Happy Star Wars Day, everybody!
To celebrate this annual day of pure, unadulterated bliss, I'm going to reveal to you what my favourite scenes are from the seven saga films so far, in chronological order. Side note: typing "so far" made me super excited.
Just some notes: There won't be more than one scene per film, otherwise I'm sure most of them would've come from The Empire Strikes Back. Also, I tried to look at the more "linear" scenes of the movies. By that I mean scenes that aren't intercut with other battles or events. For example, I didn't choose the Battle of Naboo from The Phantom Menace because it's like 4 things happening at once.
I think I've cleared up things well enough. Let's do this!
The Phantom Menace: The First 5 Minutes or So
The Phantom Menace's opening sequence does a lot of what I think an opening sequence should do. We're introduced to the central conflict (Trade disputes?! *gasp*), to the main characters, and we get some enjoyable Jedi action. I love the build-up to the moment Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan bust out their lightsabers and then proceed to cut down a dozen battle droids and face off against some droidekas. The Neimoidians' terrified reactions to the Jedi also adds to the excitement.
Runner-up: Qui-Gon and Darth Maul's brief duel on Tatooine.
Attack of the Clones: The Asteroid Chase
Attack of the Clones is definitely my least favourite of the Star Wars films. This scene, though, is an often overlooked diamond in the rough. Obi-Wan's pursuit of Jango Fett through the asteroid field above Geonosis is presented with little music. Instead, the sound design takes over. And it's awesome. Seriously, those seismic charges? Brilliant. Just try to get past young Daniel Logan's awful acting.
Runner-up: The Jedi battle in the arena. So many Jedi. So chaotic. So fun.
Revenge of the Sith: Obi-Wan vs. Grievous
I wouldn't consider this to be the best scene in Revenge of the Sith. There are far better scenes involving Anakin's fall to the Dark Side. But this scene is one I always love rewatching. First of all, General Grievous was my favourite Star Wars character for a while. He's well-designed, well-voiced, Oh, and he's got 4 FREAKIN' HANDS that can hold 4 FREAKIN' LIGHTSABERS. His duel with Obi-Wan has an energy and a sense of fun to it that, in my opinion, isn't as present in the Prequels.
And it's got Boga. Who doesn't love Boga?
Runner-up: "Execute Order 66."
A New Hope: "A Wretched Hive of Scum and Villainy."
The bizarre, but unique creature and character designs. The music. The tension. Obi-Wan being a boss. Meeting Han Solo and Chewie. A lot of what I love about Star Wars is in this scene. It proposed the idea that not all outer space fantasy worlds were free of seedier areas and people, an idea which has influenced and inspired a ton of other similar sci-fi stories. Did I mention the music?
Runner-up: The Death Star trench run.
The Empire Strikes Back: Carbon-Freeze
This is also my favourite scene in the saga, by the way. No, seriously. Sure, we get one of the best "I love you" exchanges in history. That's not the only thing which makes this scene simply fantastic. There's the ominously lit and designed set and John Williams' goosebump-inducing score. Vader's presence and the knowledge of his trap for Luke adds so much tension, and Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher's performances inject so much emotion. My goal as a hopeful filmmaker is to create a scene that's as amazing as this one, which will be quite difficult.
Conveniently, my favourite Star Wars quote is in the very same scene.
Runner-up: There's too many I'd consider to be a runner-up! Let's go with Yoda lifting the X-wing out of the swamp.
Return of the Jedi: Vader Redeemed
Before they added the "NOOO!" for the Blu-ray, this was a near-perfect scene. Vader doesn't speak a line of dialogue, but we know exactly what's going through that helmeted head of his. Throw in some awfully intense score, some screams from Luke, the sounds of Force lightning, and you've got one heart-wrenching scene.
Runner-up: "Jedi Rocks." Naaaaaah, I'm pulling your leg! It's Vader's arrival on the second Death Star at the beginning of the film.
The Force Awakens: Escape from Jakku
Everything from Rey and Finn's first meeting to Rey flipping the Falcon upside-down so Finn can shoot down the last TIE is just a complete hoot to watch and screams Star Wars. It's the kind of fast-paced stuff I always love in a movie and what I would expect from a Star Wars movie. Also essential: fun banter. And there's plenty of it here.
Runner-up: Rey's vision. I feel like we haven't found everything in it yet, which is kinda cool.
Tonight, I partake in my May the Fourth tradition of watching The Empire Strikes Back, This time , though, it's the "despecialized" version. Really excited.
Noah
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