Top 10 original Star Wars Moments
10. “A long time ago in a galaxy far far away… ” The opening crawl from Star Wars and every film since the original.
Before any dialogue was spoken. Before one character was shown, there was the opening crawl and the music of John Williams. From that opening, you knew you were going to experience something wonderful. No movie before or since can get an audience as pumped as those words and that music. That is powerful.
9. Han shoots Greedo… Period. From Star Wars
Before George Lucas decided to tweak his original work in favor of “Special Editions”, the cantina scene between Han Solo and bounty hunter Greedo was perfect the way it was. It established the scoundrel that Han was and we loved him for it. There is an outcry of “Han shot first.” But the reality is, Han was the only shooter… period.
8. Luke vs. Vader vs. the Emperor from Return of the Jedi
Will Luke replace his father at the Emperor’s side? Of course not. Luke was willing to sacrifice himself for his friends, the rebellion and his father who he still believed had good in him. The lightsaber battle between Luke and Vader was well played and became a role reversal from their previous encounter from Empire. When Vader’s conflicted feelings come to the surface for his son, he turns on the Emperor and instantly redeems himself and creates one of the best moments in the original trilogy.
Will Luke replace his father at the Emperor’s side? Of course not. Luke was willing to sacrifice himself for his friends, the rebellion and his father who he still believed had good in him. The lightsaber battle between Luke and Vader was well played and became a role reversal from their previous encounter from Empire. When Vader’s conflicted feelings come to the surface for his son, he turns on the Emperor and instantly redeems himself and creates one of the best moments in the original trilogy.
7. The Escape from Jabba at the Sarlaac Pit from Return of the Jedi
What a blast this action sequence turned out to be and was certainly aided by the music of John Williams. Besides Princess Leia in a gold bikini killing Jabba the Hutt, you have a blind Han Solo getting his revenge on Boba Fett and watching Luke Skywalker become a powerful Jedi was the stuff that made you get out of your seat and cheer. It was a wonderful opening act for our heroes and it set the tone for the rest of the film.
What a blast this action sequence turned out to be and was certainly aided by the music of John Williams. Besides Princess Leia in a gold bikini killing Jabba the Hutt, you have a blind Han Solo getting his revenge on Boba Fett and watching Luke Skywalker become a powerful Jedi was the stuff that made you get out of your seat and cheer. It was a wonderful opening act for our heroes and it set the tone for the rest of the film.
6. The Death Star attack and Admiral Arkbar’s “It’s a trap!” from Return of the Jedi
The rebel attack on the Death Star in ROTJ was very cool with great action but it is Admiral Arkbar’s “It’s a trap!” comment that is most memorable. Why? because it is often used in many forms of pop culture today from The Big Bang Theory to Family Guy.
5. The betrayal of Han and Leia by Lando Calrissian from The Empire Strikes Back
This pretty much summed up how things were going to go for our heroes. Even after C-3PO gets shot, you still had no idea that Lando would strike a deal with Lord Vader and give Han to the bounty hunter Boba Fett. When he does, he becomes public enemy number one for many fans but he’ll later redeem himself in Return of the Jedi.
4. Vader unmasked from Return of the Jedi
The big reveal. Long before Hayden Christensen became the face of Anakin Skywalker there was Sebastian Shaw. In The Empire Strikes Back, we got a small glimpse of what Vader looked like under the mask. But it wasn’t until ROTJ and Vader’s redemption that we saw the old, almost kind face of the most feared Sith of them all. It humanized Vader both figuratively and literally. Very well done.
3. The trench run and Luke destroying the Death Star from Star Wars
The climax of Episode IV where the rebel alliance were outgunned and outmanned go up against the Empire. What’s memorable was our first glimpse at how powerful Luke could and will become. His use of The Force and Obi-Wan’s trust me plea is part of what made the original trilogy the space opera it was. And let’s not forget Han Solo to the rescue and screwing up Darth Vader’s plans.
2. Han in Carbonite with an added twist of best dialogue in the series from The Empire Strikes Back
One of the most iconic images in the Star Wars universe was the freezing of our favorite rebel, Han Solo. But just before that would happen, Leia’s true feelings are finally revealed when she tells Han she loves him. His response, “I know.” Great memorable line that wasn’t even in the script. This was all Harrison Ford and the rest is history.
1. “I am your father.” from The Empire Strikes Back
Arguably the single greatest revelation in cinema history. Thank the marker that there was no internet at the time because that would have been a major spoiler alert. I can still remember the gasp in the theater when I was 8 years old. Still gives me goose bumps.
This is my Top 10 and I’m sure some may be on your list as well. It’s all subjective. What are your favorite moments? Let me know.
Enjoy Star Wars day 2013. May the 4th be with you and…
May the Dork be with you,
JPB
The Dork Knight
