Perfect. Simply a perfect movie. Not much else I can say, except to also aknowledge how amazing the soundtrack is. Shame really, how later on they ruin this great promise of a series.
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Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
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Is it age appropriate?
About our ratings(Flash is loading. If this text does not disappear you need to install the latest flash version)
Not age appropriate for kids under 5, age appropriate for kids over 8; suggested age 8. -
Is it any good?
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Common Sense says
First of a sci-fi phenomenon, #4 in the series.
Themes in this movie include: friendship, loss
updated 09.28.09
Why We Rated This 
for Ages 8 and Up
The good stuff
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Educational value:
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What to watch out for
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Violence & scariness:
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What Parents Need to Know
About Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope
Parents need to know this 1977 movie comes in two versions: the original and the one released on DVD in 2004 that's augmented with more effects. Either one is a good introduction to the series for kids (the effects don't add much) if you decide to view them in the order they were made rather than the chronological order in which they're marketed now. Parents may notice something they didn't the first time around: The human cast isn't all that diverse. Most are white males, and the princess stands out as the only strong female character. One bar scene features "space" drinking, smoking, and shady characters, resulting in the loss of one character's limb and the shooting death of another. Two supporting characters are killed fairly early on and shown as ash-like figures; a main character dies later. There are plenty of laser blasts and swordplay with lightsabers, although this entry is the tamest of the series.
Read our full review by Nell Minow
Families Can Talk About
- Families can talk about the characters' choices and motivations. Why does Luke decide to fight the Empire? Why does Han? Why does Han leave, and why does he come back?
- What background do the newer movies give this story?
- In 1977 the audience didn't have this background -- do you think they missed out?
- If you watched the updated version could you tell right away when a scene was added?
- Why do you think the director added to his work? Do you think it's the sign of a good director to let his or her art stand or to keep revisiting past work?
Our Members Say
See all 28 member reviews
Most Recent Reviews
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
- I rate this title on for age 3 and give it
my kid loves any thing to do with star wars. i think its a good show for him too watch, would rather he watched this than some of the shows more geared to his age such as i carly,
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
- My highlights are:
- Good role models
Who doesn't like Star Wars?
I love star wars! Hardly anything suggestive. If you haven't seen it then why not? They're all great!
Lives in Ohio- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
Great for Young Kids
I recently watched this with my 5-year-old son. He's really into the Star Wars franchise, and this movie made a huge impression on me when I saw it at age 7, so I was anxious for him to see it. He probably would have gotten a bit more out of it had he been older, but he did really enjoy it. He wasn't scared by anything in it nor freaked out by the cinematic violence, but the plot nuances might have been a bit over his head. I don't believe that the violence in this movie is worth worrying about for the suggested age group, since it is pretty abstract (e.g. while people do get shot & killed, it's never graphic or distressing.) All in all, a great movie that stimulates the young imagination to no end.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
Trolls are entertaining, but people who actually believe them are more so.
A classic - I first saw it when I was four. It didn't hold my attention very well, and I don't think some younger children would be interested in it enough to watch the whole movie when sitting by themselves, though. Umm... people who rate this movie as being 'bad for children' are probably trolls. (Have you seen 6's review for Robocop? Hilarious.) One of my most sheltered friends saw this as a child and loved it, so if her parents let her watch it, it MUST be kid-friendly.
- I rate this title on for age 4 and give it
The problem with nut bag fundamentalists, is, that there ARE nut bag fundamentalists!
