Yes, it's Star Wars. In many ways it's a fairly standard story of good vs evil, a quest, capture, escape, a shoot out and (SPOILER ALERT) a happy ending. Which, by the way, is the ultimate proof that this film was meant as a one-off, a single entity and most definitely not "Episode IV" or "A New Hope" or "The Start of a Slippery Slope to Franchise Hell Which Will End Very Badly With an Overgrown CGI Lizard". But I digress. This "western in space" is well told and despite the slightly ropey special effects, there's a certain charm to the film, a lot of which has to do with the actors.

Although writer/director George Lucas had planned to go for mainly young unknowns, it's those with the experience that make all the difference. Mark Hamill is a bit squeaky and po-faced as Luke but Harrison Ford is perfect as cocky pilot Han Solo. Meanwhile, Carrie Fisher more than holds her own as the sexy, feisty Princess Leia, even if she does have Danish pastries in her hair.

Alec Guinness is in it all too briefly but is imperious, while Peter Cushing brings all his experience to a cameo but in the end is overshadowed by the unforgettable James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader. Even the non-humans have character, with R2-D2 and Chewbacca literally making all the right noises.