Synopsis: A long time ago, in a
galaxy far far away, an Empire controls the inhabitants of hundreds
of worlds. A rebellion aided by Princess Leia makes their way back
to base when they are boarded by an Imperial Star Destroyer. Leia
sends a message for help with a couple of droids to the planet
below.
A New Hope was the first of six films released in the Star Wars
saga- two films continue the story, while a prequel trilogy
tells the back-story. The first Star Wars movie is one of the
most successful films of all time and it is generally considered
to be one of the most influential films as well, mostly thanks
to its innovative and ground-breaking effects. Lucas began to
work on Star Wars in May 1973 and it was released in May 1977.
The movie had a budget of $11,000,000, earning $460 million in
the United States and $337 overseas. It received several awards,
including 10 Academic Award nominations. It was re-released
numerous times, sometimes with important changes- the most
notable versions are the 1997 Special Edition and the 2004 DVD
release. In these versions, the effects were moderated using
computer generation. At the 50th Annual Academy Awards, Star
Wars won several awards, including the Best Art Direction-Set
Decoration, Best Costume Design, Best Film Editing, Best
Effects, Visual Effects, Best Music, Original Score, Best Sound,
Special Achievement for Sound Effects, Best Actor in a
Supporting Role, Best Screenplay and Best Director. It also
received six BAFTA nominations: Best Film, Best Editing, Best
Costume, Best Production/Art Design, Best Sound and Best Score-
the film won in the latter two categories. The soundtrack also
won a Grammy. Star Wars has undoubtedly influenced many films
and film makers as well. It began a new generation of special
effects and high-energy motion pictures. It was one of the first
films which linked genres- such as space opera and soap opera.
Finally, together with Spielberg's Jaws, it changed the film
industry, focusing away from personal filmmaking of the 1970s
and shifted towards fast-paced blockbusters for young audience.
"Star Wars and Jaws did not betray the cinema at all: they
plugged it back into the grid, returning the medium to its roots
as a carnival sideshow, a magic act, one special big effect
which was a kind of rebirth." Tom Shone
