Star Wars (1977)

Before I critique, you must understand something. I critique films based on quality, not on how much I like them. A film must be done in a certain way for it to get a high grade. I have given some films that I love low scores ('Pirates 2'), and thus I give some films I do not love high scores. That said, I hate 'Star Wars'. Every single film. I hate this one too. ALL of them. But they are not bad films, and this one is a well-made film. I just don't like it. I don't care for science fiction films and I honestly don't understand the appeal of this one or any of it's followers. Jedi knights? Furry aliens? Swords of lasers instead of steel? Whatever. But oh well. These films have such a huge cult following that it's no use to argue with those who actually like the films. Everything is commendable here, the directing is good, the story is very good, the special affects are well done for the time, and the music is excellent. The acting is good but Mark Hamill as Luke is not so good. He likes to whine, I guess, and it'sannoying. There are times when I want to send him to acting school. Carrie
Fisher as Leia isn't much better, but at least she's got pluck and can't be bothered to be around these people (just about how I felt). Harrison Ford is good, but I think this is the least good acting he's done, but then after 'The Fugitive' any acting he does seems less than worthy. The characters seem rather shallow and one-sided, and obviously the film left room for growth (as we saw with the following sequels). Things came before this one as well (we know that all to well now too). Unfortunately Darth Vader and his minions didn't seem very hateful to me. Sure he was very evil and did bad things, but he wasn't one of those villains I could truly hate (and I love those). He wasn't very scary either. The film is good on character development, I might add. I didn't find any of them likable, but that's me and I know that other people loved the characters here. Comparing it to the other two that come after this film, it
fits in nicely in the original trilogy. George Lucas is not short on
imagination and it's obvious here. It's nice, though, that someone can come up with something so fresh and original and complicated as this story. Too bad I hated it. Really, I don't get the appeal. There's nothing really wrong with the film; there are times when it seems to drag a little and Luke grates my nerves (so the drama with him), and looking at the film without regards to the other
two, the character of Han seems more complex than is let on here, and I wonder if the first audiences were confused by him (and the scene with Jabba the Hutt seems awkward since at this point we have only known the character for a few minutes and already he's hiding secrets which the film doesn't tell us). I guess you can say that the film is fun and exciting, but me, I didn't think so. Ah well. My opinion might matter, but I'm still the odd one out when it comes
to this film. Sometimes I think that my friends and family really don't care about my criticsm. Just as well, really, in this case.