matril

Star Wars was not by any stretch the first film to combine miniature "exterior" shots with interior shots to create effective illusions, but it certainly used that technique to tremendous effect. Consider how we see Han and Chewie in the cockpit of the Falcon, then switch to a view of the ship, and immediately accept that they're inside piloting it. It's a simple enough concept, yet it truly requires editing sleight-of-hand.

In the scene after they've escaped the Death Star, we get to see Han and Luke taking position in the gun turrets to fend off pursuing TIE fighters. With alternating shots of the heroes, the viewport, the enemy ships and the Millennium Falcon from a TIE fighter's perspective, we're granted a very convincing battle sequence. But just imagine how absurd it must have felt to film it. Sitting in a strange little set on a soundstage, shouting out victoriously as you aim and fire at nothing -- this is where the actors would have needed to use the full arsenal of their imaginations. And then the effects crew would need to create an equally convincing performance with the miniatures, and the editors would have to stitch it all together. A job very well done, all around.

Next time, some amazing futuristic computer-y stuff...or not...