Well said, NeverarGreat.
I finally watched it for the first time last night on Blu-ray, and I definitely agree with you. I’d like to add a couple of observations. 😃 First, I simply don’t see what the movie adds to the mythos. We already knew that the Death Star has a weakness, and that someone stole the plans and delivered them to Leia. Why does it really matter who made the Death Star or who stole the plans? And, as you said, much of the ending muddies the opening of Star Wars with half-contradictions. Second, Darth Vader’s appearance was very disappointing. While it was kinda cool to see his castle, and the bacta-chamber tube he was in, it added nothing to the film. Replace him with some other Imperial stooge and the scenes wouldn’t change a bit. He was there to appease the fans, not to serve the story.
Third, I can’t believe that the Empire would dismiss the stolen Death Star plans so readily in the next film. “It doesn’t matter what technical plans they’ve discovered. This station is now the ultimate power in the galaxy…” Really?! The Rebels sent their entire fleet to get those plans, don’t you think they did that for a reason? This felt like another of your inconsistencies, NeverarGreat. Finally, wasn’t Peter Cushing too tall? I seem to remember him being barely taller than Carrie Fisher, and she was rather short too. He towered over nearly everyone.
Overall, the film, while competently made, just didn’t feel like Star Wars. (Even the color palette felt off.) It was entertaining, but lacked the magic that Episode VII has. Still, I’m glad I finally watched it. 😃