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Star Wars

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Star Wars (1977)

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94 %
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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

US Box Office: $0

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; Australian critics are listed first)
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Reviews
Tomatometer Critic Review Category
tomato

Urban Cinefile Critics

With its naive romanticism, its simple fable of youthful innocence triumphing over evil, its look back at classic narrative mythology, Star Wars is an exhilarating ride into cinematic fantasy, unlike anything that the cinema has made since.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 01 2000 12:00 AM

Urban Cinefile

tomato
4/4

Robert Roten

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Nov., 05 2009 03:16 AM

Laramie Movie Scope

splat

Rob Nelson

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

Full Review Source: | comment 9 Comments | Aug., 20 2009 01:43 PM

City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

tomato
A+

Steven D. Greydanus

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 29 2008 03:15 AM

Decent Films Guide

N/R

David Ansen

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 09:02 AM

Newsweek

N/R

Carol Cling

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Oct., 18 2008 09:02 AM

Las Vegas Review-Journal

tomato

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: | comment 1 Comment | Aug., 13 2008 10:48 AM

TIME Magazine

tomato

Steve Biodrowski

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 13 2008 09:01 AM

ESplatter

tomato
5/5

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: | comment 2 Comments | Mar., 04 2008 03:33 PM

Channel 4 Film

tomato

A.D. Murphy

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: | comment Comment | Feb., 19 2008 05:14 PM

Variety

tomato

Derek Adams

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Feb., 09 2006 03:16 AM

Time Out

tomato
4/4

Michael Dequina

Puts most recent 'epic' blockbuster mediocrities to shame.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 15 2005 02:34 PM

TheMovieReport.com

tomato
4/4

Phil Villarreal

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 31 2004 06:59 AM

Arizona Daily Star

tomato
9/10

John J. Puccio

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Sep., 09 2004 09:28 AM

DVDTown.com

tomato
4/4

Judith Egerton

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jun., 22 2004 07:43 AM

Courier-Journal (Louisville, KY)

N/R

Jim Ridley

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | May., 19 2004 08:16 AM

City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

tomato
4/4

Stefan Birgir Stefansson

classic

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jan., 10 2004 02:21 PM

sbs.is

tomato

James O'Ehley

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

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Dec., 05 2003 08:15 AM

Sci-Fi Movie Page

tomato
4.5/5

Marc Savlov

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: | comment Comment | Oct., 01 2003 05:11 PM

Austin Chronicle

tomato
4.5/5

What's fascinating from a cinematic point of view is the magnificently derivative nature of the film. It's an enormous summary of characters, styles, and plot points that surveys 40 years of film history.

Full Review Source: | comment Comment | Jul., 30 2003 05:11 PM

TV Guide's Movie Guide

 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for Star Wars

December 10, 2009: Thomas Dolby Starts a Star Wars Rumor Opens in new window
Did Thomas Dolby just speak out of turn, or is there really a new "Star Wars" movie on the horizon? More...

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...

See All

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