Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) | FIRST TIME WATCHING! | Movie Reaction

[@emme]

My patreon pals informed me that this is the remastered version! I make a few comments of how impressed I am about some of the effects and such, so this definitely makes sense! As a reminder, Patreon is a month ahead, so they received this reaction a month ago! I also have full uncut timer reactions there too. www.patreon.com/emmereacts

[@borbafet9206]

the addedf stuff is just little stuff here and there. the dewback lizard creature is one of them, orignally it was just a static prop in the distance. you can find the added effect scenes on youtube etc very easily. its mostly just the walking creatures on tatooine for this film. star wars revolutionized special effects with the original star wars movies and set a brand new bar for what you can do with special effects. and then pretty much created the cgi special effects landscape we have now (for better or for worse) with the special edition remasters and the prequel films in the 90s and early 2000s

[@imperious8905]

Hey emme. I’ve been really enjoying the journey of Star Wars with you. It’s been real fun.

[@Mitthradata]

By the way , this is immediately after rogue one (like, five minutes after)

[@crandleberrysadie]

Great reaction! I'm so glad you're doing the series in chronological order. Watching you connect with things you've seen is delightful. Oh...If you didn't know, the actor playing Wedge Antilles is Ewan Mcgregor's real life uncle.

[@Rocket1377]

This is actually the re-re-re-re-remastered version! Minor changes were made by George Lucas to the 1981 rerelease, then the significantly altered 1997 special edition, and further changes were done for the 2004 dvd, the 2011 blu-ray, and finally the 2019 4k version.

[@CyberSlayer128]

"Please don't kiss, please don't kiss, please don't kiss! Oh god, that was a close one." Yknow, I never realized how stressful these movies can get when you go chronological. Lol

[@randalthor741]

One clarification: Owen *doesn't* believe that Obi-Wan is dead, he's just saying that because he wants to shut down Luke's questions about him.

[@adamwarlock1]

Yeah. Almost all the older people Luke talks to in ep 4 are hiding things from him. Which sets up good stuff for later.

[@generaldela2128]

Before kenobi, I thought ben wanted to protect luke, bc I thought he knew about anakin, I glad I was kinda right

[@jabecker21]

Obi-wan’s personality consistency is all thanks to Ewan McGregor doing an amazing job of representing Alec Guinness. His performance is the best part of the prequels.

[@CrazeeAdam]

Oh Ewen as Obi Wan is hands down the best thing in each prequel movie. In fact I would say the prequels are as much about him as Anakin. If not more so sometimes Obi Wan. :) which is fine for me

[@Lethgar_Smith]

Yep. When people recognize Obi Wan by the "Hello there", that's all Ewan McGregor.

[@dabreal82]

@@Lethgar_Smith nope. Only to younger people who saw the prequels first.people were quoting it in the late 70s bc of this movie...

[@jabecker21]

@@Lethgar_Smith I was as big a fan as you could be when the original movie came out and I don't remember "hello there" being a quoted line until Ewan.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

@@dabreal82 I dont think anyone ever paid any attention to that simple line until Ewan McGregor made it a literal catchphrase for his Obi Wan character. And it was a conscious choice specifically because he wanted people to recognize Obi Wan the moment he first appears in A New Hope. Your brain appears to be trying to force the Mandela effect. It happens. False memories get implanted and suddenly no one can agree on what really happened. Been seeing that a lot lately.

[@philipp1736]

I find it particularly heartwarming when obi-wan is fighting Vader & he then sees Luke and Leia finally reunited and you see him smile before he sacrifices himself. Gets me every time.

[@alanmacification]

Both Yoda and Obi-Wan were already force ghosts.

[@philipp1736]

@@alanmacification what? I'm talking about the duel Obi-wan vs Vader in episode 4. Obi-wan sees Luke & Leia running out to the Falcon & he smiles before then sacrificing himself & transforming into the force.

[@J4j4yd3r]

I've been a fan of star wars for over 20 years, never noticed that. Thank you for pointing that out!

[@Jordan-Ramses]

Leia wasn't Luke's sister until they started filming Return of the Jedi and realized it was too late to add a new character. The original meaning was that Obi-Wan had been studying in the desert for 15 years to learn that force Ghost ability. Darth Vader was SURPRISED. Obi-Wan was sure it would work when he could see Luke. It was easier to cast the spell to watch over Luke. It was supposed to be a secret ability. Also Darth Vader wasn't his dad yet. Not until Empire was written. If you like the later interpretation better that is fine. I'm not saying you have to see it that way. But you should understand both. As I do.

[@philipp1736]

@@Jordan-Ramses oh i do realise that. It's just that with the new shows & content I love how it fits all together even if it wasn't written that way originally. That's the genius behind it imo. So yeah while I know that Lucas had originally written the story differently, I love the new interpretations that open up because of the new content.

[@theendistheend123]

"empathy for Anakin." That is EXACTLY how Lucas wanted people to feel. He said he wanted people to see Darth Vader for the first time and be like, "ohh man Anakin is still in that suit."

[@EmoDragracer]

Wait; what?

[@thelionsshare6668]

This movie was a cultural milestone. It's always delightful seeing how new viewers react.

