Star Wars: A New Hope | KnockBack, Episode 253

Over the five years we've been recording KnockBack, we've intentionally gone out of our way not to talk about A New Hope. It's an especially peculiar decision, considering the first-ever episode of KnockBack is about The Empire Strikes Back, the film that would follow it. But we wanted to get 2023 into gear with something positive and fun, a topic we can bring a lot of energy to, and we've finally succumbed: It's time to chat about 1977's original Star Wars film. But we do things a little differently, because this is probably the most-worn-out property to focus on, especially at this point. So instead of talking about the story, the main characters, and more, we discuss all we love in the negative space: The Jawas and the Sandcrawler, Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, the Imperial officers and that dope meeting room, TIE Fighter Pilots and Death Star Gunners, and on and on and on. Some may call us nothing more than mindless philosophers, but we think this is perfect fodder for a show like ours.

[@Andrew-ln9bw]

There's an excellent animation called "Sand Planet" by Joel Haver that perfectly captures the hilarity of Uncle Owen, I highly recommend it as an A New Hope supplement

[@TyranBatten]

It finally happened!

[@Dethshoot1]

Love cozy knockback episodes like this. They bring me peace.

[@xwers1234]

They bring me joy

[@ikotherainman4866]

I love the filmmaking and bts talk about movies. So I'm glad you guys approached it from it aspect. Keep up the good work and awesome movie talks boys 🤓

[@krisavedisian]

Ok, You guys are gushing about conference room. You need to watch Andor. It absolutely nails that whole vibe and introduces imperial characters that could totally stand up to those original scenes. Acting, dialogue, haircuts, casting, everything

[@larshoneytoast3596]

I never heard anyone reference Rick Steve's before EVER. This channel is truly my home...

[@thecoltsfootleaf]

Now this is podcasting!!!

[@14_IQ.points]

Really liked Dagans point on Leia being the true selfless hero in the movie.

[@JeffreysMother]

Regarding C-3PO’s mention of his first job 1:06:47 remember they wipe his memory at the end of EP3

[@Hurtts101]

Was looking for this comment before pointed it out myself.

[@Grogeous_Maximus]

But eps 3 was written much later than A New Hope came. That memory wipe was a retcon.

[@TradePaperBackEnjoyer]

Colin was wondering where the desert planet idea came from. I think it's likely that Tatooine is heavily inspired by Arrakis from Dune which is a desert planet with two moons instead of two suns. The planets and way of life on both planets share many other similarities as well.

[@nicc8268]

I've been reading Ryūnosuke Akutagawa's Rashomon and 17 other stories. Apparently this inspired Kurosawa which then inspired Lucas. Interesting tidbit .

[@bdre5555]

Mandalorian / Boba Fett are fantastic, as is Obi-Wan. You guys really should give them a watch. They offer the best of traditional Star Wars with something new. Andor is also outstanding.

[@Hurtts101]

Enjoyed Mandalorian, but Bobba Fett was a huge letdown (as someone who enjoyed seeing him pop up in the pre-Disney books). Maybe I have to give Obi-Wan another look, but right now I’m in the needless fanfare camp.

[@bdre5555]

@@Hurtts101 yeah I mean we all have our own preferences. But honestly Boba Fett is basically the Mandalorian season 3. With how they end up teaming up at cetera. And I thought it had some fun characters and action sequences. It honestly is on par with Mandalorian in my opinion. Obi-Wan was going for something different, but I also thought that it was great. All of these series felt like a perfect combination of old Star Wars and something new. And if nothing else, all the Star Wars series are absolute masterpieces compared to the production line of trash in the MCU

[@xwers1234]

Star Wars works because it meshes the unknown of the stars and galaxy with the hero’s journey. Lucas knew a lot about Joseph Campbell and comparative mythology. He perfectly meshed human curiosity of the unknown with the archetypical hero story

[@iansmith8783]

The midichlorians are present in the initial script outline for Star Wars. They're referred to as "whills" I think.

[@jakejameslugo]

Now THIS is what I’m talking about... Nice 😏

[@matthewlee4834]

Now THIS is podracing!

[@digital_riddles7579]

@@matthewlee4834 I'll try spinning, that's a good trick!

[@akselm.bjerke9490]

Its the new stuff from the late 90's that dont hold up. Amen brother

[@krisavedisian]

Looking forward to this. Maybe you guys cover it in this but have either of you seen Andor?

[@HadoukenX]

My favorite are originals. Untouched. I went for Despecialized editions since they will not release the 1st cuts of the movies officially for some reason.

[@iansmith8783]

I would argue that it was Moëbius who first set the visual template for cyberpunk.

[@j-aid7014]

Colin, I would bet that you didn't know Dengar was in ROJ because most of your viewings of that movie were from your youth and you were watching the 4:3 version. He is pretty much cut off screen unless you are watching the widescreen version.

[@JSilv3r]

Great episode, every other week seems like a good rollout. Halo 2 Knockback please. I'm manifesting

[@justinlee282]

I love Star Wars. One of my fav movies and franchises. Star Wars is in a great place right now and I love Rey. Rise of skywalker was the problem if that stook the landing it wouldn’t be as divisive as it is. When they do a new trilogy of movies and stick the landing with all 3 it will be great again

[@ianbravogaming]

I always thought the bartender doesn't accept droids because they aren't paying customers. And C3PO had his memory wiped at the end of 3

[@grashoprsmith]

"Dorf"

[@bdre5555]

R5D4 is the biggest third wheel in the Star Wars universe

[@john-wj4ks]

Passion is whats missing nowadays from movies and from nerd culture.

[@bdre5555]

The worst Star Wars crime of all-time is sticking Hayden Christensen in the end of Return of the Jedi.

[@impotenceaura]

It's hard to watch these movies after watching the family guy parodies. All I hear now is the parody dialogue 😅

[@inopig]

My girlfriend and I rewatched this movie last night so I could jog my memory for this podcast, and we both had the same feeling the whole way through 🤣

[@xwers1234]

The character of uncle Owen and their deaths actually hit different after watching the Kenobi Series, which I actually enjoyed (besides the parts with REVA)

[@SapienAnamoly]

The only good star wars property I like is the books abt the blue alien tactician. The rest is trash.