10. Theatre manipulations
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The theatre scene with Chancellor Palpatine and Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith isn’t packed full of action and Light Sabres. However it is one of the most pivotal moments in the entire franchise as we learn that Palpatine – soon to become the Emperor – has studied the Dark Side of the Force. It’s when he hammers the final nail in the proverbial coffin of Anakin, by manipulating his mind even further to question the Jedi.
9. Destroying the Death Star
Episode IV: A New Hope
When the first Star Wars movie was released, it wasn’t widely known that there would be further films. So when the Rebel Alliance launched their assault on the Death Star it was expected that that would be the climax – it was therefore epic!
It’s an aerial dog fight in space with good guys and bad guys, guns, and explosions. It resulted in the good guys winning after Luke Skywalker is able to hit one of the most gratuitous targets in film history.
8. Yoda takes on Count Dooku
Episode II: Attack of the Clones
We all knew that Yoda was once a great warrior, but until now we’d only ever seen him limp around with his crooked cane – we’d never seen him do the business with a Light Sabre. In Attack of the Clones, Yoda travels to the front line for the dawn of the Clone War. Count Dooku – a former Jedi and now “leader” of the separatists – attempts to escape but is pursued by Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.
Count Dooku overpowers the two Jedis and prepares to make his escape. He is interrupted by Yoda. The two engage in a dual, using their powers to try and defeat the other. Dooku does indeed escape, but we’re left with our jaws open at just how powerful Yoda really is.
7. The Master and Student
Episode IV: A New Hope
We’d heard from Obi Wan Kenobi that Darth Vader was once a young, talented Jedi, and indeed a pupil of Kenobi himself.
Upon entering the Death Star, Kenobi knew the fate that lay before him. To ensure that Luke Skywalker and Han Solo could escape with Princess Leia, Kenobi engaged Darth Vader in a fierce Light Sabre battle. With Vader preoccupied, he wasn’t able to get his hands on his children.
Kenobi knew that he would be more powerful in death, and willingly sacrificed himself to return later an apparition.
6. Escape from Jabba
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
After Han Solo is frozen and taken to Jabba the Hutt’s palace on Tatooine, the rebels launch a rescue mission to free him. It goes a bit wrong and they find themselves sentenced to death but, as you would expect, there is an escape plan.
As various cronies are swallowed by the Sarlacc, the rebels cause havoc, destroying the hover boat and killing Jabba before making getaway. It’s a bold team effort.
And, of course, Princess Leia is in the gold bikini.
5. Order 66
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Once the evil Chancellor Palpatine has successfully manipulated Anakin Skywalker and turned him to the Dark Side it’s time to execute “Order 66”. For five films we’d wondered what happening to the Jedi and how they were ultimately destroyed, and now we were to find out.
All across the galaxy, while fighting the separatist droid army, the Clone Army turn and fire on their Jedi allies. All are killed except for Obi Wan Kenobi and Yoda – who only just survive. It is the single-most important part of the entire narrative and is the first time we see just how evil Anakin Skywalker has become.
4. The defeat of the Emperor
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
While the Battle of Endor is taking place, outside and on the planet below, Luke Skywalker once again comes face-to-face (mask accepted) with his father and Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader. Perhaps naively, Skywalker believes he can turn his father back to the good side, but not before Vader takes him to the Emperor where they attempt to do the opposite.
Vader and Skywalker go head-to-head for the final time. Towards the end the young Jedi is overpowered by the Emperor and his electric fingers. Vader watches on as his son is nearly killed and yes, finally, does the right thing. He throws the Emperor to his death, but is mortally wounded in the process. It leads to an emotional un-masking and subsequent death.
3. Battle of Endor
Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
The Battle of Endor takes place on two fronts. First there is the ground assault led by Han Solo, where the rebels are tasked with disabling and destroying the reactor which provided the electromagnetic shield for the new, partially built Death Star. Proceedings are delayed when the mission is intercepted by Imperial Stormstroopers who, as it turns out, grossly underestimate the Ewoks and their pointy sticks.
Meanwhile, in space, the Rebel Alliance comes out of hyperdrive and prepares to attack and destroy the new Death Star. However, the assault cannot begin until the shield is down, and the rebels find themselves at the mercy of the Empire once more. A huge space dog fight begins with sides enduring heavy losses. Eventually, though, the shield is destroyed and Star Wars heads towards its conclusion.
This is where the franchise left off, with the events in The Force Awakens taking place 30 years after this battle.
2. The birth of Vader
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
We’d known that Anakin Skywalker was destined to become Darth Vader from the start of the new trilogy – or even since The Empire Strikes Back. But how he came to spend his life in that black suit and helmet and with asthma was always intriguing.
In Revenge of the Sith we got our answer. After Skywalker nearly kills his beloved wife Padme, he and Obi Wan Kenobi engage in the franchise’s longest Light Sabre battle on the fiery, lava-covered planet of Mustafar. Kenobi eventually defeats Skywalker when his former protégé tries a reckless stunt, cutting off his legs and an arm, and watching him burn alive.
Skywalker is subsequently rescued by the Emperor and admitted to a, err… hospital? There he is given robotic appendages and his famous mask. After his surgery, he learns the fate of his beloved Padme… “NOOOO!!!!”
1. I am your father
Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
Top of our list is that fight scene in The Empire Strikes Back. Luke and Vader meet face to face after the Dark Lord lures the young nearly-man to Lando’s city. Vader finds the young Skywalker much harder to deal with than initially hoped, but eventually finds a way to chop off his opponent’s hand.
With Skywalker maimed and unarmed – in both senses – Vader tells him the terrible truth that he is his father. Skywalker can’t believe it and hurls himself down the ventilation shaft… But it’s true.
It is widely considered one of cinema’s best moments, and it certainly tops our list.
Do you agree?
