sunvalleylaw
Yep.
It does a great job of softening how abrupt ANH begins, and finally relieves some of the mystery of what led up to that very abrupt opening scene... which the prequels did not even begin to address.
The abruptness of ANH was what sold me back in 8th grade. I was hooked from that moment forward.
I am thinking I am not as discerning as some about SW. The bad movies (prequels) mostly sucked, but all of the "good ones" I pretty much love. Ewoks and holograms in final scene of Jedi notwithstanding. The last two I love equally.