SITE FEATURES
SPONSORS
FRIENDS
LATEST NEWS
My Personal Top Scenes From All Star Wars Major Media PART III
And here’s the end of a look at my favorite scenes from each major film/TV show and their corresponding representation (or lack thereof) in the 3.75" line. Here's PART I and PART II in case you missed them.
Today’s list is my top 5 all time, after previously listing the balance of my favorite scenes from 12 sources that didn’t quite make the cut. It’s not to say these 5 are my favorite films/shows in and of themselves, as Empire is tops for me and I covered it yesterday. But these are the most memorable scenes for me, and they hit me right in the feels every time.
Top 5:
5. Revenge of the Sith
Lucas did his best to bring home the Prequel Trilogy after some ups and downs with Episodes I and II. We all knew that this entire trilogy was just a setup to get to that legendary volcanic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But we also needed to understand how the clone troopers ended up becoming the bad guys and what happened to al the Jedi. Everything we had seen up to that point (even before The Clone Wars animated series was a thing) had ingrained in us that the clones were heroes of the Republic, fighting alongside the Jedi Order to bring peace to the galaxy. How was Lucas supposed to explain it all? Turns out it was something called Order 66. Once it was issued by Palpatine immediately following Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, it immediately triggered the once heroic clones to turn on the Jedi in an almost mindless, robotic fashion. The next few moments were both devastating and beautiful. Once again, John Williams sets the tone with a masterful theme dedicated to the tragic events unfolding across the galaxy, beginning with Cody ordering the 212th to fire on Obi-Wan Kenobi. Whenever I happen to watch this scene with my wife, we both get teary eyed.
Toys: Hasbro did a lot of justice to Order 66, giving us almost everything we'd need to recreate each betrayal in 3.75" form. Obi-Wan and his Boga, Commander Bacara and his Marines, Aayla and the 327th, Neyo and his speeder, and Gree and the 41st Elite. Come to think of it, we really could use that TVC Ki-Adi-Mundi any day now...
Scene It: Yes, indeed! (I guess it's time to start shooting those pics...)
4. The Clone Wars
As discussed numerous times here at Banthaskull, it took me a while to give The Clone Wars a chance. I wasn't thrilled with the theatrically released movie, particularly because I didn't like Kid Ahsoka. But after some time had passed, I decided to give the show a fair shot. It was one of the best Star Wars decisions I could have made. I loved the show. Sure it wasn't always perfect, but at its best, it rivaled the best that Lucas had offered on the big screen. Filoni got the opportunity to finish of the series several years after it was abruptly cancelled leaving us to wonder (at least until spoiled by Rebels), whatever happened to Rex and Ahsoka and Maul. This version of Order 66 tops them all, in my mind. Rex struggling with the enormity of the situation was incredibly well done. The last 45 minutes of the series, spread across the final 2 episodes, are some of the best 45 minutes in the entire Saga. If you tagged along for the Clone Wars ride, it was well worth it.
Toys: Season 7 Ahsoka and Maul are shipping now, and we have a (crappy) Rex with a better one on the way. We have ARC Trooper Jesse, and a bunch of white Phase 2 clones and 501st clones. We're missing the 332d (Ahsoka) Clones, but if we don't get those soon, Chris is going to eat his own left foot.
Scene It: Almost. Just need those 332nd Clones. A blue marked Clone Wars Y-Wing would be a pretty awesome addition as well. We even have the Imperial Attack Shuttle which Maul used for his escape. Not too shabby.
