Post by jammer81386 on May 4, 2020 17:19:54 GMT
In celebration of May The Fourth.
This is an update of a post I made a while back. Basically, I take each of the Star Wars movies and pick what I think are the best and worst moments in each of them. I also added a new category in which I select an underrated moment. Which are good scenes that I feel do not get the attention they deserve. Obviously there will be spoilers. With all that said I hope you enjoy my list.
THE PHANTOM MENACE
--Worst: Anakin Accidentally Destroying the Trade Federation Command Ship.
This one is pretty self explanatory. The destruction and deactivation of the entire droid army was not planned or even done on purpose. Just simple luck. Which, according to "Old Ben", doesn't exist. It would have been better if, while inside the hangar, Anakin noticed the main reactor and attacked it. This would have shown the audience his resourcefulness and talents as a pilot. Instead, the victory of good over evil was achieved by a series of coincidences instead of planning and skill.
What makes this more humorous, is that the "attack scenario" actually happen in the LEGO Star Wars video game. Creating a highly unusual case where the parody was more believable than the original.
--Best: The Podrace
A nice departure from the standard violent action that is present throughout the rest of the saga. The effects were great and it was well directed. The podracers themselves were interesting vehicles as they basically two large engines dragging a seat, which would, of course, maximize their speed. The scene also showed a part of Tatoonie culture that the audience had not previously seen. Sometimes it is good to be off beat.
--Underrated: Qui-Gon Jinn Cheats
Re-watching The Phantom Menace, I find Qui-Gon Jinn to be more intriguing than when I previously watched the film. This is best seen when Qui-Gon uses the force to manipulate a chance cube in order to bet on Anakin's freedom over his mother's. Cheating like this would not be something you'd expect a Jedi to be okay with, but it was shown throughout the film that Qui-gon would bend the rules if it felt there was a greater good at stake. Later in the trilogy, particularly in Revenge of the Sith, we see the Jedi council violate the code as well, but unlike Jinn they preached strict adherence towards it.
Also unlike Jinn, their violations were mainly acts of self interest. Thus it showed Qui-Gon's refusal to be an ideologue and his belief in individual judgement over strict adherence to the Jedi Code.
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
--Worst: Anakin & Obi-Wan vs. Dooku
There were several problems with this fight. Most significantly, the fact that Dooku's skills with a lightsaber had not been previously established, so he did not feel like a legitimate threat to Obi-Wan & Anakin. Also, Anakin's use of dual lightsabers is glanced over and contributed nothing to the fight. Considering how thrilling the climatic duel with Darth Maul was in The Phantom Menace, this fight left a lot to be desired.
--Best: Obi-Wan vs. Jango Fett
What made this fight enjoyable was that it was a duel between two different types of weapons: a lightsaber and blaster pistols. Usually, it is two of the same weapons being squared off against each other, so seeing the two fighting styles clash was a very welcome change of pace. Normally, the Jedi is clearly the more powerful fighter, so it was interesting to see a formidable opponent that was not another force user.
--Underrated: Chase Through Courscant
Granted some of the stunts the characters pull off are way too over the top, even for a Star Wars film, this chase did provide a unique type of action that the series had not seen before. Apart from the action of the chase it was interesting to see the vast cityscape of Courscant, as well as its more civilian aspects. The billboards, bars, the crowds, all created an immersive environment for the audience.
REVENGE OF THE SITH
--Worst: The Killing of the Padawans
This was just in bad taste. It is rather ironic because previous two films in the trilogy have been criticized for pandering to kids, whereas this moment seemed to do the exact opposite; terrifying them. If Lucas's intention was to make us sympathize with Anakin, he killed any chance of that with this one scene.
--Best: Anakin's Death
I have always found this part of the movie interesting. Not necessarily because of the scene itself, but people's reaction to it. Whenever I discuss this moment with others, they always refer to it as "Anakin's Death" even though he did not literally die on that volcanic slope. It is like Obi-wan said in Return of the Jedi: The good man that was Anakin died and Vader took his place. That is how the character was developed and the audience's perception of what happened reflects that. It was something that Lucas executed extremely well, as it legitimately felt like Anakin died and that a new character was born.
--Underrated: Council asks Anakin to Spy on Palpatine
If one really pays attention to the story of Revenge of the Sith, they'll find that the Jedi are not as noble as they are often perceived. Many of their actions throughout the film are quite shady which make Anakin's distrust of the order much more understandable. The scene were Obi-Wan, on behalf of the Jedi Council, asks Anakin to spy on Chancellor Palpatine shows him (and the audience) that the Order was concerned about maintaining their power and saw themselves as something more than "servants of the Republic". The way the Sidious plays off this behavior to seduce Anakin was also intriguing as he used the Jedi's misdeeds against them, ultimately leading to their near annihilation.
