The opening credits of both A New Hope and Fellowship of the Ring are there to set the scene, but are executed in two different ways. The introduction to Star Wars is in text, as to Lord of the Rings which is more visual. The latter is also considerably longer in length, but is equivalent to the five minutes of text seen in the opening sequence in Star Wars. Both are equally effective but Fellowship of the Ring is much more compelling and far more memorable. Alhough there is a big difference in the duration of these opening sequences, it is actually necessary for the story and much influential to the viewer, due to the complexity of the story line.
There is also a significant difference in the duration of these opening sequences. Fellowship of the Ring is almost half an hour in length as to A New Hope, which is barely five minutes. Lord of the Rings is more influential to the story
Despite this they both achieve their aim of informing the viewer. I think that A Fellow of the Rings opening is considerably better because it is both engaging and informative, and mcuh more entertaining. . . The film commences in outer space. Music ascends from the foreground as bold yellow text begins to roll up the screen. as bold yellow text rolls up the screen. The music itself is very stirring and with a very stirring orchestral composition ascending text begins to roll up the screen, hidden at the sides, Our eyes go to the middle to see the missing pieces of text. The text drifts into outer space, giving us the impression that the film is indeed epic, as the text is wider than the screen itself. As the text goes out of sight, the music begins to go quiet. The film begins to go almost silent, giving us a breather from the Stars glisten as a gentle twinkling can be heard. The camera pans away to reveal the surface of a planet, and so the film begins.
I think that the introduction to Fellowship of the Ring is ultimately better than that of Star Wars. This is because it marries short clips with a detailed narrative. It is both engaging and informative
From the top of the screen emerges a huge spaceship that seems to go on forever. It appears so big infact that it feels as if it is actually sitting on you. This is quite a clever technique. The ship may only be a model in real life, but through excellent camera techniques it gives us the impression that it is much bigger, and almost seems to dwarf the entire cinema.
‘Stars Wars’ in bright yellow lettering discharges into outer space, as a stirring orchestral composition ascends from the foreground
Because star wars and lord of the rings are both epic films its inevitable that there will be a range of heroic leading characters and larger than life villains. Two of the younger leading characters are Luke Skywalker from Star wars, and Frodo Baggins form Lord of the Rings. Their roles are equally pivotal to the story lines, but Frodo’s is of greater importance. He is given the task of destroying the ring, the source of evil. Frodo is also the basis of the Fellowship, whose duty is to guard Frodo on his quest. Frodo also carries a greater burden than Luke is initially the first character that we are acquainted with, and the only character that we can relate to. In star wars there are numerous characters such as Han and Obi Wan, The initial starting point of Luke’s journey is to rescue Princess Leia. s Luke destroys the Death Star but it is only an Luke destroys the Death Star and rescues Leia, and Frodo is given the task of destroying the ring. These characters, primarily Luke, are there because the audience is feels a strong affinity to them and can identify with them. This helps immensely with how the story is told. The audience feels as though they can relate with them, and are more sympathetic to them when they are confronted with tragedy. Without them the films would simply not have been made, or indeed written. An example of this would be when Luke goes home to find his aunt and uncle slaughtered. Initially they are both presented as innocent and naïve. As the stories unfold we see them grow and develop. This makes the audience feel as if they know them. One of the main themes underlying in both films is the
They are move innocent and naïve, especially Luke. Luke wants to leave his uncles farm because it is bleak and mundane. We sense Luke’s burning desires to leave the Force – religious connotations
a AUDIENCE FEELA STRONG AFINNITY TO THEM. BECAUSE THEY ARE YOUNG WE SEE THEM GROW AND EDEVELOP . main characters of the films are both young men. The main character of A New Hope is a young man by the name of Luke Skywalker. Luke is essentially the hero of the film. Luke is initially presented to us as a simple farm boy. As the film progresses we learn that Luke does not what to follow in his fathers footsteps, but wishes to become a pilot. The adventure of Luke Skywalker follows the classic stages of a hero’s journey. A farm boy from backwater planet of Tatooine, Luke is pulled from obscurity into a world of adventure when two unusual droids appear in his life carrying a hidden message from a mysterious princess. With the aid of a wise guide, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke gains a mystical knowledge of the Force, enlists rugged companions, Han Solo and Chewbacca, and crosses the galaxy to find the princess.