[@jacksonconley5117]

It was really fun to see it from the perspective of someone who did it in chronological order.

[@marvincool3744]

Chronological is an interesting way to experience Star Wars

[@oneisnone7350]

There was literally nothing like this in the ‘70s. Lines for this movie lasted for weeks. People would go to see this movie several times. There hasn’t been anything like it since that I can recall. The fact that it can still stand against the newer movies is a testament to just how cutting edge it was.

[@gordonduke8812]

I remember standing in those lines multiple times. This movie blew everything away, and every red blooded American boy wanted to be Luke Skywalker and have that BA lightsaber, I still want one. lol

[@drpuma_2901]

Absolutely nothing like it today. Not even close.

[@emperormouse5487]

Avatar was like that. Endgame was like that too. Also in what way does it visually stand against newer flms? Al the VXF work looks extremely outdated.

[@benjaminroe311ify]

@@emperormouse5487 No it wasn't. Not close. I have been a big fan of all and hype for Avatar and Endgame was huge but he original StarWars after people saw the effects and the story in 1977 and then the anticipation for 1980 and Empire Strikes Back was INSANE. Lines for the movies went miles down the street. Also the effects in these movies practically BUILT the VXF industry into what it is today. Stop with the disrespect.

[@gabrielmagalhaez1918]

​@@emperormouse5487absolutely nothing like that. Avatar didn't repeated the hype in the sequel, and Endgame was forgotten one year after the releasing.

[@rafaelcanosantos3554]

Obi Wan didn't died, he made himself one with the Force (a Force ghost).

[@etpelle72]

“Yeah, Where’s your little death star now?” That had me laughing.

[@roguealien]

My two cents worth. I was 20 when this movie came out. You had to have been alive at the time to fully understand just how big this was. The effects were so far ahead of other movies at the time. The opening sequence of the HUGE ship seemingly stretching forever. The clever campiness still holds up today. The classic battle of Good vs. Evil. The Force. R2D2. C3PO. So many iconic moments, and movies, were created from this one movie. To come full circle, my son and I were given a private tour of George Lucas's home and private estate in Marin County in 2006. To see a FULL SIZE X-Wing fighter on a pedestal was too much! The library of specialized books, manuscripts, research materials, etc. available for use by up and coming movie directors was magnificent. To see so many iconic movie props in one place is a great memory. Finally, I had a custom smart home business and one day I got a call to install a satellite dish for a customer. I drove to the address and discovered it was George Lucas's old home in Peacock Gap in San Rafael, CA. He sold it in the divorce and moved to Lucas Valley. So the house was HUGE. It had top of the line A/V Home Theater, multiple TV's, Every bell and whistle. Another great memory. To see the youth of today enjoying this classic after 45 years is Great!

[@iReiGNxx]

The attack run on the Death Star will always be one of the most iconic battles in Star Wars for me. Pure nostalgia from my childhood. That musical sequence with Luke taking that one-in-a-million shot gives me chills every time.

[@Lethgar_Smith]

It's actually been used to train new pilots the basics of dog fighting.

[@Caseytify]

Some folks claim it was based on The Dambusters, but it's more closely matched by 633 Squadron.

[@kylebrown6535]

yep can definitely relate this was the first movie that my parents let my sister and I go see on our own back when movies cost $3, which was a huge chunk of my allowance but I saw that movie over the summer 12 times, so this literally is the first time I've seen some of this in decades. childhood Nostalgia is definitely the defining word. I hope there's a second season of Obi-Wan!

[@mechanomics2649]

It isn't just one of the most iconic battles in Star Wars, it's one of the most iconic battles in sci-fi and cinema altogether.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

@@Lethgar_Smith So much that Top Gun: Maverick copied it

[@CaptainAmercia]

17:59 The Imperial in the white outfit just in front of Tarkin is actually Wullf Yularen the Admiral you see in The Clone Wars assigned to Anakin Skywalker. At the time of the Empire he was a member of the ISB "Imperial Security Bureau" pretty much the FBI of the Empire. Unfortnally he died in the deathstar explosion along with Tarkin and a bunch of other high ranking Imperials. So both Luke and Leia are 19 in this film with Carrie Fisher being just 21 by the time A New Hope released. Mark Hamill was only 24 at the time both extremally young actors. 3:57 So you've seen him before in both Episode 3 and Rogue One. Raymus Antilles was seen at the end of Revenge of the Sith on the Tantive IV the same ship you see in the opening of A New Hope. He's also in Rogue One at the very end of the film where he discovers the plans to Leia just before the start of A New Hope. So pretty much all the CGI you see was added later around the 90s to the 2000s when the Prequals released. Other effects like blaster fire and small details have been improved which looks great but people have always been mixed on the added CGI. The film uses mostly practical effects but from my understand A New Hope has had the most changes while Empire Strikes Back still maintains alot of the original it also has some improvements as well.

[@mathies3598]

Is Raymus Antilles related to Wedge Antilles, cuz wedge as we see in Rebels is an ex-Imperial pilot but they do have the same surname

[@travisfoster1071]

Carrie Fisher was actually 18, Mark Hammill was around 26.

