Actually, the original 1977 movie itself wasn't all that special. It was a basic good-vs-evil morality tale, set on other worlds, with boy-meets-girl and wizardry subplots. What made the movie really stand out was its special effects. Although they seem a bit primitive today, in 1977, they were groundbreaking and exciting. Existing special effects methods couldn't give George Lucas what he wanted, so he improvised with stunning results. That improvisation for Star Wars gave birth to Lucas' company Industrial Light and Magic, which continues to be at the forefront of special effects technology. So 30 years later, Star Wars has left an indelible mark on television and film.