Released in 1977, George Lucas' Star Wars was an instant megahit earning itself a lot more than its $11M budget, to say the least, spawning one of the biggest movie franchises of all time which is still going strong to this day, albeit under new management.

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In the vein of the old Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon serials, Star Wars is a space adventure following young farmer Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) epic journey as he joins the Rebels to take down the evil Empire and their new world-ending weapon: the Death Star. With the help of the mysterious Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), tough guy smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford), his pal Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), Princess Leia of the planet Alderaan (Carrie Fisher) and two faithful droids, they set out to use the Death Star plans to destroy it once and for all.

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Lucas' film begins in somewhat humble fashion as we spend a good amount of time with droids C-3P0 (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) on a desert planet before encountering Luke Skywalker who soon becomes informed of the princess' capture by the villainous Grand Moff Tarkin (Peter Cushing) and Darth Vader (voiced by James Earle Jones). Star Wars proceeds to deliver a jaw-dropping spectacle with elements of classic westerns, swashbucklers and samurai films thrown in. The result is a type of cheesy sci-fi space opera that many had tried to create prior for the big screen, without much success, as Star Wars also worked brilliantly as a mainstream modern action blockbuster.

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This loving homage to the science-fiction serials of the 1930's is packed with charm thanks to the likable cast (Harrison Ford steals the show as Han Solo) and the sheer imagination flagrant on the screen. The sets are hugely impressive, the special effects are groundbreaking and make this wild tale look as convincing as possible. The whole thing is complemented by John Williams' unforgettable score that sets the tone perfectly. There are some pacing issues; the desert and pre-war scenes are a bit of a snooze; but the film will win you over by the end.

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The impact of Star Wars on cinema and culture in general has, obviously, been huge and it all began with a film that aims high without any pretension, only aiming to be the most entertaining and creative movie that it could be. The Special Edition hurts this one quite a bit so, if you somehow can find the original version, that's your best bet.

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Iconic.