After the opening titles of Star Wars A New Hope, there is a scene where a large star destroyer chases and shoots at a smaller ship. The larger ship uses tractor beams to capture the smaller ship, where clones exchange gunfire with rebels on board. Two droids escape the conflict and find Princess Leia who is in distress and in danger of being captured by Darth Vader. She entrusts the droids with a message for Obi Wan Kenobi before being captured.

1. Matt Wood
Similar Products – Film Beginning Analysis
Star Wars A New Hope (1977):
Studio: LucasfilmLtd
Written by: George Lucas
After the opening titles, there is a scene of a large star destroyer chasing and shooting at a
smaller ship. The larger ship uses its tractor beams to draw the smaller one in and it is then
boarded by clones and gunfire is exchanged. Then two droids try to escape the conflict and
find Princess Leia who is in distress as she is in extreme danger of being captured by the
villainous Darth Vader and his empire. She makes a plea for help to Obi Wan Kenobi and
gives it to one of the droids to give to Kenobi. The droids flee the ship through an escape
pod and the Leia is captured.
The opening shot of the two ships
shows the audience that the film is
sci-fi and is fantasy as the ships in
the scene do not exist in the human
world.
The fact that the rebels’ faces are seen, it creates
a link with the audience and makes the audience
want them to be successful because they are
human.
However all of the imperial
characters have masks on
which cover their faces which
doesn’t create a feeling of
empathy with these
characters.
Therefore the audience is on the side of the rebels.

2. Matt Wood
This shot is from down low
looking up on Darth Vader which
makes him seem big and
powerful and high of status.
Alsothe fact that Darth Vaderiswearingblack
and all of the StormTroopersare inwhite
showsthat Vaderisabove theminthe
hierarchyandis powerful.