This Saturday I rewatched George Lucas’ Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope with my roommate who had never seen the legendary series. After some deliberation we decided to watch the movies in order of release date, rather than chronological according to the story, as to preserve reveals from later released movies. Having seen the entire series multiple times, I particularly noted just how little the plot of the first movie revealed about the film’s story and history of the galaxy. During moments like Luke’s inquisition into his father’s identity or Vader’s confrontation with Obi Wan Kenobi, a familiar viewer is all but screaming the information they know about the characters and their past relationship aloud.

While I was initially frustrated by the lack of information revealed, I found a new appreciation thinking of the movie’s narration as an intentional tactic to garner interest in the series’ story. As Obi Wan Kenobi consciously withholds the events of movies 4,5,6, a backstory to the first three films according to release date, a familiar viewer is forced to evaluate this decision in the larger context of the series. In spite of being the first produced Star Wars film, the script is written such that viewers feel a sense of sentimentality as Obi Wan Kenobi references events of past films, like the existence of the republic before the empire’s takeover. 

Additionally, although I remembered the film’s unique iconic soundtrack, I gained a deeper appreciation for how sound is used to guide viewer’s emotion and in turn understanding of plot. The repeated use of a symphony orchestra makes the film feel almost like an opera, with emotional melodies at points of intended sentimentality and triumphant full orchestra choruses with protagonist successes.

For example the use of the force by Jedi is almost always accompanied by a type of hopeful, sentimental music highlighting the valuable scarcity of the strange power. A versed viewer can identify exactly why this choice is made considering the history of the force in Star Wars’ story. Overall I was pleasantly surprised by how much I felt acknowledged as a repeat viewer by subtle details and choices made by George Lucas which alluded to story events while still captivating the audience with the plot.