I wonder if the the theme of over reliance on technology that you talked about is actually there throughout the entire (George Lucas) saga? I mean think about it, in the prequels the Jedi are extremely engrained in this technology heavy world. Droids can’t figure out where a dart came from but some old guy in a restaurant identifies it immediately. The computer doesn’t have the planet Obi Wan is looking for and he literally can’t put 2 and 2 together until a child, who isn’t as ingrained, tells him it’s 4. The technologically produced clone army that just shows up out of nowhere is blindly trusted by all of them. This lack of wisdom (or common sense) born from both dogma but also technology reliance is literally the death of them. There’s what you mentioned here with the tracking computer. And then there’s the ending with primitive teddy bears winning the war. I think this theme extends over all 6 of the original movies though maybe I haven’t fleshed it out too well.

in my onion luke really was the star of the war

"Is this dude really going for Style Points?" Luke, use the Force to flex on them normies

Fun fact, if you pause as the torpedoes go down the shaft, you see where Red Leader hit. Proton Torpedoes fit side by side in the nose of an X-Wing. So if they just fit side by side down the port, you can tell Red Leader, firing from beyond naked eye visual range....missed by maybe 10 feet. Poor guy got it within spitting distance. Never realized just how close he got.

I was a bit disappointed that you didn't mention the part where right after Luke says his scope's negative, Red Leader tells him to pick up his visual scanning, as in 'Hey man, use your eyes instead of trusting only your instruments' which is another great point leading up to Luke trusting in the force

Little detail too: When Luke says his scanner shows negative on detecting the fighters Red Leader says "Pick up your visual scanning" basically saying "Dude, just use your eyes".

That was the most enjoyable Raid ad I’ve seen.

I never before appreciated how well red leader portrayed as a guy who's whole life lead up to this moment...he did everything right, and fought with all that he had, only to fail at the end.

Total props to this guy the way he fused a commercial into the story. Totally cracked me up! Way to go!

I think the reason Luke was “bobbing and weaving” all over the place in the trench run was because his stabilizer had been blown loose. He asked R2 to lock it down but it might be why Vader couldn’t get a lock on him.

Fun Fact: During the battle of the first Death Star, there were supposed to be the Blue X-wing squadron instead of Gold, however, the blue color on the X-wings would cause problems when rendering in the CGI because Blue screen was used back then instead of Green screen, hence why we have Gold squadron, red squadron, and green squadron. And then later in 2016 in the Rogue one, they showed that the Blue squadron was destroyed in Scariff.

I always figured that the Y-wings (had they survived) would have been able to make the shot, being dedicated bombers that would have the necessary targeting equipment for such a feat, whereas the X-wings were dogfighters designed to fight other ships, not engage ground targets. There's also the theory that Vader was using the Force to mess with the Rebels' equipment, which was why they had such a hard time spotting the TIEs.

I've always thought that Red leader missing implied it could not be done. It was suggested heavily before the mission started. The mission was kind of a last stand, and everyone in the know knew it would not work. However, great video on pointing out how masterfully everything was edited together. Makes me want to rewatch this scene asap.

Even as a kid I'd always kind of understood that the reason Luke doesn't use the targeting computer is because only the Force would have worked (as implied by Red Leader missing when using his) but I never really put much thought into it past that, nor did I notice the little moments throughout the scene of Luke slowly trusting his instincts more as the battle goes on.

When Vader jumps into combat, it’s because he realizes that the main battle is just a diversion and that the bombers are making their way to the trench. He specifically says that. It usually goes unnoticed, but Vader is the first one who realizes not everything is as it appears.

Just goes to show that Marcia Lucas was ahead of her time. The film editors match shots with action in precusion to elevate the tension. She did that masterfully. I've seen the trench run like a thousand and I'm on the edge of my seat every time. Very few modern films have that kind of talented editors. They spend too much time and money on visual effects which kind of misses the point. Never learn. Visual effects are a support mechanism not the main point of reference. A films structure and story are derived from its editor.

Another detail that I've always really liked is the rebel causality rate. They sent out 32 pilots to destroy the Death Star. 12:31 *Three of them came back* That is a 90% casualty rate. That is abysmal. In any other confrontation, it would be unacceptable. It's another detail that shows the plan was never really going to work.

