In anticipation of the newest Star Wars episode of The Force Awakens, two days ahead of its release in Australia, we'll be looking at the first part of the top twenty best moments that have made Star Wars very special to all of us. Even some who liked the widely-despised, CGI-overblown prequels will find some of its moments on this list. Unfortunately, I won't include any lightsaber duels, which will be in the next part. So until then, may the force be with you.
#20. Podracing (The Phantom Menace)
First, I'll start with the podrace sequence, one of the few redeeming moments worth watching in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Some may see it as redundant to the story, but I thought it was an important plot point in this film. We see how young Anakin Skywalker has gained his piloting skills and Jedi reflexes, which are put to the test when he enters the podracing tournament when pitted against Sebulba and the other racers through the desert lands of Tatooine. This particular action set piece has ingenious visual effects and dazzling camera angles. It is so fun to watch, but it would have gone much higher on the top spot if Jar Jar is deleted now (along with every other scene he is in in the entire film).
#19. Battle at Geonosis (Attack of the Clones)
ATTACK OF THE CLONES may not be as bad as The Phantom Menace, maybe not as good as it could be, but the film reaches one of its climaxes on Geonosis, where Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme are trying to avoid their execution. Then suddenly, Mace shows up and ignites his purple lightsaber before starting a battle in the arena with his fellow Jedi comrades. He immediately says to Count Dooku, "This party's over." This sequence contains many Jedi fighting against monsters and droids in a skirmish. It nearly held the record as the ultimate Star Wars battle with a long duration that any fan has to envision if you are wondering why this moment didn't go in the top 10, probably because of the unnecessary comic scenes courtesy of C-3PO.
#18. The Birth of Darth Vader (Revenge of the Sith)
Say what you want about this scene. I know that it ended with Darth Vader saying, "NOOOOOOOO!" that remains one of the cheesiest lines of Star Wars. It shows how Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, becomes more machine than man when outfitted with mechanical prosthetics and special armour that keeps him alive after the damage he had sustained on the lava planet Mustafar. He's now turned into a black-clad warrior that we all love to hate and begins that recognisable breathing through his mask. No one cares how it closes with that cheesy line. It helps that James Earl Jones is reprising the voice of Vader at the end of the character's dramatic transformation.
#17. Fight at the Great Pit of Carkoon (Return of the Jedi)
In this scene of RETURN OF THE JEDI, Luke, Han and Chewie have to walk over the sail barge to enter the Great Pit of Carkoon and are to be fed in the Sarlacc's belly as part of execution by Jabba the Hutt. Fortunately, Luke receives a new lightsaber from R2-D2 as he catches it, and this is where the action begins. We see a whole skirmish of Luke and the other heroes fending off Jabba's minions and bounty hunters while Leia, in her slave bikini costume, gives Jabba a dose of his medicine by choking with the chains. So much action was delivered and choreographed for this scene, and it came with a spectacular display of acrobatics, laser-firing and explosions.
#16. Chase at Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)
It's one of the better moments in ATTACK OF THE CLONES, aside from the non-stop action in the arena battle at Geonosis, considering how big Coruscant is of its splendour and beauty. It is the perfect setting for a chase scene as Anakin and Obi-Wan are in a flying speeder while in hot pursuit of a bounty hunter named Zam Wessell. It is after they foiled her attempt to assassinate Padme Amidala. Though it was incredible enough for this scene to be in AOTC, it was not enough to land the film in my favourites since it got hindered by the awkwardly acted and terribly-written romantic subplot of Anakin and Padme.
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