3. Rogue One
I really enjoyed Rogue One. It's my favorite film, by far, of the Disney era. While it was far from perfect, it hit the right spot by focusing on a small bit of OT lore, and expanding the story in a way we hadn't imagined. I loved the battle on Jedha, the ending with Vader, and young Leia's appearance. But it was a tiny moment that kicked me right in the feels, in a way that I hadn't quite experienced when watching any Star Wars before or since. In the theater with my wife on opening day, I was thoroughly enjoying the night, and when the Rebel fleet arrived out of hyperspace over Scarif, it was a triumphant moment. But that was quickly eclipsed the instant the roll call began. "This is Blue Leader, standing by." Cool. I like that guy. "This is Gold Leader, standing by." Wait, what? Hold on. Was that THE Dutch Vander from A New Hope? It couldn't..."This is Red Leader, standing by". I almost lost it. I let out some kind of weird noise that was a cross between giddiness and overwhelming surprise. My wife even looked over at me and grabbed my arm. See? She gets it. The single best fan service moment in the entire Saga.
Toys: Plenty of the same pilots, droids, and vehicles previously mentioned when I discussed Yavin yesterday, and with Antoc Merrick and his X-Wing on the way shortly, we'll have what we need. Is it time to start pushing for an SA Admiral Raddus and a Mon Calamari cruiser bridge playset?
Scene It: Well, just like Yavin, it's hard to make a Scene It out of a space battle, but as noted above, Antoc Merrick's imminent arrival in 3.75" form will all us to do the roll call scene.
2. The Mandalorian
Does anyone not love The Mandalorian? Probably the same animals that don't love the Tartakovsky Microseries. I think most of us saw it coming when Ahsoka told Mando that Grogu would need to go to the mountaintop and Force-commune with whomever was out there to come pick him up and train him. But it was still amazing to see the X-Wing arrive on Moff Gideon's ship, and watch as a cloaked figure slashed and Force pushed, pulled, and crushed his way through the army of Dark Troopers. The action was awesome, but it just kept getting better when Luke revealed himself and took in Grogu, but not before Pedro Pascal nailed it with a teary goodbye to the little kid. Great stuff all around.
Toys: We will need a proper Mandalorian-era Jedi Luke, but until then, our regular ROTJ Luke can be a fair stand in. We will most definitely need Dark Troopers. Otherwise we've got Grogu, Mando with removable helmet, Cara Dune, Moff Gideon, and the recently announced Bo-katan. Perhaps even a playset of Gideon's bridge? Maybe something that can double as a Star Destroyer Bridge?
Scene It: Working on it. We've got most of the cast, just need those Dark Troopers and a new Luke.
1. Return of the Jedi
So I was 10. My parents took me to see ROTJ on opening night for my birthday. We waited on a long and wild line outside the Lafayette Theater in Suffern, NY for the 8:00pm show to end, so we could see the next showing. After what seemed like a lifetime, we got in. The place was jammed. It was a theater that had a mezzanine, and while we sat in the lower level, I could look up and behind me, and see a massive and rowdy audience. In retrospect, it seemed like they had standing room only, and people were practically hanging off the rafters. The crowd was loud and emotional, and laughed and hollered and cheered at every "fan service" moment throughout the film. But it was nothing compared to the climax. I will never forget that moment when the Emperor was cackling maniacally while shooting lightning at the writhing Luke. Vader was torn. He was looking back and forth between his son and his master. All of a sudden, the entire audience in the theater starting screaming and clapping "GO! GO! DO IT!" and at the moment Vader made his choice and lunged for the Emperor, the entire audience rose to its feet and erupted into something that I can only now compare to a packed arena at a playoff hockey game when the home team scores the winning goal in OT. It was absolute bedlam. I was 10. It was the single greatest moment in cinema history, and I was there to witness it.
Toys: We need a better Episode VI Vader, but we can make do until then. We've got Jedi Luke, but we need that damn flap down version. And we're FINALLY getting The Emperor and his throne.
Scene It: Kind of. We need some details straightened out with Luke and Vader, but hopefully we can finally put this Emperor nonsense to rest.
comments powered by Disqus
Today’s list is my top 5 all time, after previously listing the balance of my favorite scenes from 12 sources that didn’t quite make the cut. It’s not to say these 5 are my favorite films/shows in and of themselves, as Empire is tops for me and I covered it yesterday. But these are the most memorable scenes for me, and they hit me right in the feels every time.
