Ways of earning $200 million

Directed by George Lucas Cinerama

Why bother with a review of Star Wars? I mean, everyone's seen it, enjoyed it (most (most of it, anyway), stepped outside the Cinerama squinting into the sun refreshed and ready to face reality once again.

What exactly is Star Wars? Well, most people think it is a lot of fun. Never mind that the plot is about as complicated as the the recipe for toast. That's half the fun. Deep thinkers need not apply. Roll some jaffas down the aisle instead.

If Star Wars makes any demand upon its audience whatsoever, then it's probably to be found in the mass of associations the film conjures up. Take everything that was good in 2001, Tarzan, The Blue Max, Two Lane Blacktop, The Wallons, 12 O'Clock High, Lassie, The Scarlet Pimper-If nothing in that list rings a bell, then find your own associations. Hollywood isn't dead, just retailored to fit into a space-suit.

Yes, even the baddies look like baddies. Peter Cushing does his cultured nasty bit in the mould of Josef Goebbels, while Darth Varder, besides relishing his quietly symbolic black coat, speaks in heavy tones through a face reminiscent of the grill of an Olds mobile 2-door.

On the heroes and heroines side, the beautiful Princess Leia, (in equally quietly symbolic white), the desirable object of the affection of our heroes; Luke Sky-walker(!), a kind of inter galactic John-boy with a touch of the Farrah Fawcett; the "Dad and Dave" of robotland; and some other chap who, were he alive in Wellington today, would be charging $ 12 an hour as a mechanic to fix your car. (Is this subtle bias in film or reviewer? — Ed.) Sir Alec Guiness almost steals the whole show by doing what he always does best: acting dignified.

That's it. Lots of c.u.'s to keep it on a human interest level, parallel editing in all the right places and a special effex tour-deforce which has you on the edge of your seat biting nails and altogether forgetting everything that's gone before.

And with a happy ending, what more could we ask?

How will history judge Star Wars? Only time will tell. Who knows, maybe . . . "A long time ago in a special effex room far, far away ....'

David Beresford