[@kd5you1]

@@travisfoster1071 I guess it depends on when filming started vs her birthday being in October. Filming started in 1975 and Carrie Fisher was born in 1956, so she would have been 18 or 19.

[@ThomasKnip]

Whoa, I never noticed Yularen in all those decades! 😮

[@TheMrPeteChannel]

@@ThomasKnip Dave Filoni made a huge mistake. He thought that Yularen was a grand admiral because his uniform top was white so he made Yularen a captain in TCW. Disney had to do a Retcon when he left the navy to become a Colonel in the ISB.

[@bcdfezz]

"Jabba, you're a wonderful human being" in the original script jabba was human. When they changed it they took that scene out, but then they readded the deleted scene and CGI'ed Jabba in the original actors place

[@matman730]

The human actor playing Jabba was always supposed to be replaced with an animated alien, and the "wonderful human being" line was intended as a joke. The scene was cut both because they couldn't get the animation to look right and because it was redundant after the scene with Greedo.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

@@matman730 No, it's the opposite. They changed the Greedo dialogue to an alien language and moved the necessary information to the subtitles. It happened BECAUSE the Jabba scene was impossible to animate at the time

[@Caseytify]

None of which was in the original.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

@@Caseytify That is true

[@jacksonconley5117]

I saw the deleted scene and I found it very interesting.

[@rrmemphis427]

You're right about this movie. When it first came out it was the only story and all or at least most of the backstory didn't exist yet so some things seem inconsistent. It's definitely a different point of view to watch them in story order rather than release order. Great reaction! Jabba was a human in the original but his scene was cut and CGI slug Jabba was added in later.

[@mechanomics2649]

The story and characters being as consistent as they are despite the fact that most of the backstory either didn't exist or wasn't put to print yet is a testament to all involved in the movies.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

He was always intended to be an alien. They were going to animate over the actor

[@BogeyTheBear]

Leia gave R2 the Death Star plans on a memory card, but the Rebels had to download the plans directly from R2. My assumption is that when the Jawas shot R2 with that electro-gun, it fried the memory card and the only plans left were the ones R2 had backed up into his internal memory. That's why R2 is MacGuffin of the chase rather than the card he's carrying.

[@Freshfruitt]

LET"S GOOOOOOO. The OG trilogy! Super excited to see your reactions to all of the trilogy.

[@lionlyons]

“I am not your failure, Obi-Wan. You didn’t kill Anakin Skywalker….I did.” Even Vader shares Obi-WAN’s point of view.

[@jabecker21]

I’ve been so looking forward to this! I’m sure you’re aware but these are updated versions you’re watching with the special effects tweaked, a few deleted scenes added in (the scene with Jabba) and anything that looks cgi, like the stormtrooper riding the dewback, has been added. The original release movies did look amazing for their time though and were groundbreaking in their special effects. Something I’ve been wanting to say since the Phantom Menace, but didn’t want to say any spoilers, is that during that movie you commented on the scene wipes as looking archaic because they were from the late 90s. Actually the wipes in those movies were a direct homage to the wipes in these moves from the 70s. No one in the 90s was using those wipes. That’s one of the things I love about the prequels, that they kept the OG style by using those wipes.

[@jb888888888]

The wipes were archaic in 1977 too, they were homages to the film serials of the 1930s-40s.

[@officialmonarchmusic]

The wipes themselves were used still not much in the 70s, they were an homage to an older time. I'm not the first comment to say this either

[@mediumvillain]

I loved that they added the screen wipes to the Jedi Survivor game lol

[@patmurray9730]

The guy who played Vader, under the suit, was David Prowse. A professional body builder, at the time. He was 6'6".

[@waynejones5635]

This movie was so cutting edge when it came out in 1977. Nothing even close to this had ever been seen by the public. It was so beyond anything else to that point that Hollywood studios didn't want to fund this movie ... hence the origins of Lucas Films. FYI: The actor playing the strange alien who spied on Luke and Obi-Wan was actually John Wayne. His last major motion picture appearance.

[@TheHessian123]

The actor that played Commander Tarkin. (The guy who was CGI'ed in a later movie) He played a villain and Hero in old Horror films in the '60's. The film production company was called Hammer Films. He is a great actor. His name is Peter Cushing.

[@jabecker21]

What the Jawas put on R2 is a restraining bolt. It keeps droids docile. If you look C-3PO has one on his chest. When Luke accidentally triggers the beginning of the message R2 says he can play the whole thing if his restraining bolt is removed. Once Luke removes it though R2 refuses to play the message. Luke didn’t put the bolt back on so as soon as Luke gets called to dinner R2 bolts to go find Obiwan. R2 is brilliant!

[@kimleechristensen2679]

Even more brilliant would be, when you think of it, R2 made Luke think he accidentally triggered the message, but in fact its a deliberate ploy of R2, to make Luke remove the restraining bolt, by showing a little bit of the message to entice Luke. 🤔🤔🤔

[@adamwarlock1]

Yes! And we also see a restraining bolt in Obi Wan: Reva puts one on li'l Leia's droid Lola to make her sabotage the rebels.

[@jabecker21]

@@kimleechristensen2679 Brilliant!