“All right broskis we’re goin’ fast and hard like a Timmies run.” Thank you for the Canadian representation Ben 😂

The theme of humanity (flesh, will, hope, determination) vs machine is repeated in other places as well. Two examples I can think of are Ewoks vs. Empire in Episode 6 and Luke's mechanical hand being a synonym for the dangers of giving in to the Dark Side (because Vader, the face of the Dark Side for the most part is "more machine than man.")

OK... I just gotta say this: that was, hands-down, the BEST plug for the worst money-grubbing "free-to-play" game that has become such a meme that no one alive today will not skip-forward the moment a content creator mentions its name, that I have ever seen. I watched it all. Every second. Didn't make me wanna get the game, but respect +1.

One of the best things about the Original Trilogy that was really lacking in the Sequel Trilogy was that it really felt like a military operation. All the dialogue and the acting feels a lot like WW2 films of the time. During scenes like the Death Star attacks or the Battle of Hoth it felt like a proper war movie, whereas in the sequels it feels too much like a super hero movie to me.

One of the things I liked was when the TIEs come out and Luke has one chasing him, "I can't shake him!", he specifically calls out for help from his friend Biggs. The one he talked to before they took off, and the one who was his friend back on Tatooine. He calls for help from Biggs, "Blast it Biggs, where are you?" but then Wedge swoops in and saves him. This is another lesson for Luke: he and the little group he calls his buddies can't do this alone. He has to work as a team, not as a buddy.

“Is this guy going for style points?” had me cackling

I have always been convinced that Red Leader's miss was caused by the sudden movement of his flight stick down and to the right at the same time he fires - probably in an attempt to pull out of the trench. Proton torpedoes, when fired off-axis, move in sweeping arcs to track their targets and when fired at close range may not have had the lead-time they needed to find exact purchase on a target so small. Luke had to straighten out to get a clear on-axis shot at the port, and the same was true with Red Leader. I always assumed that was why we got the tight shot of Red Leader's flight stick. Dude was a veteran, but he was clearly under a lot of pressure.

A small thing about thisvscene I like is when Luke is in trouble he calls out for Biggs who he was already friends with to help him but it's Wedge that swings in to help. The fact that a seemingly minor character like Wedge would survive the battle but have to withdraw after taking too much damage is something we don't see too often in movies, 9/10 he'd just get blown up.

Man you managed to give me brand new chills over a movie I have literally seen hundreds of times over the last 25 years

I'm old. In the 70s, we realized this, so I never knew that this understanding was lost. Cool that you've brought it back!

I thought "use the force" was a good enough hint as to why Luke didn't use his targeting computer, but apparently there's lots more details supporting it. God I wish the later movies were written as well as this one.

one of the last times I watched, I realize how heavy handed was the technical talk between the pilots all of this helps to contrast the very spiritual use of the force to destroy the death star I loved it! what an amazing movie

You actually made an "in-video" ad that was entertaining enough to watch without skipping...I hope your sponsors appreciate this.

Don't know if it's already been mentioned here, but worth noting that part of the reason Vader is so deadly in a fighter is because he's prescient. "The force is strong with this one" matters because they're target and evade is actually playing out slightly in advance of the action, so with Luke, Vader can't predict him as easily, and therefore doesn't have a shot until Luke has to stop dodging to line up his attack. Just an excellent subtlety in the storytelling.

In fact, that scene shows one more thing: Vader only views the Force as a tool at that time. Something to give him power. He respects it, but still lacks the understanding that it flows in all things. We all know how good of a pilot he is (even all the way back from his child days) but all he was doing there was using his own computer. When we as viewers look at Luke's X-Wing, it's almost flying in a straight line. Had Vader just decided to simply forget about the locking system, he could have shot down Luke no sweat. Instead, he was left just as confused as Luke. Because like him, he wasn't trusting the Force to guide him. Same reason why he failed to notice Han approaching, saving Luke's hide in the process. Truly a great scene worth analysing!

Speaking of sound design, can we acknowledge how MANIACALLY AGGRESSIVE the TIE fighter 'scream' is? Those things roar toward you and you KNOW you're in trouble. Ben Burtt (I believe) absolutely outdid himself coming up with that sound.

