that Lucas merely "got lucky" with Star Wars. He was a a very gifted film maker in 1977. Unfortunately he was blinded by success and technology shortly after, completely loosing his gift FOREVER as a result.Star Wars (1977)
I never thought Lucas was a brilliant director. He lacks the visual flair of Spielberg or DePalma, and lacks the cinematic insight of a Scorsese, but here he does just fine.
#5
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:33 PM
Maybe you are right. I love the way he handles the material. It certainly is a George Lucas film though and through. but this time in a good way.
#6
Jason LeBlanc
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:34 PM
It's a pretty amazing feat for what is a essentially an independent film written/directed by one man.
-Jay
#7
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:36 PM
Well that's what the prequels are too.
What the fuck happened!
What the fuck happened!
#8
Quint
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:41 PM
Success and technology entered his life.
#9
Wojo
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:51 PM
It's a pretty amazing feat for what is a essentially an independent film written/directed by one man.
Star Wars timeframe:
Worker: George, I don't agree with what you're doing.
George: Get off my picture.
Worker: Have a nice day.
Prequels timeframe:
Worker: Uh, Mr. Lucas, I have a bad feeling...
George: <Glare of doom>
Worker (aside): Do I really want to put on my resume "fired by George Lucas?" I'm making a fortune here. I'd never work anywhere again. I don't care if he wants to make the sloppy wet donkey sleep with the queen to sire those twin brats. I'm working on Star Wars! It's a nerd's wet dream!
Worker: Never mind, sir. You're the boss.
George: <Smile>
@Wojo: stop being facetious.
#10
Quint
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 06:54 PM
Or,
McCallum: Um, George, I er think... I thi-
Lucas: STFU
McCallum: Um, George, I er think... I thi-
Lucas: STFU
#11
Elmo Lewis
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Posted 13 June 2011 - 11:41 PM
It's a pretty amazing feat for what is a essentially an independent film written/directed by one man.
Was it written by one man? Hasn't it been anally documented that Lucas sought the help of better writers than him to make the better movie while the worried with other, more technical aspects and the movie's "feel"?
"We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had."
#12
Red Rabbit
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Posted 14 June 2011 - 04:33 AM
Yes. Star Wars was quite the collaborative effort, an aspect lost in the prequels.
It's a pretty amazing feat for what is a essentially an independent film written/directed by one man.
Was it written by one man? Hasn't it been anally documented that Lucas sought the help of better writers than him to make the better movie while the worried with other, more technical aspects and the movie's "feel"?
Do you like John Williams? His early work was a little too jazzy for my taste, but when Jaws came out in '75 I really think he came into his own, commercially and artistically. The whole album has a clear, crisp sound, and an air of consummate professionalism that really gives the pieces a big boost. He's been compared to Jerry Goldsmith but I think John has a far more leitmotif-driven style of composing. In '82 John composed this, E.T., his most accomplished album to date. I think his undisputed masterpiece is "The Magic of Halloween", a theme so catchy most people don't listen to what it means. But they should, because it's not just about the pleasures of childhood and the importance of friendship, it's also a personal statement about the man himself. Hey Paul!
- Patrick Bateman on the Maestro
- Patrick Bateman on the Maestro
#13
Chaac
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Posted 14 June 2011 - 04:49 AM
Which writers? Where's that information?
Izena duen guztia omen da.
#14
Elmo Lewis
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Posted 14 June 2011 - 12:04 PM
Here.
It includes insightful quotes like:
It includes insightful quotes like:
I wrote the first version of Star Wars, we discussed it, and I realized I hated the script. I chucked it and started a new one, which I also threw in the trash. That happened four times with four radically different versions. After each version I had a discussion with those friends. If there was a good scene in the first version, I included it in the second. And so on...The script was constructed this way, scene by scene
"We’re flawed because we want so much more. We’re ruined because we get these things and wish for what we had."
#15
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Posted 14 June 2011 - 12:24 PM
Someone ought to link chaac to that superb dissertation floating around online.
#16
crocodile
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Posted 14 June 2011 - 12:36 PM
Yeah, I read that some time ago. It's a pure speculation, of course, but very thorough and interesting.
Is it just me or was this book free to download some time ago?
Karol
Is it just me or was this book free to download some time ago?
Karol
From a storytelling point of view, from a directing point of view, there is one thing I associate with what he does, which is calm. There is such an inherent calm and inherent trust of the one powerful image, that he makes me embarrassed with my own work, in terms of how many different shots, how many different sound effects, how many different things we’ll throw at an audience to make an impression. But with Kubrick, there is such a great trust of the one correct image to calmly explain something to audience. There can be some slowness to the editing. There’s nothing frenetic about it. It’s very simple. There’s a trust in simple storytelling and simple image making that actually takes massive confidence to try and emulate.
- Christopher Nolan
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