[@ivankawnartist]

I've always wanted to see how it makes one feel to watch these movies from the beginning of the story versus the beginning of the movie release. "We will watch your career with great interest."

[@Rimma120]

I watched Star wars for first time a year ago and I really love it! And keep watching it!

[@wildcard04]

Same

[@alive4metal731]

The OG Star Wars movies still look great even to this day, yes some remastering has been done, but nonetheless, the fact a lot of the effects used back then were practical means that they age really well.

[@pharlock]

"Why is luke whiny?" c'mon you have seen Anakin already.

[@illegalquantity]

Absolutely nice reactions! If there was an Emmy award for reaction videos, you would definitely win it!

[@jmwilliamsart]

When C-3PO says to R2 “No I don’t like you either” If I was R2 I would be like “Aww, that hurts my feelings”

[@omrmajeed]

Love that you are viewing Star Wars in chronological order. Its fascinating to see a different perspective on the story experienced a different way.

[@epa316]

I loved that “It’s on the cheek, it’s ok!” Hilarious!

[@epa316]

@@Llanchlo Umm.. yeah we did.. in 1983, I remember it in school; “He kissed his SISTER!”

[@lS-je3ud]

Penguín of dddddddduarhm nuarh lawl.

[@chiphowell4063]

Oh, I remember seeing this when it was first released in theaters, back in 1977. There was nothing like it on the big screen. The opening shot of the Rebel blockade runner chased by a star destroyer still gives me chills to this day. Your reactions were a lot like mine when I was a wide-eyed kid seeing this (without any of the foreknowledge from the prequels.) Now, as an adult, I still get all wide-eyed and happy whenever I see this movie. A bit of trivia. You mentioned how big Tarkin's hand is. The funny thing is the actor, Peter Cushing, had large hands and feet and the boots he wore as a part of his costume were too small, and the shooting schedule didn't allow enough time for a refit or modification of the costume, so Peter Cushing suggested that they only show Tarkin in semi-closeup, so that you never see below his shoulders and chest. The main reason for that is because the actor, Peter Cushing, was wearing slippers. Also, he really liked working with Carrie Fisher and gave her high praise as an actress.

[@cursedy__]

IM SO EXCITED FOR YOU TO REACT TO 5 and 6!!!! Edit: I’m crying at you finally asking if it’s Luke and it’s actually Luke

[@emme]

I WAS FINALLY RIGHT

[@brianlafrazia8237]

So looking forward to you watching the OT! Just remember that while you did watch the special edition, 95% of the visual effects in this were STILL from the original 1977 movie.only a few moments here and there were new creations. So what you were watching is still an absolute marvel from that long ago. Can’t wait for you to watch Empire Strikes Back! Also, the music!

[@target844]

Lots of the visual effects are improvements of the one from 1977. A lot of compositions are redone, and the original film of each part is used but the mattes for the edges have been improved. Digital instead of the optical composition of multiple film shots is a clear improvement that just makes what was shoot in the past look like it was intended to but was impossible to do. You often see the black edge on for example space ships that should not be there with the old technology. In the next movie when you have shots like that against a white background, the cockpit was semitransparent in an attempt to hide it. So the majority of special effects include the same element as it did in 1977 they have made a great job in improving them. I do think lots of the added CGI really look dated and should not have been added there is some addition that look great, especially for stuff that was changed after the first special edition in the late 1990s

[@brianlafrazia8237]

Most of that is minor. It’s very hard to tell where matte touch-ups occur. Point is the set pieces, locations, costumes and make up, etc. are unchanged from the original. What you’re watching, outside of the few major changes (Jabba, Dewbacks, etc), is a very accurate representation of the Star Wars experience. It was a miracle of filmmaking and technology in 1977.

[@theloniousMac]

It's wonderful that you can call these movies up anytime you want to. I like watching them in order now also. What you can't experience is the shock they were to us when they first came out. I was 18 or 19 and we'd sat down in the theater. It was the old, original giant cinerama dome in Los Angeles. Massive screen. Recently outfitted with the new THX sound system. The ads and previews played. The curtains closed again. The opened again as a signal this is the movie coming now.. Then... BANG! People were startled across the theater, and theme we all know so well now began to play, the words began to scroll up the screen... and my mouth was open... and what followed was something like we'd never seen before. And when it was over the people stood and applauded. A night I'll never forget.

[@BalokLives]

Luke carelessly activates a light sabre. "Why did I just get a jump scare?" He has absolutely no experience with that weapon, yet he just turns it on and starts waving it... Scary stuff. Han Solo was a new level of cool for a character when this movie came out. Everyone wanted to be a smuggler after he hit the screen.

[@BlueBookGuy]

It's strange seeing a younger person watching these in a different order, but I do love your reactions and continuity mentions ! Imagine seeing them on the original release order and not knowing so much.(please dont kiss! lol) ., and how EPIC they were for the time :)Millions of us around the world had seen nothing like this and buying so many toys like figures and space ships! ... Yes this is the remastered version but only tweaked a little to make it a bit more modern.. see the original too when you have time. Star Wars is for you and others now .. May the Force be with you :)

[@onemoreminute0543]

Highly interesting to see you watch the OT trilogy now not just in episodic order, but also having watched some of the shows and spin offs too

[@gumdeo]

This shows the benefit of watching in chronological order. Everything becomes more meaningful.