This is actually one of the only times I've seen someone really emphasize the lack of music during big chunks of this scene. Ever since I rewatched it years ago it hit me hard how empty it was and how well that works. Music is not just what is being played but it's also the silence in between, and having the music only show up sparingly makes those moments when Williams does show up so much more impactful.

I read the book before the movie came out in 1976 (its weirdly different), then saw it on opening day before it was a "hit" which occurred a week later. I still recall making my mom take me to the afternoon showing on day 1- there were maybe twelve other people in the theater.... but you knew you saw something that was profoundly different from anything that came before it. A week later all hell broke loose with lines every day for months.

Your analysis of Red and Gold Leader is spot-on. I’ve seen this seen well over 200 time and I totally missed that.

Great commentary! One addition: Marcia Lucas didn't just extend the final battle with the extra footage of scenes from the Yavin control room. Originally, the Rebel base was not supposed to be threatened by the Death Star. The rebels were just supposed to fly their mission, destroy the Death Star, and come back. But Marcia realized the scene just didn't have high enough stakes. So she invented the element of a countdown to the destruction of the rebel base, using only inserts added later showing the graphic with the death star coming in range, VO, and some leftover footage on the death star. Watch the scene again: at no point will you see anyone on camera referencing the threat from the Death Star to the rebel base. This change was fundamental to the dynamic of the scene - max'd the stakes - and it was entirely invented in the editing room. Incredible.

Fun fact - the first "targeting computer miss" is a homage to the same scene in the 1955 movie "Dambusters", where the first bomber makes an attack run on the German dam using a specialised bombsight, the bomb hits the dam wall and explodes but the dam isn't destroyed. Quite a few parts of the finale in Star Wars come from that film.

I would like to point out how well this exemplifies the overused adage: "Show, don't tell." It's been some time since I've watched A New Hope, but you couldn't at gunpoint made me remember Red Leader successfully carrying out the plan and still failing, or Luke realizing he could rely on instincts by shooting into a random control center. But I can remember clear as day that it made complete and total sense to me that Luke would shut off his targeting computer and rely on his instincts, because, how else would you do this, really? I feel like modern-day movies would feel the need to hang a lantern on every beat of this. "It didn't work! He got the shot through, but it didn't work!" "We need to stick to the plan, Luke!" "Red Leader stuck to the plan, and it did nothing!" "Restart your targeting computer *right now,* that's an *order,* soldier!" "That damn thing can't get a firing solution! I can get this shot through, trust me!" "Trust in the force, trust in the force, I trust in the force ..." They did none of this. As a result, I couldn't recall anything from the battle but the final shot - but I would argue that this is also the reason why the final shot is so memorable in the first place. Because all of the things we have seen before that kind of got threw under our radar due to all of the action and spectacle suddenly line up and make sense, even if we cannot fully verbalize why. I don't know if modern-day writer have to overexplain these things because they don't trust in their audience, if they maybe feel the need to brag about what great kind of sequence they have build, or if they maybe just don't have the time to delete such chatter in the last polish - but whatever the reason is, it clearly doesn't compare to just letting the audience figure it out for themselves.

The imagery of the shot, implies the torpedoes do a sharp "L" before entering the exhaust port, and that's why it was impossible for a computer achieve that. Only through the Force. Was my kid self wrong?

All of the professional pilot jargon and callouts happening makes the otherwise fantastical situation feel more grounded in reality and it raises the stakes and helps build tension. The characters are taking their situation seriously.

I like the touch that the Y-wing computers seem like theyre integral to the design, and more easily engaged/disengaged. And also bigger/more advanced. And the X-wing ones seem a bit more secondary, with just a stick holding them up, and completely disappearing when disengaged. Really showcases that the Ys are primarily bombers, and the Xs more fighters

I never really noticed that Wedge was the targeting computer critic all along. Good catch. Before Obi-Wan even says anything, we have a few seeds of doubt planted that using the targeting computer is doomed to fail.

Awesome critical breakdown! As a old guy who actually saw this on the big screen in 1977, I agree. A fucking masterpiece!

