Video/DVD Review: Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know this 1977 movie comes in two versions:
the original and the one released on DVD in 2004 that's
augmented with more effects. Either one is a good introduction
to the series for kids (the effects don't add much) if you
decide to view them in the order they were made rather than the
chronological order in which they're marketed now. Parents may
notice something they didn't the first time around: The human
cast isn't all that diverse. Most are white males, and the
princess stands out as the only strong female character. One
bar scene features "space" drinking, smoking, and shady
characters, resulting in the loss of one character's limb and
the shooting death of another. Two supporting characters are
killed fairly early on and shown as ash-like figures; a main
character dies later. There are plenty of laser blasts and
swordplay with lightsabers, although this entry is the tamest
of the series.
Families can talk about the characters' choices and
motivations. Why does Luke decide to fight the Empire? Why does
Han? Why does Han leave, and why does he come back? What
background do the newer movies give this story? In 1977 the
audience didn't have this background -- do you think they
missed out? If you watched the updated version could you tell
right away when a scene was added? Why do you think the
director added to his work? Do you think it's the sign of a
good director to let his or her art stand or to keep revisiting
past work?
Two robots (or "droids") escape: the elegant C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and his counterpart, the gurgling and beeping R2-D2 carry a message from Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) to Obi-Wan Kenobi, asking for help. When they arrive on the desert planet of Tatooine, they're bought by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) to help on his aunt and uncle's farm. Luke finds the message from Leia and makes his way to Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), where he learns that his father was a Jedi knight and joins Ben on his quest to fight the Empire.
George Lucas, who wrote and directed STAR WARS: EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE, was deeply influenced by Joseph Campbell's work on myths, as well as his own love for the great movie classics. This movie is rich in themes from both. For example, the Mos Eisley cantina scene with all the aliens is very much like a typical bar scene in a Western movie. Han Solo resembles the cowboy ideal -- the loner with no loyalty to any cause, but with his own sense of morality.
Han and Luke must both decide whether to join the fight. At first both are reluctant, but they accept the responsibility, as they must. The idea of the Force in the movie may be something kids may want to know more about, and it's definitely not a new concept. They can start by looking up Eastern religions.
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