It is Star WARS after all…
Here is a brief run down of what I believe to the best SEVEN battles in the Star Wars Saga to date…
7 ~
THE PHANTOM MENACE
BATTLE OF NABOO – ANAKIN Vs. TRADE FEDERATION CONTROL SHIP
The finale of Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) was split in to four parts. The lightsabre duel between Darth Maul, Qui-gon and Obi-wan, Amidala’s raid on the palace, the Gungan battle and the assault on the Trade Federation mothership. Well, all besides the duel, they where all poor, but but at least this battle had some humour as well as some decent visual cues and lightsabre fights do not count as battles.
6 ~
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
BATTLE OF GEONOSIS (EP 2) – CLONES Vs. TRADE FEDERATION/SEPARATISTS
The opening battle of The Clone Wars, this is visually entertaining and the most militaristic battle we had seen up until that time. The gunships were like helicopters dropping troops on to the battlefield and Ben Burtt’s sound design was as perfect as ever.
5 ~
RETURN OF THE JEDI
BATTLE OF ENDOR – EWOKS Vs. EMPIRE
A Vietnam metaphor? Quite possibly but whether you are an Ewok fan or not, this is a fun battle, interesting and well conceived. Though it does make a mockery of the Empire at this point.
4 ~
REVENGE OF THE SITH
BATTLE OF CORUSCANT – REPUBLIC Vs. SEPARATISTS
The stunning if not overly CGI’d opening to Episode III (2005) quite literally drops us into the biggest space battle ever seen in Star Wars at this point. They literally threw in the kitchen sink… Brilliant. That is until Anakin and Obi-wan make it onto Grievous’ ship…
3 ~
RETURN OF THE JEDI
BATTLE OF ENDOR – REBELS Vs. DEATH STAR 2
The biggest and most exiting battle of the Original Trilogy, though it was more spectacle, but what a show!
2 ~
A NEW HOPE
BATTLE OF YAVIN 4 – REBELS Vs. DEATH STAR
The original space battle, based on WW2 dog fights and whether Lucas admits this or not, The Dambusters (1954). The motivation and end game was clear, making the action, failures and successes that much more poignant. A battle for a reason with real tension and jubilation at their success. This was George Lucas at his best.
1 ~
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
BATTLE OF HOTH – REBELS Vs. EMPIRE
It may make little tactical sense to have giant dogs walking towards their enemy but so what. This is the coolest and most interesting battle of the entire franchise, made more so by the fact that it is a holding action and one which ultimately leads to a Rebel defeat. The Empire does indeed, strike back!
