Heroic Devices In A New Hope

The first episode of Star Wars to ever be released, - A New Hope, - was a huge success. Directed by George Lucas, the princess-protecting tale takes a typical storyline and adds a pinch of the impractical to create a beautiful and magical world with a compelling plot line and relatable characters. The way that Star Wars delivers fantastic creatures and devices through an approachable human lens helps make it the success it is. There is a scene of A New Hope where Luke realises something bad could have happened to the Lars Family. He wants to get back to their house quickly, so he hops on his hovering vehicle and flies away. There is no (feasible) way of creating this machine with our current human technology, and the concept is appealing. The science, although - if we’re honest - it’s more like magic than science,
The vehicle, although it hovers, follows the same basic structure as a high-speed car. Everyone can understand how a car works and relate to the experience. The real kicker, though, is when Luke gets to the house and sees it burning. Even amidst the science and magic, the saddest and most touching moments are those when the human element is involved. Everyone can feel bad for a burned down house; it’s a concept we all know and understand. Star Wars dilutes the fantastic with a dose of familiarity. The movie contains a scene in which Obi-Wan and Darth Vader get into a fight involving the use of lightsabers. The visual effects were, at the time they were created, a novel and impressive feat. The scene contains sparks, smoke, and sounds which all contribute to the magical mood of the scene. Everything is very foreign; the sound effects used do not match anything heard in our own world, and the solid beams of light don’t fit any model we have of how the world works. The lightsabers are mysterious and enticing, and create a sense of power that we cannot begin to