It is rarely talked about but Red Leader says to keep up with "visual scanning", he also says that "with all this jamming" that the Imperial tie fighters could be on top of them before their "scopes can pick them up" and that Red Ten while at the trench run notes that there is "too much interference" which suggests that the Imperials have a ECM (Electronic Counter Measure) which is probably why the Rebels could not land a hit onto the exhaust port until Luke used the force, it is because the Imperials use ECM to mess up the trajectories of the torpedoes which is why they couldn't hit beforehand.

Something else I though I’d mention is that one of his engines was still blown out from his first skirmish, he even tells R2 to fix it just before R2 gets hit, meaning he had to manually stabilize his ship. The point is that entire time Vader couldn’t lock onto him, and I believe that’s because his ship wasn’t flying in its robotic pattern anymore, now it was all spastic and jolty

One of the greatest scenes in cinematic history, hands down. And I just realized that it's kind of a conflict between a natural moon and a techno-moon at the end, to really hammer the theme home.

And. This legitimately brought tears to my eyes in a way I thought wouldn't happen again since Every Frame a Painting stopped posting. Thank you.

@7:15 - i just realized something. I never understood the whole "running along the trench, waiting to shoot the hole" thing, but having done a lot of milsim aviation, this comment just made me realize that their targeting computers are operating Continuously Computed Release Point (CCRP) mode: They have designated the point they want their munitions to hit, and the targeting computer is guiding them on how to fly to approach the release point at the correct angle/speed/height to ensure a hit. Neat.

Your palpable passion for editing is infectious, that's some rare shit I reckon a bunch of kids who'll come across your essays will eventually become editors themselves, and they'll owe at least some of it to you, and that's just wonderful. keep it up, these essays have *great* artistic merit on their own.

Audience reaction: When I saw it in the theatre in 1977, yes, the audience was cheering and booing all through it. Even grown-ass adults turned into 12-year olds. It had been a long time since I had seen a movie that had that effect. When Han came back to save Luke, the popcorn went everywhere.

This has to be the first time an analysis of a movie showed me more than I already knew. I came in expecting just a fellating of a classic movie I liked or some added exposition from an interview, and what I got was someone who picked up on a subtle mini arc I never realized was there and scoped in on it. Kudos man.

6:08 - Mark Hamill really knew how to make the little but most relatable moments feel real. at the end of VI when he gets in a shuttle with Vader's body and the gate was almost gonna close on him before the deathstar exploded, you can see him do a little "oh crap" expression. and then relief when he makes it

4:49 The reason they can't hit anything with those laser turrets is because they're Turbolasers, anti-capital ship weapons, not anti-fighter, and it's basically like using a 15-inch or 14-inch gun to shoot down planes. Sure it's theoretically possible to do so, but it's very hard to do something like that.

Love the commentary! Hilarious and informative at the same time. I was there, in 1977, in the theaters, cheering with everyone else. It was an incredible time!

Ugh man, that final sequence just unloads some chemicals in me and I get shivers and goosebumps and can't help but cry when Obi-Wan talks to Luke, man it's wild. I knew I had to click on this video, and then pretty soon in I get that rush and by the end I'm grinning ear to ear with tears comin down my face like I'm a kid again. Great perspective in this video and I learned some things thanks!

Targeting computer presumably failed on the first attack. "Negative, it didn't go in. Just impacted on the surface!" Failed because it's designed to the hit the target directly, not drop a payload into it. Luke had to account for this fact, and time the firing of the torpedoes manually anyway. He turns off the computer to avoid being distracted by the "shoot now" alert.

I completely lost it at that RAID ad because I wasn't sure if it is a bit or not. Well done, mate.

Dude... your video so hits home. You opened my eyes to things that should have been so obvious, and you bring home great points about the music and everything so perfectly it's making my eyes water. WONDERFUL video. I'm sharing it everywhere. 👍

That was a brilliant review that refreshes the story of a film now almost a half century old. I must go watch SW:EIV again. Also, amazing in-video ad - watched the whole thing. You rock.