Seriously? Most of you that are posting have a problem with this movie? Are you insane? I was taken to see this movie WITH MY PARENTS as a 4 year old child when it was released, and then to the sequel "Empire" and then "Jedi" a few years later respectively. For any adult with a parent who thinks this is "too much for their child to see", you either have completely forgotten what it's like to be a child, or, you are a nut bag fundamentalist that leans way too far to the right. There is no gore, comparatively, considering your precious little angels go over to their friends' house after school to play whichever new video game is out that shows copious amounts of blood, guts, sex, etc...Ok, so, there is a severed arm, so? There are two bodies that are clearly skeletons in a field...so? This movie is nothing more than a western in space. Han Solo is John Wayne, basically, if you want to compare. It has the hopeful "kid", the damsel in distress, the evil sheriff, and the comic side-kicks. The movie was released in 1977 and it's sequels released in 1981 and 1983 respectively (Episode 4, 5, and 6). They were so titled Episode IV, V, VI because Lucas had the idea for the first three in his head but didn't have the funding or the special effects created to make the other movies. Thsi movie is in no way a "horrible" movie for kid. When I was a child, I was taken to see "Jaws", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", the "Star Wars" movies, and pretty much every other movie that was out there, including the Star Trek movies. Seriously, remember the movies you watched as a kid, and lean a little more to the left. So what if your 4 year old kid watches Star Wars? Who cares? It'll probably help their imagination. "Irresponsible damage to a child"...*pffft* whatever. When my son was old enough to understand, which, was about 4 years old, I sat him down to watch the Star Wars movies because I wanted to share MY experiences with the movie just as my parents did with me. And you know what? He loved the movies. We watch them together about once a month. Seriously...get a life you bunch of over-inflated, over entitled windbags. Oh, and Han shot first!
- I rate this title iffy for age 16 and give itMy concerns are:
- Excessive violence
- Inappropriate sexual content
DISPICABLE
WAY TO VIOLENT!! BLOODY, TERRIBLE VIOLENCE! NOT FOR AGES 16+ IN MY OPINION! I DO NOT ALLOW ANY OF MY GRANDCHILDREN TO WATCH THIS (EXCEPT FOR THE ADULT ONES) please, take my advice and stay away
- I rate this title on for age 13 and give it
The worst movie ever made!
I'm shocked at how the movie exclaims that violent battes between artificially created and unbelievable characters is fun. All the movie has to offer is a false view on totalarian societies the will ruin children's moral views into a simplistic "There's only good and evil" idea. I blame this for ending the anti-war craze the Vietnam War started a view that made many people cheer when we were blowing up innocent people in Iraq in 1991, and more recently in Afghanistan and (again) Iraq. Avoid at all costs.
- I rate this title on for age 7 and give it
one of the best movies of all time
acting- 4.5/5 art direction/set direction- 5/5 editing- 5/5 musical score- 5/5 sound- 5/5 visual effects- 5/5 directing- 5/5 screenplay- 5/5 one of the greatest films of all time, everything in this film is perfect or very close to it. I am still very puzzled that CSM gave it a 4/5. the finale still gives me goosebumps years after i originally saw it, i cant begin to describe how much i love this movie
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
This was awesome
Altough it was later 4th in the series, but the first one made, this was a great film. No intense swearing (mild four letter words) Hardly anything to consider sex, and of course the film will make people want to buy action figures, lego sets etc. I have seen all six and recommend this and all 5 of the other films to any starwars fan.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
ilaghed
it,s asome
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
The Best in the Series.
A great movie. There is a lot of blood in one scene. Darth Vader is rather scary, and so are the Tusken raiders. Governor Tarkin is really evil. And the end of the film builds up so much suspense.... This is by far the best in the series.
- I rate this title on for age 8 and give it
Classic Film for All!
Star Wars is brilliant! It's a classic for all! It was released in 1977 and was a breakthrough in visual effects. It also inspired several filmmakers like James Cameron and Peter Jackson to make their legendary films (Titanic and The Lord of the Rings). Sex and drugs aren't an issue in this film. There is one d**n and one hell. The violence is frequent but mild: people fight with lightsabers (lazer swords) and shoot ray guns. People are shot, but they just fall over (no blood or gore). This all may sound pretty hokey, but watch it and you'll be sucked in. This was the first Star Wars film made, but is number 4 in a series of 6. Watch them all!
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
OOKKK
Ok this is a good movie if you will not let your kids watch it my ^ year oldsister watched it and my mom is a no gun stuff freak.So they say mild curses lik What th hell and your damn crazy.they say it fast and mutter it my sister did not notice it.the violence is OK but a lot of shooting and light sabers mostly science fic.Enjoy the movie.You should be 6+ to watch this.
- I rate this title on for age 2 and give it
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