The Star Wars movies are full of action sequences, but as memorable as those scenes are, it’s the character moments that fans really appreciate. These moments shape characters forever and are why characters like Darth Vader and Han Solo are so memorable. Here are some of the best Star Wars character moments, in no particular order.
I am your father.
In 1980, when Empire Strikes Back was first released, movie audiences were shocked to discover that Darth Vader, the quintessential Star Wars villain, was in fact the father of Luke Skywalker. This one line changed the audience’s entire view of the story. It went from being a sci-fi adventure story to something much deeper. Although today’s audience will go into this movie knowing that Vader is Luke’s father, the impact of this scene remains a game changer, both in its impact on Luke and in the way the character of Darth Vader transforms into one who then seeks redemption.
Battle of the Death Star
The Death Star battle at the end of Episode IV is easily the biggest action sequence in the movie, but it also contains two important character moments. We see Han Solo, who is ready to take the bounty from him and go, return in the Millennium Falcon just when the rebels need his help the most. Meanwhile, Luke is preparing to take his chances in the trench that will destroy the Death Star. The rebels are being beaten by the Empire and they can’t afford to let their shot miss. However, Luke makes the decision to turn off his guidance screen and trusts the Force to guide him. This is Luke’s first step in mastering the Force.
Order 66
Order 66 occurs in Episode III. This is when Senator Palpatine declares that the Jedi are enemies of the Republic. Following this order, the audience is shown Jedi from across the galaxy fighting for their lives. It is at this time that Anakin Skywalker is given the name Darth Vader and is sent to the Jedi Temple to kill young children who are training to become Jedi. The brutal murder of the children is the point where there is no turning back for this character. We’ve seen glimpses of him reaching out to the dark side of him, most particularly in Episode II, where he kills the Tusken Raiders who killed his mother, but it’s the killing of innocent children that crosses the line.
yoda fighting
Throughout most of the original trilogy and also through Episode I, the audience has been told what a great Jedi Master Yoda is and what an excellent fighter he is. But it’s not until near the end of Episode II that audiences see it for themselves as he faces off against the formidable Count Dooku, who has already managed to get away from both Obi-Wan and Anakin. Suddenly, we see a different side of Yoda, one that is deceptively fast and capable.
Darth Maul fight scene
Darth Maul is an interesting character because, despite his continued popularity, he appears fairly briefly in Episode I. He is most notable for killing Obi-Wan’s mentor Qui-Gon, however Obi-Wan later fights him. and kills him. For many fans, this strange character with his demonic appearance and his double lightsaber seemed like the perfect villain for this new trilogy. And while the character didn’t last as long as many had hoped, his spectacular fight choreography, mainly due to the fact that martial artist Ray Park played Darth Maul, coupled with a unique appearance, makes for a memorable character. Darth Vader’s Entrance Technically, Darth Vader’s first appearance is in Episode III, but the first time audiences saw him was in Episode IV when he appeared in the entrance to Princess Leia’s ship, flanked by stormtroopers. They get up quickly and square off. Darth Vader is tall and imposing. We can’t see his face and even his breathing doesn’t sound human. There is absolutely no doubt that he is the one in charge and right now he is ready to tear the place apart for stolen blueprints.
Han shoot first
In the original version of Episode IV, when facing Greedo, one of Jabba the Hutt’s lackeys, Han shoots Greedo first. George Lucas went on to edit the scene, changing it so that Greedo fires first and makes it look like Han was shooting in self-defense. Unfortunately, this changes an important character moment for Han Solo because, unlike Luke, Han is an anti-hero. By shooting Greedo, we see that Han is more than willing to kill someone if he gets him out of a sticky situation.
Obi-Wan vs. Anakin
This action scene occurs at the end of Episode III. After Anakin sets Padme aside, Obi-Wan and Anakin have a gripping fight scene in the hot lava that will eventually consume Anakin, at least enough to cause deformities that will lead him to become Darth Vader. At the end of the scene, we even get to see Obi-Wan pick up Anakin’s lightsaber, which he eventually gives to Luke. Throughout the prequels, the audience knows that Anakin will turn to the dark side and will eventually have to fight his mentor, Obi-Wan. This scene serves as a huge payoff for the first three movies.
Han is captured
Not only is this scene a shock to the audience, after all, the movie is almost over and one of the heroes has been captured, but it also served to highlight another excellent Han Solo moment. Princess Leia tells him that he loves her and he replies “I know”. As most Star Wars fans already know, the original script called for him to say “I love you too,” but after having trouble with the line, Harrison Ford changed it to “I know,” which is the perfect way. for a scoundrel like Han to answer.
The death of Jabba the Hutt
After a failed attempt to rescue Han Solo from Jabba, Princess Leia is captured and forced to wear a slave outfit while chained to him. No doubt her attraction was meant to be a humiliation for her, however it backfires on her when he ends up strangling him with the same slave chain he was using to control her. Leia has been a strong character throughout the movies and she proves, once again, how strong she is when she regains control by killing Jabba.