[@derpderpin1568]

It's more meaningful the other way around. This is just watching with spoilers.

[@ven_skywalker7007]

The time has come🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 And to any critics, there is no “right way” to approach this. It just evokes feelings at different times when you know something from one end of the overall story, or the other. Many roads but all lead to the same place

[@mechanomics2649]

I think it's absolutely great to have some people watch the movies in chronological order their first time. It gives you a vastly different perspective on the movies, one that you're not going to get otherwise. I'll never understand the people that try to railroad other people into doing things like this all the same way. You miss out on a lot of neat experiences and perspectives that way.

[@se6369]

there is a right wqy though, episode order, beginning with 1. People are of course free to watch them out of order.

[@ConcordD0m]

IT’S FINALLY HERE!! It’s great to see your excitement for Han, Chewie and Obi-Wan from watching Solo and Kenobi before this 😂 Edit: It’s interesting Vader tells Obi-Wan in the Kenobi series that “You didn’t kill Anakin, I did”, which ties in better with what Obi-Wan tells Luke in this.

[@LiveFromThePorcelainPalace]

"If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you can possibly imagine." That line had nothing to do with Obi-Wan becoming more powerful in the force.. it meant he would become a martyr in Luke's eyes and more than anything that would ensure that Luke would NEVER join his father no matter what.

[@geordiejedii3716]

Yet another entertaining reaction emme! Fun fact my grandfather is actually the rebel officer holding the medal case in the medal ceremony scene! Always cool seeing people react to that scene

[@Elijah_Elias]

3PO had his memory wiped but R2 remembers everything. There’s even an Easter egg next movie where Luke tells R2 to stay with the ship and R2 completely ignores him. The reason he ignored him was because the last person who told R2 that was Anakin, just before his fight with Obi-Wan so he was never able to come back to the ship.

[@KesinX]

Fun fact. The red astromech droid is R5-D4. He intentionally blew his motivator to not separate R2 and 3PO. He's later acquired by the Rebellion and serves during the fight against the Empire.

[@valentinruiz3828]

we're finally at the trilogy that started it all

[@theloniousMac]

In the original Episode IV, the scene where Solo shoots the guy in the bar was a big deal, because he shot the guy first, under the table before that guy ever drew his gun. In doing so his lack of morals and character are shown. So they went back and digitally made it look like the alien shot first.

[@talmanes4589]

"Siblings kiss on the cheek all the time, it's totally normal" The Empire Strikes Back has entered the chat...

[@Tomdi_09]

💀

[@Flastew]

This movie was so stunning when it came out in theaters. The big screen made it even more epic especially the beginning when the ships came in overhead. Great job on the reaction.

[@JulReacts]

As cassian said in andor, “you just walk in like you belong”

[@NorthGaReptile]

Star Wars 1977. The movie that changed cinema forever.

[@sonosoloio]

originally this was to be a single film, no one was betting on its success and no one imagined that there would be sequels, so no relationships, not even family ones, were foreseen between the characters, so in this movie luke, leia and darth vader are not related yet. everything you know was developed later.

[@darthkronical3390]

Around the time Episodes 1-3 were being done, they "remastered" 4-6 and added a bunch of extra cgi stuff. The stormtrooper riding that giant lizard while they were checking out the escape pod is one example. Jabba the Hutt appearing here is another instance. You commented how Han was standing a little up close and personal talking to Jabba. This scene was originally cut from the movie, and Jabba was played by a stand-in actor who was originally going to be a more human-like Jabba. The part where Han walks in behind Jabba would not have worked with the "updated" Jabba (how we see Jabba in ep 6) and they had to "shift" Han to make it look like he stepped on and over Jabba's tail. When you consider that the entire movie was shot with practical costumes and effects (aside from lasers and lightsabers...) the CGI additions really stand out like a sore thumb.

[@DanSolo871]

When I first saw this movie (*cough* in the theater when it came out *cough*) it was like nothing ever before. We also didn't have any backstory like you have, so hearing how you interpret the movie having seen previous chronological stories is fascinating. This is also a "remastered" version. The lizard creature the stormtroopers were on and the scene with Jabba, they were not in the original movies. They were added in a remastered version in the 90s.

[@jamesodonnell3636]

Actually, the dewbacks were in the original theatrical release of Star Wars, they just weren't walking around on chicken legs looking like CGI crap. They looked real, like Jabba looked real in the original release of Return of the Jedi, but looks like CGI snot in this version of A New Hope.

[@alexglezarch]

What a fresh reaction this was. Most young KZbinrs are like "it's too dated" " I can't stand dated effects" blah blah blah.... That's just ignorant.

[@CrazyStarSuga]

"You fought in the Clone Wars?" Audience in 1977: what the f-

[@robertelessar]

"Where's your little Death Star now?" made me laugh so much!

[@Ironoclasty]

I saw this movie for the first time two weeks after it opened in 1977. Back then, you could only see it in the theater. I must have spent a couple hundred dollars going back to see it again and again, and I wasn't alone. This is the culture I grew up with. It's old hat to me now, and to watch it through your reactions brings me back to when I first saw that field of stars stretch across the big screen. Thank you for joining us, you are welcomed here.