They represent all that is good, and are the films heroes. However by no means to intend to follow that path. But that is where the similarities end. Luke is different to Frodo. He wishes to follow in his father’s footsteps, to leave his uncle’s farm and go on adventures. Frodo however wishes to stay in the shire.
He is a keen pilot and is desperate to get out off his uncle farm, to pursue a career in flying. Although he does have a burning passion to for adventure, there is still an innocence to him which his aunt and uncle are keen to shelter.
They are both seemingly simple young boys, both from small remote places, where little of no action They both find themselves in the situation they are in, as to searching for it. But Luke is an adventurous young man. He wishes to follow in his father’s footsteps, much to the dismay of his uncle. His passion is unlocked however when Ben invites him to join on a adventure to rescue the rebels. Luke’s journey begins when he comes home to find his aunt and uncle slaughtered by imperial stormtroopers.
The similarities between Luke and Frodo are firstly that they are both reluctant to follow such paths. Secondly, they both live sheltered lives away from the evils of the world. Thirdly they are both relatively naïve and insignificant to the world but
Our introduction to Darth Vader we immediately know that he is evil. His entrance From a clearing of smoke transpires a black cloaked figure.
Darth Vader is the archetype villain. Our immediate perception of Darth Vader is that quite obviously that he is evil. His dramatic entrance and black suite merits such a reaction. The use of colour and contrast is particularly spectacular in his opening scene. The way that he appears through the clearing of smoke and his black suit in contrast to the pristine white creates a dramatic reaction. The contrast of black and white especially tells us that he is evil because it something that we would normally associate with evil. The dramatic music builds up the tension, until fades and all that can be heard is heavy breathing. Their voices are both equally intimidating. Darth Vader’s is so distorted it is almost impossible to tell if he is human, and Saruman’s is deep and solemn (the battle between Saruman and Gandalf, and the battle between darth and obi Wan) The way the camera centres on him in the middle of the screen because it makes him seem more important. And finally because it is quite unsettling not to see hi face, no emotional contact. Darth Vader’s forbidding appearance is not merely for effect: he is unable to survive without constant life support provided by his suite.
There is a considerable contrast between Dart Vader and Saruman. This is because Saruman wears white, although he is evil. This goers against the grain, and is unexpected, as we have come accustomed to seeing our hero’s in white, and our villains in black. This opposite effect still creates the same impression in our minds. Despite his appearance, the character still feels evil. This is partly due to the actor who plays him, Christopher Lee. Who is renowned for horror films, so we expect him to be evil. His striking face and cadaverous features are the equivalent to Darth Vader’s mask, in the sense that it creates quite a haunting effect.
The greater evil in star wars is a regime known as The Empire. The Empire is similar to Mordor and Eisengard by way of its huge structures and by the use of shadow to create a feeling of darkness. The centre of the Empire is the Death Star.
The Empire is a futuristic interpretation of Mordor. The clean metallic edges of the Death Star represent the fiery woodlands of Mordor. In the sense that they are equally as frightening. The
Genre
"'I want to come with you to Alderaan,' Luke said, resolved. 'I want to become a Jedi like my father.'" This marks the start of Luke Skywalker's involvement with the Rebellion, and the start of a new life.
Twenty-five years after the phenomenon was born, Star Wars remains one of the greatest fantasy sagas ever told. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...." "Luke Skywalker lived and worked on his uncle's farm on the remote planet of Tatooine. But he yearned for adventures out among the stars - exotic travels that would take him beyond the farthest reaches of the universe to distant, alien worlds.
