Greatest Moments in the Star Wars Trilogy
Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 4:03 am
This is taken from a magazine called Sci-Fi Universe (sadly defunct now). Herewith, the 10 Greatest Moments in the Star Wars Trilogy, according to Dan Vebber:
1. WARS - The Laser Blasts Heard 'Round the World
When that Star Destroyer crawled across the top of the screen in hot pursuit of the Rebel Blockade runner, it changed all the sci-fi rules in a single shot. But you already know that, so let's move on.
2. WARS - "If this is a consular ship..."
The Dark Lord at his evil best, crunching the esophagus of some poor Rebel lackey and belting his lifeless body into a bulkhead.
3. WARS - An Introduction to Hyperspace
The Falcon's first jump to light speed is one of those scenes that needs to be seen on the big screen to be fully appreciated. One wonders how many shocked people dropped their Jujubees back in 1977.
4. WARS - Death Star, We Hardly Knew Ya
All of the visuals, sounds and music building to the Death Star's explosive end are forever stamped on our brains: the moan of the laser powering up. "Stand by. Stand by." Cut to Grand Moff Tarkin. BOOM.
5. EMPIRE - Rebels Without A Chance
There's a definite moment when the Hoth battle becomes hopeless for the Rebels. The shots that follow, in which screaming ground troops retreat past burning laser cannons and are randomly picked off by AT-AT fire, encapsulate the ominous feel of the movie as a whole.
6. EMPIRE - Smoochus Interruptus
Han and Leia's awkward but intense first kiss is handled with so much dramatic poignancy and detail, it's easy to forget they're sci-fi icons on a spaceship and surrounded by robots. That is, until that bastard Threepio barges in, ruining the moment.
7. EMPIRE - "Size Matters Not"
The greatest testament to both Yoda's wisdom AND the power of the Force is when the little runt makes Luke look stupid by raising the X-Wing out of the swamp. More of John Williams's best insures the scene will always induce goosebumps.
8. EMPIRE - Family Ties
When the Bespin lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader makes its way out onto the gantry, we're witness to the very core of the Trilogy. Vader is unbelievably convincing as he crinkles his glove and speaks of the power of the Dark Side. And when he voices the "I am your father" line, well, forget it -- we're in nerd nirvana.
9. JEDI - Luke Finally Snaps
Vader gets Luke to show himself by threatening to turn Leia to the Dark Side, but his plan backfires as the eerie chorus swells and Luke just plain goes nuts, beating his old man into submission with all the ferocity of a cornered gundark. It's an awesome moment, and the one time in the Trilogy when Luke actually comes across as a warrior.
10. JEDI - Vader Gives Palpatine the Shaft
When Vader tosses the Emperor to his doom, it's an undeniably epic and needed payoff. We'll probably go to our graves without ever again witnessing an entire theater audience rising to its feet and screaming in unison at the screen. But it happened in '83, and the chant was something along the lines of, "Throw him in! Throw him in!"
Some of the scenes I think are truly "great" and some not, but they're all fine moments, anyway. What do you think?
1. WARS - The Laser Blasts Heard 'Round the World
When that Star Destroyer crawled across the top of the screen in hot pursuit of the Rebel Blockade runner, it changed all the sci-fi rules in a single shot. But you already know that, so let's move on.
2. WARS - "If this is a consular ship..."
The Dark Lord at his evil best, crunching the esophagus of some poor Rebel lackey and belting his lifeless body into a bulkhead.
3. WARS - An Introduction to Hyperspace
The Falcon's first jump to light speed is one of those scenes that needs to be seen on the big screen to be fully appreciated. One wonders how many shocked people dropped their Jujubees back in 1977.
4. WARS - Death Star, We Hardly Knew Ya
All of the visuals, sounds and music building to the Death Star's explosive end are forever stamped on our brains: the moan of the laser powering up. "Stand by. Stand by." Cut to Grand Moff Tarkin. BOOM.
5. EMPIRE - Rebels Without A Chance
There's a definite moment when the Hoth battle becomes hopeless for the Rebels. The shots that follow, in which screaming ground troops retreat past burning laser cannons and are randomly picked off by AT-AT fire, encapsulate the ominous feel of the movie as a whole.
6. EMPIRE - Smoochus Interruptus
Han and Leia's awkward but intense first kiss is handled with so much dramatic poignancy and detail, it's easy to forget they're sci-fi icons on a spaceship and surrounded by robots. That is, until that bastard Threepio barges in, ruining the moment.
7. EMPIRE - "Size Matters Not"
The greatest testament to both Yoda's wisdom AND the power of the Force is when the little runt makes Luke look stupid by raising the X-Wing out of the swamp. More of John Williams's best insures the scene will always induce goosebumps.
8. EMPIRE - Family Ties
When the Bespin lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader makes its way out onto the gantry, we're witness to the very core of the Trilogy. Vader is unbelievably convincing as he crinkles his glove and speaks of the power of the Dark Side. And when he voices the "I am your father" line, well, forget it -- we're in nerd nirvana.
9. JEDI - Luke Finally Snaps
Vader gets Luke to show himself by threatening to turn Leia to the Dark Side, but his plan backfires as the eerie chorus swells and Luke just plain goes nuts, beating his old man into submission with all the ferocity of a cornered gundark. It's an awesome moment, and the one time in the Trilogy when Luke actually comes across as a warrior.
10. JEDI - Vader Gives Palpatine the Shaft
When Vader tosses the Emperor to his doom, it's an undeniably epic and needed payoff. We'll probably go to our graves without ever again witnessing an entire theater audience rising to its feet and screaming in unison at the screen. But it happened in '83, and the chant was something along the lines of, "Throw him in! Throw him in!"
Some of the scenes I think are truly "great" and some not, but they're all fine moments, anyway. What do you think?