Top 5:
5. Revenge of the Sith
Lucas did his best to bring home the Prequel Trilogy after some ups and downs with Episodes I and II. We all knew that this entire trilogy was just a setup to get to that legendary volcanic duel between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi. But we also needed to understand how the clone troopers ended up becoming the bad guys and what happened to al the Jedi. Everything we had seen up to that point (even before The Clone Wars animated series was a thing) had ingrained in us that the clones were heroes of the Republic, fighting alongside the Jedi Order to bring peace to the galaxy. How was Lucas supposed to explain it all? Turns out it was something called Order 66. Once it was issued by Palpatine immediately following Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, it immediately triggered the once heroic clones to turn on the Jedi in an almost mindless, robotic fashion. The next few moments were both devastating and beautiful. Once again, John Williams sets the tone with a masterful theme dedicated to the tragic events unfolding across the galaxy, beginning with Cody ordering the 212th to fire on Obi-Wan Kenobi. Whenever I happen to watch this scene with my wife, we both get teary eyed.
Toys: Hasbro did a lot of justice to Order 66, giving us almost everything we'd need to recreate each betrayal in 3.75" form. Obi-Wan and his Boga, Commander Bacara and his Marines, Aayla and the 327th, Neyo and his speeder, and Gree and the 41st Elite. Come to think of it, we really could use that TVC Ki-Adi-Mundi any day now...
Scene It: Yes, indeed! (I guess it's time to start shooting those pics...)
4. The Clone Wars
As discussed numerous times here at Banthaskull, it took me a while to give The Clone Wars a chance. I wasn't thrilled with the theatrically released movie, particularly because I didn't like Kid Ahsoka. But after some time had passed, I decided to give the show a fair shot. It was one of the best Star Wars decisions I could have made. I loved the show. Sure it wasn't always perfect, but at its best, it rivaled the best that Lucas had offered on the big screen. Filoni got the opportunity to finish of the series several years after it was abruptly cancelled leaving us to wonder (at least until spoiled by Rebels), whatever happened to Rex and Ahsoka and Maul. This version of Order 66 tops them all, in my mind. Rex struggling with the enormity of the situation was incredibly well done. The last 45 minutes of the series, spread across the final 2 episodes, are some of the best 45 minutes in the entire Saga. If you tagged along for the Clone Wars ride, it was well worth it.
Toys: Season 7 Ahsoka and Maul are shipping now, and we have a (crappy) Rex with a better one on the way. We have ARC Trooper Jesse, and a bunch of white Phase 2 clones and 501st clones. We're missing the 332d (Ahsoka) Clones, but if we don't get those soon, Chris is going to eat his own left foot.
Scene It: Almost. Just need those 332nd Clones. A blue marked Clone Wars Y-Wing would be a pretty awesome addition as well. We even have the Imperial Attack Shuttle which Maul used for his escape. Not too shabby.
3. Rogue One
I really enjoyed Rogue One. It's my favorite film, by far, of the Disney era. While it was far from perfect, it hit the right spot by focusing on a small bit of OT lore, and expanding the story in a way we hadn't imagined. I loved the battle on Jedha, the ending with Vader, and young Leia's appearance. But it was a tiny moment that kicked me right in the feels, in a way that I hadn't quite experienced when watching any Star Wars before or since. In the theater with my wife on opening day, I was thoroughly enjoying the night, and when the Rebel fleet arrived out of hyperspace over Scarif, it was a triumphant moment. But that was quickly eclipsed the instant the roll call began. "This is Blue Leader, standing by." Cool. I like that guy. "This is Gold Leader, standing by." Wait, what? Hold on. Was that THE Dutch Vander from A New Hope? It couldn't..."This is Red Leader, standing by". I almost lost it. I let out some kind of weird noise that was a cross between giddiness and overwhelming surprise. My wife even looked over at me and grabbed my arm. See? She gets it. The single best fan service moment in the entire Saga.
