question archive Surname 7 Student Name Instructor’s Name Course Name Date Movie Critic: Star Wars: A New Hope 1
Surname 7 Student Name Instructor’s Name Course Name Date Movie Critic: Star Wars: A New Hope 1
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Surname 7
Student Name
Instructor’s Name
Course Name
Date
Movie Critic: Star Wars: A New Hope
1. List the names
Director: George Lucas
Princess Leia: Carrie Fisher
Luke Skywalker: Mark Hamill
2. Give a plot synopsis
It was in the middle of the galactic war when the rebel alliance spies stole a plan to the galactic empire, the death star, a huge station with the potential for destroying the planets. Princess Leia, the imperial senator and a secretive leader of the rebellion had acquired its schematics. Before her capture, she managed to hide the plans in a system belonging to two droids, C-3PO and R2-D2, who escape with plans to a desert nearby. The two droids are captured and sold to Owen and Beru and Luke Skywalker, is their nephew. One day when Luke was cleaning the R2-D2 he heard a recording of someone asking for help. It was Leia who wanted Obi-wan to help him. Later the R2-D2 goes missing and Luke is attacked by some people and he is rescued by someone who identifies himself as Obi-Wan who is an acquaintance of Luke. He tells Luke that he was once a Jedi Knight and a former peacekeeper in the galactic empire and had drawn some mystical powers from an energy field called the force. Luke discovered that his father worked with Obi-Wan at the Knight before he was killed by Vader who was once a pupil of Obi-Wan. Here Luke is given his father’s signature weapon. In the R2-D2 system, Leia is heard begging Obi-Wan to give her father the stolen plans to be analyzed. Luke is hesitant to join Obi-Wan to Leia’s home planet where he could learn how the Force operates. It was until he learned that his relatives had been killed in search of the missing droids that he agrees to join Obi-Wan. The two travel to look for transport and hire Han Solo. They are pursued by the man who killed Luke’s uncle and auntie but they catch the Millennium ship. The planet is destroyed by the death star commander before Luke and his companions reach their destination. When the ship arrives, it is captured by Grand but Luke and his companions are not captured because they managed to hide. Luke discovered that Leia was scheduled to be executed and he starts planning how to rescue her. Luke and his group confront Vader’s team in a battle. Luke manages to destroy the death star and rescues Leia. She awards him at a ceremony for celebrating their victory.
3. What was the theme or underlying message?
“It takes only one person determined to do the right thing at the right time to bring down an entire powerful system”.
It was Luke Skywalker who was determined to do the right thing at the right time and is credited for causing the explosion that destroyed the death star. Even though the explosion of the death star was a collective action, it happened because of Luke Skywalker who aimed at the bullseye. In other words, it takes only one person who is determined to do the right to make the impossible happen.
4. Discuss one symbol
Luke’s hand symbolizes his connection with his father. When Luke’s hand was cut by Vader it was replaced with a cybernetic that resembles a real hand. This hand makes Luke almost resemble his father who was a machine and a hybrid man. Later when Luke fights with Vader, he threw him to the ground and sliced his right hand. Vader experiences so much pain and some wires dangle from the wound in his hand. It is here that Luke realizes that he had the potential for turning to the dark side. He decides to abstain from taking revenge and became a real Jedi Knight.
5. What choices were made in the placement of the camera and why?
https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/mark-hamill-takes-off-his-storm-trooper-helmet-in-a-scene-news-photo/159822340
This shot is a close-up of Skywalker as he prepares to attack the stormtrooper in the detention area of the Death Star. The purpose of the close-up shot is to show his emotions and an impression of what the character may be thinking. The shot was taken from a short distance from Skywalker and the camera movement was hand-held. The emphasis of Luke Skywalker is important because at this point in the movie he is about to attack Verda’s team and destroy the death star after rescuing Princess Leia. This is the climax of the movie which revolves around Skywalker and Princess Leia.
6. How did the visual elements reinforce the theme?
https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-wars-a-new-hope-examining-the-classic-opening-shot/
This is a long shot that shows the mighty of the galaxy which was taken in the first minute into the movie. It shows where the action is about to take place. The shot has a deep depth of field because it brings more objects into focus (Heiderich 5). The shot has also a deep space which is seen in the positioning of the elements of the shot. Some are near the camera while others are far away from the camera. The use of color in this shot helps in setting the tone of the movie, that of a powerful galaxy and the battle that must take place because Skywalker must free Princess Leia and destroy the powerful weapon that was created by the Galactic Empire. The texture in this shot also helps in creating a deep depth of field. Finally, the shot has a high rhythm which is achieved through the visuals in the image. These elements prepare the audience for the action ahead.
7. Discuss how this film addresses social responsibility.
Two groups represented in the film include men and women. The main woman character in the movie is Leia who is the leader of a rebel group. The main male character is Luke Skywalker, the hero of the movie who destroys the empire's galactic weapon and rescues Lei from Vader.
Historically women have been viewed as inferior to men and their major roles have been childbearing and caring (Guiliano 8). For a long time, they have not been able to break the glass ceiling to compete fairly with men. That is why there are few women in many positions of power historically associated with men such as managerial jobs and public office positions. They have also faced discrimination in the workplace in terms of job positions and compensation. Men, on the other hand, have been associate with authority and have been considered the providers of their families. They have historically occupied the best and senior positions in society and the workplace. They also look down upon women.
8. Critique the film using Goethe’s three questions.
What was the artist trying to do?
Lucas created a fictional story of humans and aliens who habited the same world. A huge part of the galaxy is ruled by tyrannies who are opposed by a few freedom fighters who had made an alliance. Luke positions himself strategically and succeeds in bringing down the powerful tyrannies and destroys their powerful weapon.
How well did he do it?
Lucas succeeded in creating a world inhabited by humans and aliens who are opposing each other. One side of the divide is powerful but is defeated through the team effort of Luke and his companions especially because of Luke’s bravery and determination.
Was it worth doing?
This creation was worth it because the movie won the Saturn awards in the following categories: best science fiction film, best director, best music, costume, writing, art direction, editing, and set decoration as well as other Academy awards.
Works cited
Giuliano, Paola. "Gender: An historical perspective." (2017).
