Oh for heavens sake do you need a plot outline? You’d need to be in a galaxy far far away for you not to know this one.

This DVD set of episodes IV to VI ( the original trio ) revives the films with a fresh look, and even though the special effects are by today’s standards very modest they still rate as some of the most effective ever. The plot is full of holes, the acting limited, but … somehow it pulls you along into a great story. Perhaps its something today’s mega-effect films should note: story first!

My sister and I went to see the films when they were released in 1977 onward, and at age 12 I was stunned. Remember: the best you got then were shaky Flash Gordon spaceships on visible wires. The question of whether Vader was really Luke’s father held my generation on tender-hooks.

And then they botched it with the Phantom Menace. Oh well.

The DVD version of the film is slightly different from the original cinematic release which has annoyed some people, in some places its better, less so in others. But unless you are going to be picky about Anakin Skywalker’s ghost in the final scene changing from the original actor to Hayden Christensen who plays Anakin in the prequel movies… well it doesn’t change the overall movie. Live with it. Except that Han shot first. That’s unchangeable.

The DVD extras describe just how difficult it was to make, director Lucas almost ran out of money, the new technology almost didn’t work, the first edits were appalling, it wasn’t treated as a serious film but as a Saturday children’s effort etc. etc. I guess real breakthroughs need the vision and determination which Lucas provided, being proved right (and rich) in the end.

Classic cinema and I want a lightsabre.