Things To Thank George For
I was taking to a long time friend of mine about Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith film and I said that I believed all the money was up there on the screen. Lucas never takes the easy way out and always attempts to show you something new. That’s his strength as a director. It doesn’t always work out but a least he tries.
I went away, thought about this, and then tried to break down in my mind exactly what new images both visual and audible I did see in each of the six movies.
This is what I have come up with and it is obviously a very personal choice. You may have liked something else completely different or perhaps nothing at all.
Star Wars I: The Phantom Menace:
• The alternate film poster where we see young Anakin walking along and his shadow is that of Darth Vader.
• C-3PO without his outer covering. He did look home made.
• The POD race. It’s Ben Hur for the MTV generation.
• Darth Mauls double light sabre.
• The Senate chamber. I loved the Issac Asimovs Foundation series of books and this is how I imagined how the Senate debating chamber of Trantor would look like.
• The imperial palace beside the waterfall.
• Amidalas space yacht.
Star Wars II - Attack of the Clones:
• The clone factory.
• Anakin jumping out of the air speeder and Obi-Wan Kenobis reaction to it.
• Jango Fetts relationship with his son.
• Yodas light sabre battle.
Star Wars III - Revenge of the Sith:
• The final battle between Anakin and Kenobi beside the lava river. It felt like the planet was reacting to the intensity of their battle.
• The view from Amidalas balcony. I could sit and watch those speeders flying over the city for days and never get bored.
• Amidala’s funeral.
• The opening space battle.
• Palpatine’s body transformation during his battle with Windu.
• Yoda’s disgust with himself for running away after his battle with the Emperor.
Star Wars IV - A New Hope:
• The star destroyer coming overhead. As soon as I saw that I was hooked.
• The wookie. It was like having your favourite teddy bear ready to kick someone’s ass if they gave you any trouble.
• Han flying towards the Death Star and thinking that it was a moon.
• Attacking the Death Star. Yeah I know that it doesn’t look anything special now but it was very exciting back then.
• Darth Vader’s voice.
• Two suns setting on the horizon.
• The Millennium Falcon.
Star Wars V - The Empire Strikes Back:
• Yoda
• The attack on the Hoth base.
• The first sight of Cloud City.
• Han imprisoned in carbonite. I never looked at a statue in the same way ever again.
Star Wars VI - Return of the Jedi:
• Jabba the Hutt.
• The Endor speeder bike battle.
• Ewoks.
• The Emperor.
• One of the most memorable lines from a movie ever written. “Luke, I am your father.”
• The Millennium Falcon hiding on the star destroyer’s hull.
This list is not exhaustive but it is the things that really stuck in my mind.
I have been a science fiction, comic book and animation fan for a very long time. I honestly believe that comics are an extremely vital and exciting art form whose true worth is only now beginning to be recognised in the mainstream media and this appreciation can only continue to grow in the future. I regularly write science fiction short stories and send them off to the magazines. So far their response has not exactly allowed me to give up my day job but I plan to keep plugging away at it..
2 Comments, Comment or Ping
Eoghann
Not to be too picky but, you LIKED the Ewoks? I see them as the first step on the road that lead to Jar Jar myself.
Hmm and is my memory really that bad? I thought “Luke, I am your father” was from The Empire Strikes Back.
Jun 7th, 2005
Panelologist
Yeah, I actually liked the Ewoks….and I see no reason to apologise for that.
Regarding the “Luke I am your father” quote. You are absolutely correct. It is from The Empire Strikes Back. Obviously my cut and paste skills are not up to the same standard as other people. My mistake.
Jun 8th, 2005
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