One of the few inarguable members of that select cadre is George Lucas' soaring 1977 space opera, Star Wars. When Star Wars was first released on the Wednesday before Memorial Day in 1977, it arrived in theaters with good reviews and excellent advance word. It didn't take long for it to become a phenomenon (although, admittedly, 1997's publicity for the Special Edition dwarfs that of the original 1977 release). It was a true family film -- perfect for kids and parents, a throwback to the space serials of the past and a look ahead to what the future might hold. Adults appreciated Lucas' masterful, magical movie-making. Children loved all the strange creatures. Suddenly, Star Wars was everywhere; there were bed sheets, lunch boxes, trading cards, action figures, comic books, picture books, posters, records, and just about anything else you could imagine.
been. Those predicting anything less than a financial windfall for the Special Edition don't have the world's pulse.
Another thing that's instantly recognizable about Star Wars is its music. When George Lucas first approached John Williams for an epic score, little did he imagine that the result would sell millions of copies. Few motion picture themes are as well- known and often-played as that of Star Wars. Even the music from E.T., the current highest-grossing film, doesn't leap as readily to mind. Williams' evocative, grandiose score provides the perfect compliment to the Star Wars visual experience.
At its heart, Star Wars is about Luke's quest to join the battle against evil. He doesn't want to be just another bystander while the struggle for freedom goes on all around him -- he wants to be a participant. And, when two droids carrying a secret message from a beautiful rebel princess fall into his hands, his chance arrives. Amidst of the dunes of Luke's home planet of Tatooine, the young man meets the aging Jedi Knight, Obi-Wan Kenobi, who teaches of the mysterious Force, a mystical energy field that binds together all things in the universe. Obi-Wan convinces Luke to join the droids and him on a mission to rescue the princess. Accompanied by a cynical smuggler, Han Solo, and his first mate, the hairy Chewbacca, the odd little group blasts off into space with agents of the corrupt Galactic Empire in pursuit. Their destination: the dreaded Imperial Death Star, a confrontation with the evil Darth Vader, and motion picture immortality.
Star Wars borrows from numerous sources, but the most obvious inspirations are the serialized adventures of Flash Gordon and Buck Rogers, Arthurian legends and Greek mythology. There are also multiple nods to Westerns and the dogfights of World War II movies. But, like all great craftsmen, Lucas has managed to fashion this material in a manner that not only honors the original sources, but makes it uniquely his own. Hacks rip off other movies; artists synthesize and pay homage to their inspirations. Compare to Star Wars and the difference will become apparent.
SFX Realsim
During Star Wars’ original period of theatrical release, its special effects were described as everything from "eye popping" to "mind blowing". And, indeed, for their time, they were. In fact, they're not bad even by today's standards. …..For instance put Vaseline on the camera lens to smudge out the wheels of the land speeder. Used makeshift – ….But "not bad" wasn't good enough for Lucas, and his vision of what they should have been fills the screen in the Special Edition. This is most notable during three key sequences: Luke and Ben's entry into the city of Mos Eisley, Han's heretofore unseen hanger bay meeting with Jabba the Hut, and the final attack on the Death Star. However, in scenes both with and without effects improvements, Star Wars is just as compelling and invigorating a movie experience today as it was when it first came out, and the new stuff blends in seamlessly with the old.
Since 1977, there have been many science fiction movies, but none has managed to equal Star Wars' blend of adventure, likable characters, and epic storytelling. Like some indefatigable King of the Hill, it stands alone and triumphant, regardless of the many imitators that assail its position. As is true of , , and , Star Wars will endure long after its creators are gone. And watching this new edition today is like coming home after a long journey and finding everything just as you remember it -- if not better.
Star Wars is especially memorable because its story of spacefaring pilots and their daring escapades is based on an ancient form of mythology--the "hero's journey." Underneath the flash and dazzle of special effects is the magic of myth, a shape-shifting realm where heroes, monsters, wizards, and magic talismans dwell in labyrinths of discovery. This exhibition examines the mythology beneath the Star Wars story, a hero's journey that takes place "a long time ago in a galaxy far, far, away...."
