I find 'A New Hope' hard to watch nowadays

[Flying Spaghetti Monster]

Limitations are a beautiful thing for art. That's why the PT feels so underwhelming. I'm sure many would argue the ST suffers this too, but I think the PT is more so.

Personally, I am of the opinion that Star Wars should have just been Star Wars. No ESB, no ROTJ, no franchise. I would give it all up for just SW.

I don't entirely disagree.
The real problem with the new films is that damn mystery box. Just because there was a big reveal in empire, Disney and JJ thinks that SW is ABOUT the mystery.
To me it's about space battles, hallway battles, the spectacle of war, funny and relatable characters, and people coming together. That beats mystery shit every time. It might have deepened the mythology in Empire, but it all; feels unearned and superficial in the new trilogy.

 

[fireproof78]

I don't entirely disagree.
The real problem with the new films is that damn mystery box. Just because there was a big reveal in empire, Disney and JJ thinks that SW is ABOUT the mystery.
To me it's about space battles, hallway battles, the spectacle of war, funny and relatable characters, and people coming together. That beats mystery shit every time. It might have deepened the mythology in Empire, but it all; feels unearned and superficial in the new trilogy.

The PT is the same way.

 

[JD]

I don't entirely disagree.
The real problem with the new films is that damn mystery box. Just because there was a big reveal in empire, Disney and JJ thinks that SW is ABOUT the mystery.

The mystery box approach isn't about Star Wars, it's just Abrams thing, and has been going all the way back to Lost.

 

[Tallguy]

DISCLAIMER

The following is my opinion. I'm not telling anyone their own opinions are incorrect. As I like to say, "the audience is always right about what it likes"...

This whole post was poetry.

DISCLAIMER
That unique formula got lost in all of the sequels, and which—arguably—only Raiders of the Lost Ark ever quite nailed again.

It's funny because I always thought that about the Raiders sequels but never tied it to Star Wars.

 

[fireproof78]

That unique formula got lost in all of the sequels

Exactly. That's why I prefer just the original film. I don't need it to be a franchise.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

SW77, aka EpIV, is the best of the lot, followed closely by TESB, EpV.

 

[JD]

I know this is probably blasphemy for a Star Wars fan to say, but ANH has always been one of my least favorite movies in the series.

 

[Smellmet]

SW77, aka EpIV, is the best of the lot, followed closely by TESB, EpV.

Exactly my feelings.

I know this is probably blasphemy for a Star Wars fan to say, but ANH has always been one of my least favorite movies in the series.

Care to explain why? I'd be interested to hearing your views.

 

[Tallguy]

I know this is probably blasphemy for a Star Wars fan to say, but ANH has always been one of my least favorite movies in the series.

Yes, that's blasphemy.

 

[XCV330]

It's still a lot of fun. The pacing is fast, and it doesn't get its head stuck up its ass in world building. I don't watch it often. I've seen it enough that I don't have any interest, but the next time I do I'm sure I will enjoy it as much as before. If there had never been another Star Wars movie made, it would have been enough.

 

[Falconer]

Lightning struck twice—in 1977 and in 1980. Both movies are phenomena in different ways, but definitely phenomena. I have no problem with the franchise having continued on, but, I really don’t see anything coming anywhere close to the greatness of those. Nothing in visual media, anyway.

 

[fireproof78]

I know this is probably blasphemy for a Star Wars fan to say, but ANH has always been one of my least favorite movies in the series.

Would be curious to here why. And no, its not blasphemy. Star Wars come in all shapes and weirdness

 

[N-121973]

I have seen both Star Wars 1977 and Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope 1997 in theaters on the big screens.
I find only watching 1997 hard to watch because of George's changes.

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SW 1977

Apologies, as I may have asked before in a different thread but is that William Shatner doing the narration? Sounds like it.
On topic, I love EP IV, it's the best of the lot. I've lost count of the number of times I've seen it and is one of the few films that at a pinch, I could recite the dialogue to. I prefer the 2004 editions myself over the theatrical, though I'd restore Han shooting first and some of the music cues don't quite work when segueing in and out of restored scenes. My only complaints with the CGI-enhanced cuts is why didn't they remove the boxes around some of the ships and replace the obvious cardboard cut-out X & Y-Wings in the rebel base with CGI? The only other complaint I have with the special editions and it's a quirky one I accept is that in ANH & ESB (along with the PT), when the end-title crawl begins the starfield background fades to black. It's there for RTJ and the other films. I think its because the closing credits version of the Star Wars march is the best version and set against a blanket of stars, it's difficult to describe why, it just is.

