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 Storm Troopers 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.
When Darth Vader enters the ship, a menacing and dark score is played. This creates fear
towards Darth Vader as it makes him seemas if he will cause harm to others. This sound
depicts him as an antagonist.
The sound of the blasters during the conflict is nothing like any weapon in the real world
and this helps enforce the idea that this is a sci-fi film.
