CLASSIC MOVIES: STAR WARS (1977)

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Brief Movie Synopsis [courtesy of Turner Classic Movies]:

"Star Wars: A New Hope" opens with a rebel ship being
boarded by the tyrannical Darth Vader. The plot then
follows the life of a simple farmboy, Luke Skywalker,
as he and his allies attempt to rescue a rebel leader,
Princess Leia, from the clutches of the Empire.

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REVIEWS:

"['Star Wars'] works so well for several reasons, and they don't
all have to do with the spectacular special effects. .... The movie
relies on the strength of pure narrative, in the most basic
storytelling form known to man, the Journey. .... The most
fascinating single scene, for me, was the one set in the bizarre
saloon on the planet Tatooine. As that incredible collection of
extraterrestrial alcoholics and bug-eyed martini drinkers lined up
at the bar, and as [George] Lucas so slyly let them exhibit
characteristics that were universally human, I found myself feeling
a combination of admiration and delight. 'Star Wars' had placed me
in the presence of really magical movie invention: Here, all mixed
together, were whimsy and fantasy, simple wonderment and quietly
sophisticated storytelling."

-- Roger Ebert; 1977

1999 REVIEW:

SISKEL & EBERT "STAR WARS"
MOVIE REVIEWS FROM 1983 & 1997:

"Star Wars...is the most elaborate, most expensive,
most beautiful movie serial ever made. ....
One of Mr. [George] Lucas's particular achievements is
the manner in which he is able to recall the tackiness
of the old comic strips and serials he loves without
making a movie that is, itself, tacky.
'Star Wars' is good enough to convince the most skeptical
8-year-old sci-fi buff, who is the toughest critic."

-- Excerpt from The New York Times; May 26, 1977