[@reflectionist]

19:50 - This scene was given no context, no explanation, from the time it was first seen in 1977 ... until the finale of "Obi-Wan Kenobi" where we learn that if Owen and Beru had to be murdered in such a desperate and graphic way as being reduced to two smoldering skeletons on the front porch... they certainly didn't go quietly,, neither of them went out like a bitch (in the colloquial sense, not sexist). I mean, it's the Empire - these farmers were dead the minute R2-D2 rolled up with those Death Star plans - survival wasn't an option, but they damn sure made it difficult, they put up a VERY good fight.

[@jmwilliamsart]

It was horrifying to see what the stormtroopers had done to Luke’s uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. I’m sure that Luke feels devastated having to see that.

[@ramonacosta2647]

Luke was devastated for 5 minutes.

[@jmwilliamsart]

@@ramonacosta2647 He probably spent more time at the Lars homestead grieving than was shown on screen. He also had to give them a proper funeral.

[@ramonacosta2647]

@@jmwilliamsart When he returns to Obi Wan they're still burning the bodies of the dead Jawa so he couldn't have taken too long to bury them.

[@jmwilliamsart]

@@ramonacosta2647 Perhaps Luke cremated what was left?

[@officialmonarchmusic]

I consider the biggest flaw of the OT to be how little the death of Luke's Aunt and Uncle is focused on

[@ZulcanPrime]

I saw this movie over eight times at the cinemas when I finished high school in 1978. It was booked out at cinemas in late 1977 in Australia. It was a big hit with everyone, especially with sci-fi fantasy fans. You are watching the newly restored, remastered edition with some added scenes and not the theatrical version that I saw in 1978. I still can vividly recall every scene from that theatrical version in my mind.

[@bobogus7559]

I'm thinking that part of the reason why the lightsaber duel in this movie is so much less dynamic than all the others is that these lightsabers were probably quite delicate. They were made using colored retroreflective tape on a spinning shaft, which works quite well without requiring post-production visual effects, but this design is fairly fragile. By the next movie, I believe they made some improvements in the design that made them a bit sturdier.

[@maccaebus]

Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen being burned to death makes a lot of sense, unfortunately. As farmers in the middle of nowhere, they have to be pretty self-sufficient, and we already know they had blasters to defend themselves from wild animals and sandpeople. The Empire probably came, realized they would be holing up in their defensible home, and just brought in the flamethrower to force them out, shooting them as they came out the door. It's an effective tactic for forcing people out of a defensible position, just horrible to see the aftermath, especially since it was done to two civilians just trying to protect themselves.

[@jamiepeterson1981]

"oh god, that was a close one" made me spit out my coffee lmao.

[@MusaFinderi]

"No one stopped them, and Luke is just playing lightsaber baseball" lmao. R2 was already a veteran and should have been medaled. Serving under Padme through Anakin to Leia and Luke, that droid has seen some sh*t.

[@shaneferris6742]

Words cannot describe how awesome that was as a kid in the movie theater.

[@hardcase-69]

Even though it has been remastered, this was still revolutionary in terms of special effects at the time. It's no wonder people were absolutely blown away by it and many returned to watch it several times in theaters. Being a 90s baby, that's an experience I'll unfortunately never get to have unless time travel is invented 😂

[@cbyrne7609]

I was 6, just about to turn 7 when my dad took me to see this in the theater. to this day, when the music queues up for the throne room scene at the end, I tear up. I can still remember how it felt to be a little kid, so full of pride and joy in the "good guys" winning and getting their medals, and all that backed by the iconic music of John Williams. My life was forever changed, and it still hits me.

[@gameoverman3673]

so excited for these next few reactions!!!

[@malcolmrowe9003]

Someone else has probably mentioned this already but the scene with Jabba was originally filmed with a large human but then cut from the theatrical release, as they decided Jabba was not sufficiently gross. When Han Solo steps on his tail, he was originally just walking behind the human Jabba. Many fans think it would have been better if the scene had not been reinserted with a CGI Jabba.

[@marsfalcon1949]

Had a great time watching your reaction. From a person that watched them in the order they were released, I can see how watching in chronological order may be sometimes disappointing from a special effects standpoint, but more rewarding in the storyline capacity. May the Force be with you as you continue the saga. Thank you.

[@TommygunNG]

The Jabba scene was altered. In the original release, it was filmed with Jabba as a humanoid, but the scene was completely edited out. What you saw was that scene in one of the later versions, but with the Jabba form CGI'ed.

