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Star Wars

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Star Wars (1977)

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Reviews Counted:62

Fresh:58

Rotten:4

Average Rating:8.1/10

Consensus: The action and special effects are first rate.

Runtime: 2 hrs 10 mins

Genre: Science-Fiction/Fantasy

Synopsis: STAR WARS, George Lucas's stunning sci-fi masterpiece, is arguably one of the most inventive and entertaining films ever made, garnering generations of loyal fans who are forever imprinted with the... STAR WARS, George Lucas's stunning sci-fi masterpiece, is arguably one of the most inventive and entertaining films ever made, garnering generations of loyal fans who are forever imprinted with the memory of its characters and dialogue. As the adventure begins, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), an impulsive but goodhearted young man who lives on the dusty planet of Tatooine with his aunt and uncle, longs for the exciting life of a Rebel soldier. The Rebels, led by the headstrong Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), are fighting against the evil Empire, which has set about destroying planets inhabited by innocent citizens with the Death Star, a fearsome planetlike craft commanded by Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and the eternally frightful Darth Vader (David Prowse, with the voice of James Earl Jones). When Luke's aunt and uncle are murdered by the Empire's imperial stormtroopers and he mysteriously finds a distress message from Princess Leia in one of his androids, R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), he must set out to find Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), a mysterious old hermit with incredible powers. On his journey, Luke is aided by the roguish, sarcastic mercenary Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and his towering furry sidekick Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) as they run into a host of perilous situations while trying to rescue the princess--and the entire galaxy. Magnificently referencing everything from Akira Kurosawa's SEVEN SAMURAI and THE HIDDEN FORTRESS to THE WIZARD OF OZ to John Ford Westerns and Joseph Campbell philosophies, STAR WARS revolutionized the cinematic world with its epic storytelling and amazing special effects. In addition to film veterans Guinness and Cushing, the movie also features an unforgettable performance from the young Ford, who would, of course, go on to become one of the biggest stars of the silver screen. Even today, Lucas's astonishing film leaves viewers wanting to see it again and again. [More]

Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness

Starring: Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Peter Cushing, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones, Phil Brown, Shelagh Fraser, Jack Purvis, Alex McCrindle, Eddie Byrne, Drewe Henley, Denis Lawson, Garrick Hagon, Jack Klaff, William Hootkins, Angus MacInnes, Jeremy Sinden, Graham Ashley, Don Henderson, Leslie Schofield, Richard LeParmentier

Director: George Lucas

Director: George Lucas
Screenwriter: George Lucas
Producer: Gary Kurtz
Composer: John Williams
Studio: 20th Century Fox

[See More Credits]

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Reviews for Star Wars

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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So, is this the best film of all time? Certainly not. But it definitely is one of the most enduring, and it's hard not to be seduced.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment 2 Comments
03/04/08
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Has distinct limitations, but the current return to a cinema of spectacle and wonder is wholly encouraging.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
02/09/06
Derek Adams
Derek Adams
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Despite being over-hyped, over-marketed, and fairly flawed, Star Wars remains one of the most memorable and glorious fantasies ever made.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
08/01/01
BBC
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

This is the phenomenon that saved 20th Century Fox.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Angie Errigo
Angie Errigo
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Laramie Movie Scope | comment Comment
11/05/09
Robert Roten
Robert Roten
Laramie Movie Scope

After Star Wars, movies not only spawned profitable kids' toys; they merged with kids' toys, and basically became toys themselves.

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment 8 Comments
08/20/09
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Decent Films Guide | comment Comment
10/29/08
Steven D. Greydanus
Steven D. Greydanus
Decent Films Guide
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Newsweek | comment Comment
10/18/08
David Ansen
David Ansen
Newsweek
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Las Vegas Review-Journal | comment Comment
10/18/08
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

A grand and glorious film that may well be the smash hit of 1977, and certainly is the best movie of the year so far.

Full Review Source: TIME Magazine | comment 1 Comment
08/13/08
TIME Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

On the basic level of simple entertainment it succeeds as well as any film ever has.

Full Review Source: ESplatter | comment Comment
07/13/08
Steve Biodrowski
Steve Biodrowski
ESplatter

A magnificent film. George Lucas set out to make the biggest possible adventure fantasy out of his memories of serials and older action epics, and he succeeded brilliantly.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/19/08
A.D. Murphy
A.D. Murphy
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Puts most recent 'epic' blockbuster mediocrities to shame.

Full Review Source: TheMovieReport.com | comment Comment
09/15/05
Michael Dequina
Michael Dequina
TheMovieReport.com

Lucas' trilogy earned its place in eternity not for its mechanical precision, but for its intangible qualities of inspiration and wonder.

Full Review Source: Arizona Daily Star | comment Comment
12/31/04
Phil Villarreal
Phil Villarreal
Arizona Daily Star

...the key to the movie’s success is its creation of a family of characters we can love and believe in.

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
09/09/04
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

The movie, modeled after old-fashioned Westerns and Joseph Campbell's writings about mythology, also has a sweet innocence.

Full Review Source: Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY) | comment Comment
06/22/04
Judith Egerton
Judith Egerton
Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
05/19/04
Jim Ridley
Jim Ridley
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

classic

Full Review Source: sbs.is | comment Comment
01/10/04
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
Stefan Birgir Stefansson
sbs.is

The special effects wizardry seen in Star Wars is put in aid of a pure 1930s space opera pulp story . . .

Full Review Source: Sci-Fi Movie Page | comment Comment
12/05/03
James O'Ehley
James O'Ehley
Sci-Fi Movie Page

Those of us who were old enough to catch the film as kids the first time around may even find an unexpected lump in their throats as the nostalgia gates bust wide open and Vader gets his, once again, on that giant, silver screen.

Full Review Source: Austin Chronicle | comment Comment
10/01/03
Marc Savlov
Marc Savlov
Austin Chronicle
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 3 4 >> >|
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Latest News for Star Wars

November 15, 2009: Win Star Wars Prize Packs -- including the new Family Guy episode
Here's your chance to pick up new editions of the Original and Prequel 'Star Wars' trilogies, plus the forthcoming 'Family Guy' parody. More...

October 01, 2009: Star Wars: In Concert Takes the Stage Opens in new window
Skeptical about "Star Wars: In Concert"? You aren't alone. In fact, John Williams had his own reservations, as detailed in the Los Angeles Times' look behind the scenes of the... More...

July 24, 2009: Announcing Star Wars: In Concert Opens in new window
"Star Wars in Concert" begins its tour October 1, but you can get a sneak peek at what to expect now, thanks to the Force-powered multimedia extravaganza's brand new website. More...

June 03, 2009: Where Will Star Trek Boldly Go Next?
With Star Trek entering popular culture not just as a franchise reboot but a cinematic moment in sci-fi history, talk has already turned to the sequel(s) and where the next... More...

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