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Crafting The Ultimate Space Opera-- The Original "Star Wars"

Updated: Jun 22, 2023

Once in a blue moon, someone dares to make a movie that revitalizes a certain genre, stretches its emotional range, and thus, making its mark in history and defining filmmaking for ages. One that was made through much challenges and obstacles and even when everyone was doubtful, the movie managed to blow away everyone, living past their expectations and catapulting to a revered state of legacy and history. George Lucas' "Star Wars" (Later renamed "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" in 1981) is one such movie that defined what a space opera can be and lived past everyone's expectations and reach to an unprecedented stature of legacy.








Star Wars is, if boiled down to its basic build and beats, in very obvious ways, a typical hero journey. Without spoiling anything, if you have seen structural hero-journey movies before, you know what deal you are getting into. Introduction, conflict, inspiration, resolution, all of the typical beats are present here. But its the care, emotion, passion, raw love put into the craft is what has given Star Wars a special place in the hearts of millions and will keep giving in the years to come.

Luke Skywalker is a scrawny, squeaky teenager roped into the ways of the Force when he meets R2-D2, an astromech droid and C-3PO, a protocol droid who have seen action in space and the former carrying an emergency message. Luke faces various trials and tribulations on his journey to reaching resolution and earning the title of "hero."



It's maybe poetic, or as Lucas himself said during the production of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, "It's like poetry, it rhymes", that Lucas, the director and producer himself, went through various trials and tribulations during the production of the film.

While the production of Star Wars was going on, George Lucas faced financial and creative obstacles from distributing studio, 20th Century Fox Studios, which would explain the rudimentary, almost minimal computer effects, and mostly special and practical effects and due to the limits of technical effects or CGI, a more hand-crafted feel to the movie.

But it was not just the studio that was unmindful of Lucas' craft, it was the cast too.

Stories can be heard of lead actors Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford goofing around, not really paying attention except for when Master Ben Kenobi himself, Sir Alec Guinness was present on the set. (There's a funny anecdote that Mark Hamill would often fanboy around Sir Guinness, so much so, that Sir Guinness once gave him $10 to leave him alone.)

So its painfully evident that Lucas had to fight through mud and stone to get this movie made.

And he earned his title of "Hero" and rightly so. Star Wars was an instant classic, birthing a mega franchise worth of mad bucks. A movie that was oozing passion, love, dedication and hard work. The title phrase "A Long Time Ago........ In A Galaxy Far, Far Away" etched its place in gold in the history of legendary movie phrases. The homely, familiar-but-not-so-much setting of the movie, the colorful locations, the charming and loveable cast of characters, the simple but gargantually rewarding story, the satisfying third-act, all molded into a movie instantly recognizable, instantly lovable, instantly iconic. No wonder that Star Wars blew up the way it did. After all, it was George Lucas' carefully thought-out, and lovingly crafted brainchild of a legendary movie.

But I would be remiss to not mention that John Williams also shares a lion's share in the legend of this movie.

It's no surprise, none at all, that often times, John Williams is considered the greatest movie composer of all time. Star Wars' iconic opening theme (it starts with a loud "BLAMMM!!!") is one of the most epic tracks ever composed, Binary Sunset/The Force has been parodied countless times and The Throne Room March, my loving God, The Throne Room March!!!

What was already a satisfying ending to a very iconic movie was made more impactful by Williams' "The Throne Room March." The soundtrack, not of just this movie, but every Star Wars movie has that one track that really sets it apart, not counting the already-legendary soundtrack it boasts. If George Lucas is the brain of Star Wars, then John Williams is definitely, most definitely the heart of it, you can't say otherwise, you just can't. Star Wars won six, yes, six Academy Awards at the 50th Academy Awards for Best Art Direction, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best Original Score, Best Sound and Best Visual Effects with a nomination for Best Supporting Actor In A Supporting Role to Sir Alec Guinness and Best Original Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture to George Lucas. And this is from a time when a level of understanding and mutuality was present between the audience and The Academy, so the awards speak volume of Star Wars' success.

And so, Star Wars has rightly earned its place in history as one of the best movies ever made. It resonates to children and adults alike for both cool and fast-paced space adventure and action but also its rich themes of coming-of-age and earning catharsis.

It's almost always a must for everyone to at least watch the original Star Wars, if not all of the 12 major-released movies. Lastly, I would like to end this review with the iconic line:


"May the Force be with you."

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