Your favourite Star Wars moments

[WhiteFangofWhoa]

The final scenes in Return of the Jedi.

No one had ever seen a space battle like that before then and it would be decades before anything came close to equalling it (I remember reading one critic comparing it favourably to the messy final battle of Independence Day). Meanwhile a second, more personal battle is being waged inside the Death Star for the soul of Luke Skywalker and he's on the edge of the abyss, under the belief that all his friends are about to die. Oh, and also the forest battle that people didn't like, but even that's a fairly intense one- R2 gets blasted to scrap and all the non-Ewok characters that we actually care about nearly die.

I feel that TV Tropes' Final Battle line used for that entry sums it up well- 'The first time, the rebels won. The next time, the Empire won. This time there won't be a next time.'.

A close second would be almost the entirety of the novel Destiny's Way. When a villain(s) has been winning on average for over half of a series (see also: Palpatine since he didn't really have anything go seriously wrong for him until the end of Episode IV), their breakdown is something to be behold, and almost always satisfying. And this was caused by over 50 novels' worth of badass characters collectively doing the very best they can to hang on to their beloved galaxy far far away by the skin of their teeth:

'It is the turning point.'

 

[Imperioratorex Caprae]

any scene in the movies with wedge antilles, the real hero of the rebellion.

but mostly its the start of the battle of hoth, the preperations and then you see the walkers for the first time.. chills down the spine

Second vote for Wedge, the only guy to survive two Death Star runs and doesn't even have the Force. Who cares who's strongest in the Force? Whoever has Wedge truly wins.

 

[Signa]

When Lumpy gets murder in his eyes.

I mean, he's watching holograms do gymnastics, and that's his expression for when he's entertained?

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

The space half of the Battle of Endor. All those fighters and capital ships on one screen, it was just awesome. I still have an infatuation with the Star Wars ships to this day.

 

[Neverhoodian]

The first time I booted up Tie Fighter and was greeted with this:

It may not look like much now, but it blew my eight-year old mind back in the day. I knew I was in for something special, and the game did not disappoint. To this day it remains not only my favorite Star Wars game, but in my opinion one of the best games ever made.

Some of my other favorite Star Wars moments are the Endor space battle (Wedge Antilles is awesome), Adywan's fan edit of the Battle of Yavin, the podracing and lightsaber scenes from The Phantom Menace, playing the demo level of Jedi Outcast (better than most of the full game's levels) and the episode where Mace Windu kicks droid ass in the 2003 Clone Wars cartoon.

 

[Mikeybb]

The games: Piloting a vanilla Tie fighter on a space superiority mission against a rebel platform.
Flew between the struts of the platform and a pursuing Z-95 slammed into the station.
Didn't know it had happened until I watched the replay with a drink.
I thought he'd just given up and banked away.

The Movies: "No Disintegrations".
The introduction of the bounty hunters in TESB.
Each of them just oozed menace and character.
I was a child when I first saw that scene, but it stuck with me.
Who were they?
What are there stories?
I wanted to know more.

The books: Thrawn.
Nuff said.

 

[Programmed_For_Damage]

The Battle of Hoth has always stood out as my favourite moment in Star Wars cinema. It captured my imagination as a kid seeing it back in the early 80's

I also have a soft spot for the conversation the two stormtroopers are having as Obi-Wan disables the tractor beam in Episode 4. They just seemed like regular guys hanging out, than faceless terror troops.

 

[Mr.Petey]

I also have a soft spot for the conversation the two stormtroopers are having as Obi-Wan disables the tractor beam in Episode 4. They just seemed like regular guys hanging out, than faceless terror troops.

Here's a fun, albeit weird fact for you. They were talking about this:
http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/BT-16_perimeter_droid

OT I too love anything Wedge related and the enormous battles in episodes 4, 5 and 6. The entire thing just begins with a small corvette being chased by a fricking Star Destroyer and that's only moments before you've a chance to chow down on popcorn!
I much prefer the mid 90's digital touch up on the latter 3 films, squeezing a lot of random moments into Mos Eisley

 

[Kyrian007]

Nothing for me beats the final minute of the best entire chapter, the Battle of Yavin. From that moment on, I've always enjoyed a good dose of TRD. It doesn't matter whether or not its a videogame, book, tv show, or movie. A great example is a couple of episodes from the end of the first season of BSG.

 

[happyninja42]

The story of the first Force Unleashed game was really enjoyable. I thought it went back to a lot of the roots of what made Star Wars fun for me. Gameplay mechanics were a little frustrating at times, considering some of the enemies you fought were annoying as hell, but otherwise really felt Star Warsy to me.


My favorite though has got to be the climax of Return of the Jedi, when Luke is hiding from Vader, who is looking for him, a menacing shadow prowling the hiding places. Then he threatens Leia, and Luke loses it.

The music, and the silhouetted figures fighting, and the clear victory that Luke was hammering down on Vader. The choir singing in the background as he embraces his anger and almost becomes exactly what the Emperor wants. Mark Hammil just sold that scene for me with his fury and his rage. Loved it.

 

[Geo88]

Good grief, there are so many to pick from...

I actually liked a ton of stuff from the original The Force Unleashed game. Bringing down a Star Destroyer was as awesome as it was ridiculous. Talk about a Refuge in Audacity. (Enjoy spending the rest of your day on TV Tropes, by the way.)