 

[Kor]

This will make me unpopular.....

The last two times I have re-watched Star Wars I have been tempted to just skip EP IV, I have just re-watched EP IV (Can't bring myself to skip it). Seriously this movie is so lame, I remember loving it as a child but as an adult?? Honestly the first and final 'act' are fine, it's the middle bit on the death star, especially the whole detention level scene. I think it's in dire need of a remake.

Anyone else feel this way?

Not at all. The more I watch all the Star Wars movies again and again, ad infinitum, the more I wouldn't mind burning every last copy of all the other movies and endless tie-in materials to powdery ashes, leaving only Ep IV remaining in all its glory.

Kor

 

[fireproof78]

Not at all. The more I watch all the Star Wars movies again and again, ad infinitum, the more I wouldn't mind burning every last copy of all the other movies and endless tie-in materials to powdery ashes, leaving only Ep IV remaining in all its glory.

Kor

Yup.

 

[ichab]

This will make me unpopular.....

The last two times I have re-watched Star Wars I have been tempted to just skip EP IV, I have just re-watched EP IV (Can't bring myself to skip it). Seriously this movie is so lame, I remember loving it as a child but as an adult?? Honestly the first and final 'act' are fine, it's the middle bit on the death star, especially the whole detention level scene.

Yeah after seeing it for the five hundredth time, it started to pale a bit for me.

I think it's in dire need of a remake.

Anyone else feel this way?

Hell NO! Keep that remake disease away from Star Wars.

 

[Jayson1]

I know this is probably blasphemy for a Star Wars fan to say, but ANH has always been one of my least favorite movies in the series.

Don't worry. I will try and put in good word with Jesus you meant the special edition and not the real ANH. Jason

 

[Noname Given]

This will make me unpopular.....

The last two times I have re-watched Star Wars I have been tempted to just skip EP IV, I have just re-watched EP IV (Can't bring myself to skip it). Seriously this movie is so lame, I remember loving it as a child but as an adult?? Honestly the first and final 'act' are fine, it's the middle bit on the death star, especially the whole detention level scene. I think it's in dire need of a remake.

Anyone else feel this way?

Nope - out of ALL the Star Wars films produced, this still remains my favorite one. However, I'm talking the ORIGINAL non-remastered version without the added "Episode IV - A NEW HOPE" bit. I'm talking the ORIGINAL (and still the best) STAR WARS. (aka, the version I saw in theaters probably 100 times <-- not an exaggeration although in the summer of 1978 the cost was $1 and I sat through it twice when I went - from 1977 - 1978 <-- yes it was in theaters that long back then.)
YMMV.

 

[Tallguy]

Nope - out of ALL the Star Wars films produced, this still remains my favorite one. However, I'm talking the ORIGINAL non-remastered version without the added "Episode IV - A NEW HOPE" bit. I'm talking the ORIGINAL (and still the best) STAR WARS. (aka, the version I saw in theaters probably 100 times <-- not an exaggeration although in the summer of 1978 the cost was $1 and I sat through it twice when I went - from 1977 - 1978 <-- yes it was in theaters that long back then.)
YMMV.

I figure I saw it somewhere around 100 times projected, but that was from 1977-1995. Every time there was a re-release or a charity showing or whatever I'd see it four or five times. I had no idea that when I saw it in '95 it would be the last time. (Well... So far.)

 

[suarezguy]

This will make me unpopular.....

The last two times I have re-watched Star Wars I have been tempted to just skip EP IV, I have just re-watched EP IV (Can't bring myself to skip it). Seriously this movie is so lame, I remember loving it as a child but as an adult?? Honestly the first and final 'act' are fine, it's the middle bit on the death star, especially the whole detention level scene.

I love the interactions between the big three (and think it worked really well in starting with the droids, to Luke, to him with Obi-Wan, to meeting Han and then getting to the Death Star) and the action and fun spirit in the Death Star. And for it to then continue that great if not top itself with the attack on the Death Star ...

I think it's in dire need of a remake.

I think, like most really good or great movies, it's effectively timeless, it in particular couldn't be improved upon (aside from adding back in the "Close the blast doors!").

it's the way they have an open shoot out in the detention centre and win,it just looks really really lame

I think it's openly supposed to be pretty not-realistic, both pretty much a fantasy and even some outright children cartoon-y elements (mostly the droids and Han's greed and yes the shooting), while also definitely having some dark and dramatic elements (mostly the destruction of Alderaan and that so many die in the final assault) that somehow fit in and also work well.