[@cathyvickers9063]

When this movie was written, it wasn't cemented in Lucas' mind that A) Vader is Luke's father & B) that Luke & Leia are siblings. Therefore, it was up for grabs whether Leia would choose the farmer or the rogue! When this movie grossed hugely in the theaters & George Lucas got the green light for a sequel, he set about finalizing the Luke/Vader connection, but I'm not sure he'd decided that Luke & Leia were siblings, yet. So, there are some scenes that will make you extremely uncomfortable! Leia was on a transport owned by her adoptive father. Threepio & R2 were owned by him. Vader was told that his wife died in childbirth with no survivors. He assumes his child, singular, is dead. If he perceives at all that the princess of Alderaan is a Force sensitive...well, there are many Force sensitives (like the blind monk in Rogue One)! Infiltrators stealing unwary soldiers' uniforms to get past enemy soldiers is an old trope going back to the beginnings of cinema. When this movie came out, it was originally titled just Star Wars (since Lucas thought that episode titles would be too confusing), with the result that film critics slammed the movie for using "wars" when all we saw were battles! This let Lucas publicize his rationale behind "Episode IV", adding that he had plans to make the first trilogy in the future; & that he'd started where he did because he thought this trilogy was the better story. Remember: at the conclusion of the first trilogy, Obi-wan was informed he'd be learning how to cheat death from his old master. Vanishing bodily is proof of his success.

[@xTHEWARBEANx]

"force magic"... classic

[@Greybeardmedic]

The sticks that needed to be used to simulate the light sabers were very delicate due to the process used to put the effect on film. David Prowse and Alec Guiness broke more than their share in filming the fight sequence, that's why the scene appears very mild. You should look at this after watching the movie: Star Wars SC 38 Reimagined

[@rileylawson4378]

Since I have seen this movie hundreds of times growing up and all other star wars many times as they came out, I am loving your commentary and reactions as you piece everything together for the first time. It honestly makes me wish I had of seen them all in order of timeline instead of year created.

[@shl4878]

Your "R2D2!!!! ....and C3PO, I guess" was so relatable lmao

[@Raysboss302]

No Anakin sloughing Sand People. If Sand People had sandscrawlers they ruling Tatooine.

[@RMBittner]

One thing to keep in mind as you watch the original trilogy is that many of the major plot points you learned about in the first three weren’t even developed by the creators yet. Some of the relationships were developed as this trilogy progressed.

[@greglaplante7593]

When Luke says ‘ I can’t see a thing in this helmet’ mark really could not so George Lucas left it in.

[@keefbeef2002]

First time I've seen your channel and I'm a massive original trilogy fan. Fascinating to see the reaction from someone who already saw the prequels and spin offs, something I could not experience so thank you so much for that. Gave me a great new perspective. At the start I found you a bit 'distractive' in your commentary - but of course that's the whole point, to interject. Anyway watched the whole 58 minutes with you and you added to my happiness, thanks for that. Of course you have a new subscriber 🙃

[@greigclement9081]

Han: "Jabba , you're a wonderful human being" This was a restored scene for the Special Edition. Originally Jabba was a human actor. Now with he CGI Jabba , Han just sounds sarcastic (as usual).

[@DaneofHalves]

I'm very happy to see you watch these movies. Can't wait for the next 2!

[@glennallen239]

I found your Channel looking for Star Wars reactions. I was 13 Years old in 1977 when I saw Star Wars in Movie Theaters. This Movie was incredible.

[@matman730]

In case nobody has mentioned it yet, it's worth it to track down the "Despecialized Editions" so you can see what the original trilogy looked like when it was first released in theaters. The effects in the Special Editions may be more impressive, but the editing, particularly for A New Hope, is superior. Marcia Lucas (George's first wife) and the rest of the editing team really earned their Oscar for A New Hope.

[@Caseytify]

They're worth tracking down. An excellent example of crowdsourcing. They come in different sizes, including a 20Gb version of Star Wars (originally no "Episode" nonsense).

[@DarthRushy]

This is the most wholesome reaction channel.

[@Rocket1377]

George Lucas didn't intend for Luke and Leia to be related until work began on Return of the Jedi, and even then the decision to make them siblings was a very late addition to the script. Luke wasn't supposed to meet his sister until Episode 7, and she would have been a new character we hadn't met yet.

[@chewbacmartinez]

Thanks for the reactions! It’s amazing seeing you enjoying

[@PresUlyssesSGrant]

“I’ve been looking forward to this.” - Count Dooku/Darth Tyranus

[@CybrSlydr]

Chronological order is the best order. You're doing it the right way! The relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan is vastly more important and interesting than the other big reveal. Especially when you start watching videos fans have made, like "Before the Dark Times" which intercuts Obi-Wan's talking about Anakin to Luke with scenes from the prequel trilogy, really fleshing out his words and the horror/sadness behind them you don't get if you haven't seen the prequels. Then there's "SC38 Reimagined" where they re-do the battle between Obi-Wan and Vader on the Death Star. It's such an amazing job and really hits the emotional points perfectly.

[@Sandlund93]

The fact that Owen and Beru could somehow fight off Reva but not a couple of Stormtroopers just goes to show how ridiculous the Obi-Wan series is. Well, that and literally everything about it, I don't even consider it canon.

