It's May the 4th and my mind automatically begins to play the Star Wars Theme the minute this day dawns every year. While it is a fan's dream come true, to be able to write about the best moments this film has has, I am but a humble minion who follows the great cult of Star Wars and considers the Force as religion. And for a fan like me, the sound of a lightsaber on a bad day is a total lifesaver.
Star Wars is not just a series of films, it¡¯s a way of life for many. (So much that Monica Geller¡¯s date at prom watched it 317 times and his name was in the paper!) You do not just watch Star Wars once and move on with your life! This film was so way ahead of its time that even today one cannot match, forget replicate Lucas¡¯ vision he had in 1977.
So without much ado, while it is hard to pick a few scenes (as the entire franchise is the best), but we still pick for you the best moments (not in a sequence) from all the Star Wars Episodes that stole our nerdy hearts away and made us wish were born on Coruscant or holiday in Endor and be a part of the Rebel fleet.
Played by Jake Matthew Lloyd, the young Anakin was such a cutie we almost wanted to save him from the clutches of the greedy Watto. The fact that he was a dreamer and loved his mother Shmi was endearing, and despite the adversity, the boy was a genius, and a delight to watch. Who knew this little munchkin from Mos Espa was a potential Jedi Knight and be the cause of the greatest shift in the force!
Considered to be one of the most dangerous sports in Tatooine, little Anakin attempted this as an attempt to escape slavery. It is theorized by fans that while Qui-Gon had already seen the potential in the young boy to become a Jedi, the Boonta Classic race of Tatooine was won by Anakin by unknowingly using the force. And the sound effects here are pretty epic I can tell you!
While we all know Ian McDiarmind is a living legend, one of the major reasons is this role. It is said that McDiarmind had Iago from Othello in his mind while playing this character, and boy did he nail it! Whilst knowing Anakin¡¯s deep rage and manipulating it, he told him that ¡°Darth?Plagueis had such a knowledge of the Dark Side he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying¡±. And that, folks, is how the deed was done!
Regardless of what people say, Jar Jar was not as bad as he is maligned to be. *Looks out for a shoe being hurled from somewhere*
Okay. So while I agree Jar Jar might not have been the best decision by Lucas, but, he turned out to be a comic relief at some point. His meeting with Qui-Gon did prompt a chuckle out of me.
EWOOOKS! *sobers up* Ewoks, residents of the forest moon of Endor were squishy, cuddly, and smart and have had Barney Stinson almost leave his girlfriend for! They are not just a visual treat but also really cool characters who saved the Rebels. That moment when they began attacking the troopers was when we jumped out of our seats in joy.
This is what the battle of Helm¡¯s Deep (LOTR) would look like if it were set in ultra modern times. However, I do not mean to blaspheme in the name of Tolkien, and simply say that the AT-ATs (mammoth robots) looked like they were to destroy every member of the Rebel Alliance on the icy planet of Hoth, but our hero Luke and his fellow rebels, flew T-47 speeders, targetted the legs and BAM! Took them down.
Oh the Hutts were the true gangstas, alright? And Jabba the Hutt was their master. Strangling him must have been a feat of Leia, but a smart move nonetheless. And of course, the bikini that inspired millions of role*coughs* cosplays around the world is right here in this scene. Also exactly when we fell in love with Carrie Fisher!
Obi-Wan: I have failed you, Anakin
Anakin: I should have known the Jedi were planning to take over!
One of the longest and best designed lightsaber battles in the series, this battle in the volcanic planet of Mustafar between a master and his former Padwan is quite kickass. Kind of disheartening when we found out little Ani was worm-tongued into fighting his teacher and move onto the dark side. This scene is crucial in the entire series as it leads to rise of Lord Vader. It is said that Steven Spielberg helped design this scene.
Hayden Christensen was smoldering. Period. This is exactly what we felt when puberty hit Matthew Lewis post the Harry Potter film series. However, this was the casting godmothers and fathers who waved the wand of magic on the young Anakin Skywalker and made him into this.
When he meets Padme after a long time, reminded us of the times when Padme deeply cared about him when he was a child and needed nurturing. Now all grown-up, Anakin Skywalker was quite the looker and instantly caught Padme¡¯s attention.
This was the moment when all fans shrieked with delight out loud and cheered when Han Solo reunited with his ship ¨C the Millenium Falcon. The duo¡¯s arrival marked a new (albeit short) phase of bromance that they have already had on the ship in the original series.
The moment Solo said ¡°Chewie, We¡¯re Home¡±, the entire movie came to a standstill. This scene, by far is one of my most favourite in the entire franchise. Harrison Ford reportedly said that while shooting this scene, the entire crew of Force Awakens stood there jaw dropped and in pin drop silence, in respect of this iconic scene.
Christopher Lee fights the strongest Jedi in the universe. What could be more entertaining, epic and a fuel to some insane amount of fangirling / fanboying than watch the best effects on screen with one of the iconic actors in Hollywood? The sound of the lightsaber is such music to the soul.
"Luke, I am your father." Boy, did this scene go on to become a ground breaking, era-defining one! While the revelation that Anakin was Vader was enough for us to sit down and take in the information, this was quite hard for Luke to digest too, especially when Vader chopped one of his hands off. The dark side, I tell you!
Luke Skywalker and the Rebels take charge of destroying the Death Star racing against time. The sequence of Luke flying along with his fleet and taking his own X-Wing in the trench towards the main reactor of the planet towards the centre was one of the coolest. It also has a hidden sexual innuendo when Luke flies his plane into the trench, towards the centre to fire proton torpedoes and cause a chain reaction to destroy the Death Star.
But the fact that Luke was back was enough for us to know that another adventure awaits all of us in the next film in the franchise.
Jyn and Saw Gerrera have had quite a history and a heart wrenching story to tell. While Saw had saved her life once, he also was the one to abandon her. He now fears that Jyn might just kill him out of the spite that he left her alone. It is an interesting, complicated relationship as Jyn once?saw him as a father figure but knowing his condition and the state of the planet he lives in, she questions him, yet cares for him.
P. S: For newbs, The sequence is Episodes IV, V, VI first, followed by Episodes I,II,III, followed by Episode VII, and then Rogue One.
P. P. S: If planning to begin watching this, please note you are beginning not just a series, but a way of life. You life is never going to be the same and nor will every may the 4th (and also the 5th, but that¡¯s for you to figure).
P. P. P. S: May the Force Be With You. Today and Always!