We begin our original trilogy edition of video recaps with a look back at the movie that started it all, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (originally released as just “Star Wars”). The film picks up 19 years after the events of Revenge of the Sith, and finds the galaxy in a state of civil war. It takes a princess, a farmboy, a scoundrel, an old Jedi, and a serious error on the construction of a deadly space station to strike a blow to the Empire. Also, to tie it back to the previous films, Darth Vader “kills” Obi-Wan, although it really just makes him a guardian angel. I guess the Emperor neglected to mention that’s something that could happen.

While any time is a good time for A New Hope, if you don’t have a spare two hours to watch the movie, don’t have it on hand, refused to watch the Special Editions on principle, or need a brief refresher on everything that happened—from “Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi” to “The Force will be with you. Always,” then this video recap has you covered.

Watch our recap of Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope in under three minutes below:

Be sure to check out our other Star Wars video recaps here:

Here's the official synopsis for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope:

Nineteen years after the formation of the Empire, Luke Skywalker is thrust into the struggle of the Rebel Alliance when he meets Obi-Wan Kenobi, who has lived for years in seclusion on the desert planet of Tatooine. Obi-Wan begins Luke's Jedi training as Luke joins him on a daring mission to rescue the beautiful Rebel leader Princess Leia from the clutches of the evil Empire. Although Obi-Wan sacrifices himself in a lightsaber duel with Darth Vader, his former apprentice, Luke proves that the Force is with him by destroying the Empire's dreaded Death Star.

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