Another thing I always loved about this scene is Luke's humanity. Red leader makes his wingmen stay in formation behind him, even though he knows it will almost certainly cost them their lives but that it may give him a little bit of an edge, he's not a bad guy, he is just completely mission oriented. He is not a hypocrite either, he also gives his own life, knowing that their last chance was Luke's team, and he doesn't seem to want Luke distracted with trying to save him. On Luke's run, wedge gets hit and Luke says, "get out of there wedge, you can't do any more good back there" thus gaining himself a loyal friend for life. Wedge would clearly have stayed if he had been told to, but Luke let him go allowing him to become the only pilot to survive the attack on both death stars.

You know it's been a long quarrantine when people clapping and cheering in a movie theater gets you emotional. A New Hope is also my favorite Star Wars so I may be biased tho.

OMG, Raid: Shadow Legends is a despicable Pay to Avoid Grind game, but the way you incorporated the promo for it into your video was absolutely stellar! Ben From Canada wins the Internet today!

The more we've learned about the true process of making Star Wars over the years, the more it supports the fact that the creative process is dependent on the bringing together of different areas of expertise! We used to think it was all Lucas, but today we know better how Marcia's editing, Ben's sounds, John's music, Gary's producing, and others, all added to the final outcome! So many of the good decisions were ones Lucas left up to others...and he left even more decisions to others in Empire and the result may be even better! And yet the more he reigned in those decisions and accepted less outside input in the prequels, the worse they got. The man was a visionary - no question - but reliant on others for the perfect execution.

I've always loved the scene when Luke turned off the computer. Even as child, I vividly remember being blown away by the music. I also love the dialog ... the dismissive but focused & serious tone in Luke's voice when he says, "Nothing! I'm all right!"

Ok. I’m being honest. This analysis gave me shivers how in-depth and accurate it was, using only elements revealed in the movie itself. It’s beautiful.

Ok, you officially need WAAAAAAAY more subs for the most epic sponsor-plug in the history of KZfaq. Not to mention the shout-out to all us Canucks with “Arright, broskies, we’re goin’ fast an’ hard like a Timmy’s run… LET’S GOUHHHHH!”. Pure gold.

Well Done! I saw Star Wars when I was 12 years old at the Brunson Twin Theater in Baytown, Texas. One of those old fashion theaters with two story, tall screens that were wide as hell. It was freakin awesome. A much simpler time, so this was a real game changer of a movie. Thanks for the break down

Actually a really cool and interesting detail that I never fully realised before. It fully plays into the idea that the empire is representative of the technologically superior United States during the Vietnam War. Also this is the first time I haven’t skipped someone doing an Ad read, that was fucking hilarious.

It’s kind of jarring how Ben drops the voice he was using throughout the sponsor skit when Obi-Wan explains the Death Star to everyone literally four seconds later

So many detail I never noticed, or at least thought were random details. That adds such a cool layer to the end battle and the movie as a whole! Great video

That was a great Raid ad you snuck in there. Made me chuckle. The editing to lift the stakes was a masterstroke. Top vid.

The whole point of the ending of this film was that in a world of incredible technology, the human spirit and human belief are more powerful and meaningful than any technology we possess.

It's exactly the same lesson Luke learned from deflecting the blaster from the floating ball. Clear your mind, stretch out with your feelings, trust your instincts and not your eyes, go with the flow. The right move at the right moment. It's the most basic, Jedi-101 skill the Jedi have, their simplest, most completely passive trick, and it was enough to take out the Death Star.

The moment when Obi-Wan calls to Luke to use the Force is forever one of my favorites in Star Wars. The music cutting through tension, The most heroic and powerful version of the Force Theme we've hard in the movie, really sells the moment. It's Luke's "he's beginning to believe" moment, and its just so fulfilling

Dude, that was awesome! I laughed so hard - and - you have a good point! Also the in-video ad was so funny and worked so well, I didn't skip through it.

I have to say, you have the smoothest insertion of an ad into your video that I’ve ever seen. Didn’t see it coming. It was funny and entertaining. Legit impressed. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

"Hey, I can raw dog this" Literally every movie review should be done this way

It's crazy how you made an ad, for Raid: Shadow Legends out of all things, arguably the most entertaining part of the entire video. Hands down the best sponsor plug I have and probably will ever see, for all the millions of sponsored videos there are.

