OPINION: THE 6 BEST MOMENTS IN THE STAR WARS SAGA

THE 6 BEST MOMENTS IN THE STAR WARS SAGA

If you’ve spoken to me for more than 5 minutes, it’s almost a certainty that you know my favourite movies are the Star Wars films. I love the original 6 films equally, and with a level of passion I doubt I could love my own children with. I have mixed thoughts on The Force Awakens, but I still think it’s a worthy addition to the franchise. Here I’ve tried to find a single moment in each film that I could call my favourite.

The Phantom Menace: Obi-Wan vs. Darth Maul

I figured saying the entire 3 way duel at the end of The Phantom Menace was too easy of a choice, so I tried to narrow it down a bit more than that. Here I’m talking about the final moments of that duel. After Qui-Gon is killed right in front of a helpless Obi-Wan, and the stakes of the film haven’t been higher. As soon as the blast shield comes down, and Obi-Wan bursts out, we bare witness to some of the greatest sword choreography captured on film. Whilst some think that this overly elegant dance of a fight is one of the drawbacks of The Phantom Menace, I tend to think the opposite. It shows Jedi in their prime, where a sword fight isn’t just that, it’s a deadly game of chess between two opponents who are exceptionally skilled in their art. This beautiful choreography aside, the physical performance by Ewan McGregor, his double, and Ray Park is phenomenal. You feel their hatred and raw anger towards one another. It’s an awesome emotional and visceral pay off.

Attack of the Clones: Obi-Wan and Jango Fett

I tried to pick something a little subtler for this one. Whilst the visuals and epic fight scenes are dazzling in Attack of the Clones, I enjoyed this verbal sparring more than anything else. In this scene, Jango is well aware that Obi-Wan is a Jedi Knight who will try and bring him to justice, and similarly Obi-Wan is certain that Jango Fett has more sinister motives than he’s playing at. Temuera Morrison, Ewan McGregor (and to a lesser extent, Daniel Logan) play this scene perfectly, as each line could mean death for the other, and the tensions builds with each passing second. Morrison’s smarmy, cocksure demeanour brilliantly offsets McGregor’s spite, veiled as intrigue. This scene also provides an excellent set-up for the intense and exciting fight scene that soon follows.

Revenge of the Sith: Order 66

This, for my money, is the best moment of the prequel trilogy. It spans planets and battlefields in epic fashion, yet it feels very intimate and personal. Anakin Skywalker, ‘the chosen one’ of the Jedi Order, has just pledged his life to the Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Sidious. Their first act as master and apprentice is to assassinate all the Jedi Knights, the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy. We then witness their heart-wrenching betrayal at the hands of the Clone Army, who lay waste to the only people who stood in the way of the Sith. It’s the moment that the film earns it’s title, as Palpatine’s sick and twisted revenge comes to fruition. As the Jedi are slayed en masse throughout the galaxy, Anakin leads a legion of soldiers into the sacred Jedi Temple, and personally kills every man, woman and child who sought shelter within it. John Williams’ brilliant score is the icing on the cake of this scene, and cements it as one of the most tragic moments in modern film.

A New Hope: “Stay on Target”

My favourite moment in the entire Star Wars Saga is the finale to Episode IV: A New Hope. I honestly can’t quite explain why it’s so perfect to me, but I’m going to try. First of all, the excitement and tension of the sequence holds up tremendously well, considering not only that it was made decades ago, but also taking into account, their limitations in terms of technology. The sound design of the ships, lasers and score is just phenomenally iconic, to a degree we rarely ever see. On top of that, the scene also displays the growth of both Luke and Han. Luke is no longer the brash and whiney farm boy he started out as, rather he is reserved, brave and most importantly, focused. Similarly, Han in a surprising turn of character, comes back to save the rebels at great personal risk. Something that the smuggler we met in the cantina never would have done. All of this, along with John Williams’ genius score, make this an unforgettable sequence.

The Empire Strikes Back: Luke trains Dagobah

While most people would say their favourite moment from The Empire Strikes Back is Luke vs. Darth Vader or The Battle of Hoth, again I’m going to have to opt for a quieter, more character-driven sequence. We learn so much more about Luke’s character during his training on Dagobah. We see his strengths, (like his drive to do good and desire to become a great Jedi), however, we also see his weaknesses, such as his stubbornness, and the same brashness that led his father down a darker path. The underplayed reveal of this small green frog as Yoda, the great Jedi Master is genius and delightful. This scene is given even more weight when you realise that it’s just Mark Hamill alone on a set, with a puppet. Watching the scene, you totally buy their interactions, and don’t even think about how difficult it would have been to pull that sequence off.

Return of the Jedi: Darth Vader’s Death

For me, this is the culmination of the entire Star Wars Saga. Everything following Return of the Jedi is just an extension at this point. We begin with a young, hopeful, fresh-faced boy who’s swept up into an intense lifestyle that he isn’t equipped to handle. He strays down a dangerous path, and is manipulated to the point of total subservience to a Dark Lord of the Sith. In the final moments of Return of the Jedi, Anakin wakes up from a lifetime of slavery under the Hutts, the Jedi, the Sith and decides to sacrifice himself for the one thing in his life that is worthwhile, the one thing that matters; his family. He destroys the Emperor to save the life of his son. To me, the Star Wars films are about redemption. Han Solo finds it when he comes back to save his friends. Obi-Wan and Yoda find it in Luke, who succeeds where Anakin failed. Anakin finds it in himself, when he trades his own life, for the life of his son. He was instrumental in destroying the Jedi Order, 25 years earlier and as his final defining action, he decides to save the one last chance the Jedi have.

His final moments with Luke are nothing short of moving.

“You’re coming with me. I can’t leave you here. I’ve got to save you.”

“You already have, Luke. You were right about me. Tell your sister, you were right”

What do you guys think of Kii's opinion on 'The Best 6 Moments in Star Wars'? What would you have picked? Let us know at paperclipnews@gmail.com