Then, there was when the founders of the Rebellion were first trying to sign the Corellian Treaty and formalize the resistance. Then:

Spoiler

Suddenly, Vader shows up and starts laying waste to the party, nearly killing Starkiller right off the bat. You're only saved when a young Obi-Wan Kenobi (actually your faithful, murderous best buddy PROXY in disguise) launches a surprise attack and smashes into Vader, buying you enough time to escape.

Of course, there's Knights of the Old Republic. I mean, just pick a moment. The ending cinematic, the multiple showdowns with Malak, the big surprise about your character. A ton of the optional side quests were great, too. I especially liked facing Canderous' old squadmate on Tatooine.

My favorite moment in the books goes all the way back to 1998 -- with Vision of the Future by Timothy Zahn. I'm not sure which I like more:

Spoiler: Spoilers for a 16-year-old book

Luke and Mara get engaged or the Empire surrenders under the (relatively) benevolent guidance of Fleet Admiral Gilad Pellaeon, who I think was the first character introduced in the astoudingly awesome Thrawn Trilogy, if I'm remembering right.

But my absolute favorite part of all of Star Wars is probably Yoda's speech explaining the Force in Empire Strikes Back. The words and music come together perfectly to explain just what the Force is, at least to him. It's largely the same as Obi-Wan's brief explanation in A New Hope, but the atmosphere and dedication bring it to a whole new level and helped crystalize to me exactly why and how the Force was so important and powerful

 

[Ed_Fox]

for me it has to be in Episode 3 (the new one, not actual 3... it's complicated). I know, I know by and large they are terrible films, but that's not to say that they don't have their redeeming qualities -

-You saw how lightsaber battles could be fought, with finesse and not looking like folks are wielding sledgehammers
-I really liked palpatine and his gradual reveal as the Sith lord
-Ewan Mcgregor as Obi Wan was badass, especially in the 3rd film. I really liked how he grew into the role

My favorite bit - it gives me shivers every time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QiZNSzWIaLo

 

[Lawbringer]

Easy answer for me - one of my favourite lines of all time. The malice in Vader's actions are both funny and frightening at the same time:

Spoiler: Apology accepted, Captain Needa....

Spoiler: And just for good measure, John Williams' greatest work

 

[Mahorfeus]

People knock Episode I all the time, but I genuinely believe that it is the best of the prequel films.

"Duel of the Fates" was the best music track in the entire saga, and it just so happened to be the track for the best lightsaber duel. Darth Maul was not a terribly nuanced character (the guy had just one line in the whole film), but the second those doors open and the music starts, you just know that it's on.

 

[Dagda Mor]

Any of the action scenes in the prequels, particularly the ones in Episode III-those were the only parts of the prequels that were pretty much undeniably awesome. Actually, most of the actors in the prequels get really good at wearing their characters on their faces by Episode III. Shame that they weren't given better lines, though. Hayden Christensen is actually a fairly good actor in his other films.

Most scenes involving Vader in Episodes IV and V. The entirety of the climax in V.

There are so many dialogue moments that I love from KotOR II, particularly with the Restored Content Mod. You can really tell that Chris Avellone was a philosophy major, and witnessing such a massive and iconic universe being deconstructed by him like that is really something special. Most of Kreia's endgame speeches are distilled awesome, particularly the final conversation with her before the infamous non-ending.

 

[Astoria]

There are just so many good moments. When Yoda pulls out his lightsaber to fight Dooku and he's every bit as awesome as you thought he would be. When Anakin first rises as Vader. The epic battle on Mustafar (yes I liked the prequels, sue me). Han getting frozen. Vader revealing he's Luke's father. When Vader saves Luke. But my favourite is the scene when the stormtroopers hand Luke over to Vader and they have that talk. You can see it bothers Vader that he can't be a father to Luke but he's in too deep with the dark side to turn back.

Also the Family Guy spoofs are just epic.

 

[Lawbringer]

Vader revealing he's Luke's father.

Better just write some more words in order to avoid having a low content post.

Er...erm...

So...anyone watch that ludicrous display last night? What was Wenger thinking sending Walcott on that early?

 

[Angelowl]

The opening sequence of a new hope, it tells so much about the story without a single line of dialogue, I am convinced Lucas was not involved in it as it.

Scratch my previous examples, THIS is the best scene in the whole series. Everything makes sense, it is big, it is epic and it gives strong hints to what is going on in the galaxy.

 

[The Madman]

People often complain about the last Star Wars movie, what with the Ewoks and all, but I've always thought the climax of that movie was pretty much spot on. Luke confronting Vader and the Emperor was fantastic, as was the awesome space battle against the second death star.

Hell, I don't think I've seen a better space battle since which is kinda disappointing when you consider that Return of the Jedi came out in 1983.

 

[spartandude]

People often complain about the last Star Wars movie, what with the Ewoks and all, but I've always thought the climax of that movie was pretty much spot on. Luke confronting Vader and the Emperor was fantastic, as was the awesome space battle against the second death star.

Hell, I don't think I've seen a better space battle since which is kinda disappointing when you consider that Return of the Jedi came out in 1983.

Well most people agree that if you take out the Ewoks, Return of the Jedi would be much better.

OT
For me its the bit in KotOR II where you confront the Jedi council (assuming you didnt kill them) and hen Kreia comes in and kicks their ass. I also liked the stuff with Atris and her reactions to the exile.