No less than 75% of the reason The Battle of Yavin (first death star) is so perfect is because of the music by John Williams. That track became so iconic it got reused & remixed in a lot of the games. Like super star wars and shadows of the empire. I can listen to song and visualize the battle in my head, the tempo and tone changes with the ebb & flow of the battle. That dramatic timpani beat for final dash. The tension, the last moment save, the rush of victory. Lead into that throne room ceremony March & close scene roll credits as the main theme swells again. ICONIC

When you think about it, it's really remarkable how prophetic this 1977 movie was about Raid: Shadow Legends.

Yes. Marcia Lucas killed it, but just wanted to mention that the sound is due to Ben Burtt. Brilliant sound designer and editor.

First video I've seen from this Channel. Unique, insightful and brilliant commentary. The Force is strong in Ben. Subscribed!

Man your narration of the scenes had my heart pumping.

I heard that a couple of the other pilots, namely Red Leader were actual pilots who flew on operations? If that's true they nailed the tension of a commander showing confidence at the beginning of the mission, while gradually losing confidence in their ability to lead their squadron and win the battle near the end. I've personally felt that feeling before in the army, it sucks man; thankfully it was only in training. I imagine it's like what a comedian feels like when they bomb on stage.

There is a reason the thesis statement of the film is how Obi wan negatively says He's more machine than man when talking about Vader

Ok.. that was some fantastic dialog. Very well done. Perfect lighthearted narration. And yes.. the in video advert was brilliantly executed.

Great video! Love the product placement ad too! While I sorta knew the computer wasn't going to work, to see this video, it really brought the genius of the movie to light. I had thought the targeting computer bad and he needed the force to guide the shot it. However, it was part of a much larger theme in the movie. "A New Hope" just got even better.

3:33 This is what is missing from the new movies. You can't see militaries acting like competent militaries anymore. The heroes all have to be gung ho and over-emotional. The villains all have to be spitting and yelling until they're red in the face with anger. No one seems like the competent, calm professionals that existed in the original trilogy.

Perfect encapsulation of going for a desperate Timmy’s run with your bois, and loosing some along the way. RIP Biggs - you got distracted by that dank weed.

God fucking damn it. This is my favorite video on all of youtube. I come back and watch it like every couple of months. Its just so god damn good. You break down movies so well, but this one is just god-tier dude

What i noticed is that the death star trench has a slight curve to it. The computer showed a flat running trench. A one degree difference over such a long distance makes for a huge paralax error.

I always thought the 'My Scope's Negative' and 'Pick up your visual scanning' lines with respect to the TIEs was just due to the fact that given their small size and lack of shields, the TIE fighter just had a very very small radar cross-section (or whatever the SW equivalent to 'radar' is)

Dude. NAILED IT.

"Use the Force, Luke, let go." Words uttered from the grave to instruct. Those came from a legendary space fighter pilot who probably used targeting computers more than Red Leader. Kenobi knew the limitations of the equipment before hand from experience. Likewise, the Rebellion had never encountered a Death Star before so other than a cursory study of it's blueprints knew nothing of how to attack it. Luke's experience popping wamp rats would make a difference that Obi Wan would have forseen while Rebel commanders would not trust.

Man, your video and the way you inserted that add is soooo darn good that i just subscribed to your channel.

I always appreciated the details of the SFX department - when you see Luke's shot go in, you can see the blast mark from Red Leader's missed attempt on the surface...

Big Star Wars Fan here. This is the first time I have ever heard an analysis of why Ep IV is such a great film from a technical, film perspective. I've always thought the YT SW community needed a voice like this: something that discusses why the OT, especially ANH, is a great film, not because it is Star Wars, but because it is an exceptional film!.....and your discussion of the use of music! AHHHH So good! I am so tired of every second of every movie being covered in music to tell us how to feel (I say this a songwriter and recording artist lol). Silence is some of the best music someone can make in movies and this scene is such a great use of it! Well done on this analysis man- seriously!

Thank you for pointing out the use of tie fighter sounds in those battles. It was absolutely exhilarating as a kid.

This was superb. I usually hate quick cut inserty stuff like this but... I like your style, kid. You got something.