Toys: Plenty of the same pilots, droids, and vehicles previously mentioned when I discussed Yavin yesterday, and with Antoc Merrick and his X-Wing on the way shortly, we'll have what we need. Is it time to start pushing for an SA Admiral Raddus and a Mon Calamari cruiser bridge playset?
Scene It: Well, just like Yavin, it's hard to make a Scene It out of a space battle, but as noted above, Antoc Merrick's imminent arrival in 3.75" form will all us to do the roll call scene.
2. The Mandalorian
Does anyone not love The Mandalorian? Probably the same animals that don't love the Tartakovsky Microseries. I think most of us saw it coming when Ahsoka told Mando that Grogu would need to go to the mountaintop and Force-commune with whomever was out there to come pick him up and train him. But it was still amazing to see the X-Wing arrive on Moff Gideon's ship, and watch as a cloaked figure slashed and Force pushed, pulled, and crushed his way through the army of Dark Troopers. The action was awesome, but it just kept getting better when Luke revealed himself and took in Grogu, but not before Pedro Pascal nailed it with a teary goodbye to the little kid. Great stuff all around.
Toys: We will need a proper Mandalorian-era Jedi Luke, but until then, our regular ROTJ Luke can be a fair stand in. We will most definitely need Dark Troopers. Otherwise we've got Grogu, Mando with removable helmet, Cara Dune, Moff Gideon, and the recently announced Bo-katan. Perhaps even a playset of Gideon's bridge? Maybe something that can double as a Star Destroyer Bridge?
Scene It: Working on it. We've got most of the cast, just need those Dark Troopers and a new Luke.
1. Return of the Jedi
So I was 10. My parents took me to see ROTJ on opening night for my birthday. We waited on a long and wild line outside the Lafayette Theater in Suffern, NY for the 8:00pm show to end, so we could see the next showing. After what seemed like a lifetime, we got in. The place was jammed. It was a theater that had a mezzanine, and while we sat in the lower level, I could look up and behind me, and see a massive and rowdy audience. In retrospect, it seemed like they had standing room only, and people were practically hanging off the rafters. The crowd was loud and emotional, and laughed and hollered and cheered at every "fan service" moment throughout the film. But it was nothing compared to the climax. I will never forget that moment when the Emperor was cackling maniacally while shooting lightning at the writhing Luke. Vader was torn. He was looking back and forth between his son and his master. All of a sudden, the entire audience in the theater starting screaming and clapping "GO! GO! DO IT!" and at the moment Vader made his choice and lunged for the Emperor, the entire audience rose to its feet and erupted into something that I can only now compare to a packed arena at a playoff hockey game when the home team scores the winning goal in OT. It was absolute bedlam. I was 10. It was the single greatest moment in cinema history, and I was there to witness it.
Toys: We need a better Episode VI Vader, but we can make do until then. We've got Jedi Luke, but we need that damn flap down version. And we're FINALLY getting The Emperor and his throne.
Scene It: Kind of. We need some details straightened out with Luke and Vader, but hopefully we can finally put this Emperor nonsense to rest.
comments powered by Disqus
LATEST PHOTO GALLERIES
VC394 - Imperial Snowtrooper Commander
VC - Obi-Wan Kenobi (Utapau) & Airborne Clone Trooper (212th Battalion)
VC392 - General Veers (AT-AT Commander)
VC - Imperial Remnant Stormtrooper
VC - Imperial Remnant AT-RT
VC386 - Marrok
VC387 - Imperial Remnant AT-AT Driver
VC388 - IG-11 (Nevarro Marshal)
VC389 - Imperial Remnant Snowtrooper
VC393 - Greedo
ADDITIONAL REVIEWS IN THE
PHOTO GALLERIES
PHOTO GALLERIES