[@IggyStardust1967]

6:32 - That is the skeleton of a Krayt Dragon. Judging by the size, I'd say it's a juvenile. Adult ones are a good bit larger. Fun fact: That skeleton is STILL in the desert in Tunisia where this was filmed at. 7:40 - Close. These are Jawas. The ones you're thinking of are Tuskins. Oddly enough, their lineage, when traced far enough back, does intersect. They both originally spawned from the same species native to Tatooine. And yes, this IS Tatooine. 8:35 - Don't forget, you're watching the "current" version of the movie. In the original theatrical version (pre-1997) the Dewback (as the creature is called) was a static model. You're seeing the "Special Edition" version which was digitally animated. 10:40 - Threepio is a blabbermouth. R2 is well documented to be able to keep secrets. That droid is loyal to a fault. 13:45 - Same species, different tribe. Remember, Anakin killed them all. Not just the men.... but the women.... and the children, too. 19:45 - Heh. Us Gen-X kids saw way worse than that on the evening news. Remember, in the context of the time, Vietnam had ended (badly) just a couple of years before this movie came out. We saw a lot of unedited footage from the battlefields of Vietnam with no warning of "don't let your children see this". We saw it. Technically, these days, that scene would likely garner a PG-13 rating, but since PG-13 didn't exist until 1984.... it was PG. 20:06 - Interrogation droid. 39:57 - The creature is actually called a Dianoga. We learned this when the Death Star Playset came out. (Yes, I had one) 46:07 - That smirk, originally was because Kenobi knew they were about to escape. Retconned, it's because he saw Anakin's children about to escape, right in front of him. 46:23 - Obi-Wan did as Qui-Gon did before him. He became one with The Force. So, yes, he DID physically die, but he also became immortal at the same time. 56:25 - Remember, when this movie was released in 1977, there was no guarantee that it would be a success, let alone become a phenomenon. What is now called Episode IV was simply called "Star Wars". It was made as a "stand alone" movie, because even Lucas thought it would flop. It took the country, and the world, by storm. I was 10 years old at the time. The "target audience" for this movie, and it was a game changer. Going to the movie theater to watch a movie was a "special thing" for my family, and after seeing this, the next time going to a theater was suggested, I literally demanded we go see Star Wars again. I would rather watch a movie I had already seen, than to see another new release that year. Once you finish the "Original Trilogy", I highly recommend you watch the documentary "Empire of Dreams", as it tells the story of making the original trilogy. Of course, it will contain spoilers, which is why I say to wait until after you've seen Episode VI. Also, it documents the ORIGINAL theatrical versions, not the added digital effects put in when the Special Editions were released in 1997. But there IS a documentary on that, as well.

[@Caseytify]

Lucas was so convinced it would flop he was in Hawaii with Spielberg when it came out. There was, by the way, no grand epic Lucas had in mind; that mythology came later. In fact the original script ripped off Kurosowa's Hidden Fortress. When Lucas wrote t he 1977 script he had no idea that Luke & Leia were related, or that Vader was their father. All that came later.

[@4thDan]

R2 is the ULTIMATE “Ride or Die” droid!

[@mechanomics2649]

I have no idea what the point is in bringing up having "seen worse" as a Gen-Xer. It adds absolutely nothing to the conversation and has nothing to do with anything. Since you didn't even see the worst of the Vietnam War on the news at the time, you're not saying much of anything to begin with. She's not talking about seeing something graphic on the news in a war. She's watching a sci-fi movie. Though Star Wars was inspired by the Vietnam War, the two situations have nothing to do with each other. I don't know if it was some weird attempt at bragging or otherwise one-upping, or what, but keep it in your pants.

[@IggyStardust1967]

@@mechanomics2649 It was a sign of the times. PG rating was very broad. Look at the movie Airplane. We saw a LOT of horrid stuff from Vietnam on the news back then. Was it the worst of what happened? No. But it was shown to us without regard to being under 10 years old. The parental units were used to it, and they shielded us from nothing back then. Also, she's watching a 45 year old Sci-Fi movie, made in a much different time in history. So, if you need a point (aside from the one on your head)... there it is. As far as keeping something in my pants.... my wife took possession of that over a decade ago. Try again.

[@Eric-ew8jt]

Best line of the movie “OB1 we meet again at last, the circle is now complete”. “When I left you I was but a learner, now I am the master “

[@ferociousflunky]

You don’t have to react to it on the channel but you should check out ‘scene 38 reimagined’ on KZbin. A group of fans/filmmakers put together a remake of the Vader vs obi wan fight and really makes up for what was missing in this one, definitely worth a watch

[@Ardi_0]

I've just kept up with your recent Star Wars reactions. Seeing this after all you know, and then watching you react to what started it all is really wholesome. Can't stop smiling ^^

[@plawes2237]

Great video.

[@fahooga]

Imagine being 6 years old, seeing this on a 60 foot screen with Dolby sound. This was everyone's introduction to the saga. Mind blowing.

[@LiveFromThePorcelainPalace]

The reason why R2D2 is so adorable is he's portrayed as having the personality of a "rambunctious and excitable 5 year old"

[@sharonbeckerle5419]

for the first time watching you're so smart! you get these scenes right away. Lots of people I know (myself included) had to watch these movies several times before I understood. you're a smart cookie and I like that about you. you haven't fallen into the trap of needing to see things over and over before you get it and that is great. who are your favorite characters you like the most.

[@sinistermaul306]

I love your reactions. It’s so awesome to see you becoming such a Star Wars fan. Looking forward to seeing your other reactions to the other movies as well.