A NEW HOPE
--Worst: Vader Being Knocked Out of the Final Battle
First off, yes, I know that this movie had a troubled production, especially during the filming of the final scenes.Still, the way Vader was knocked out of the fight never really made sense to me. I had to read a synopsis of the movie to really understand what happened. I am not a fan of Lucas redoing scenes, but I kind of wish this part would be elaborated on.
--Best: The Binary Sunset
This is the most iconic image of the saga, and possibly one of the most iconic in all of science fiction. I have always seen this moment as the beginning of Luke Skywalker's adventure, as immediately afterwards he finds R2-D2 missing and goes searching for him. Outside of that, it represented Luke's desire to see the worlds he has not been able to see because of his life as a simple farm boy. The audience is put in a similar position as Luke, since we had not seen a significant part of this galaxy yet, and we, like Luke, wish to experience it. I think it is a perfect metaphor for Luke's character and the entire Star Wars universe; beginning as a something seemingly insignificant, but turning out to be nearly infinite.
--Underrated: Wedge Saving Luke
This is something that never really got enough attention, in my opinion, because it is truly a great moment. It always gives a jolt to who ever I show it to, even those who are not a fan of the series. But what is genuinely significant about this scene, is that it (along with a few other) gave notability to the character of Wedge Antilles. This character, and his popularity, has always fascinated me. He was basically a throwaway character who is very competent and even contributes to the outcome of the story. In some ways, he correlates with Luke in that he seems to be insignificant, but proves himself to be otherwise. In a strange way, Wedge's story(or lack thereof) reminds me of the opening shot of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, which implies that there are numerous stories happening at once and we are only witnessing one of them. In this case, we are watching Luke's story, but Wedge's abilities and contributions makes us wonder what his story is and what other stories are out there.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
--Worst: Leia Kissing Luke
Definitively, not the most original choice, but it has to be mentioned (largely due to the scarcity of bad moments in the movie). I know that the familial relationship between Luke and Leia had not yet been established, but this moment makes the scene very awkward, rather than being a humorous "screw you" to Han Solo. It also provided the basis of an endless number of lame jokes in other media.
--Best: Vader's Revelation
Not the most original choice, but it wouldn't be right to say otherwise. It is one of, if not the, greatest plot twist in movie history. Unlike most twists which exist solely to provide a surprise at the end of a story, Vader's revelation drastically changed the dynamics of the story, sending it into a confusing array of different directions. And in the process laid the foundation for the entire Prequel Trilogy.
--Underrated: Yoda Reveals Himself
It is quite ironic that, in a space opera, a quite dialogue scene could have such an impact. It plays with the audience's expectations and goes along with the notion that anything in this universe is possible. The audience initially sees Yoda's size, stature, and personality as mere comic relief, but he turns out to be a wise and powerful Jedi Master. Audience are somewhat "trained" to prejudge strange characters like Yoda, but like the wise hermit later says: "you must unlearn what you have learned".
RETURN OF THE JEDI
--Worst: The Ewok Stealing the Imperial Speeder Bike
Like with The Phantom Menace, this moments seems to exist solely to pander to the children in the audience. It is not humor that requires any comedic strategy, it is just cute imagery to entertain kids, rather than the audience as a whole. Which is what Star Wars is meant to be; entertainment for all ages.
--Best: Anakin's Funeral/Galactic Celebration
A fantastic way to conclude the saga. Especially in hindsight, as the whole saga could be viewed entirely from Anakin's/Vader's point of view. It is also worked great as a throwback to the classic Binary Sunset scene from A New Hope. First, it creates the nostalgic mood that, while this story has ended, Luke still has more adventures ahead and that the Star Wars universe still has many more stories to tell. Secondly, it serves as an endpoint to Anakin's part of the story, just as the Binary Sunset scene served as a starting point for Luke. It was simply a superb send off of a memorable character and an equally memorable trilogy.
--Underrated: Luke & Vader on Endor
Though Star Wars tends to be remembered for its more operatic moments, it does have many great subtle and low key moments as well. This scene was particularity effective as a piece of character development for both Luke and Vader. It showed how much Luke has matured, being able to confront Vader on an emotional and philosophical level. It was also the first time that we see Vader on the defensive as he begins to show a vulnerable, even human, side to a character who had previously been seen as pure evil.
At times it seems like Luke is talking to Anakin, not Vader.
THE FORCE AWAKENS
--Worst: The Activation of Starkiller Base
This moment easily makes the list both for what it is and what it represents. Firstly, the use of this new super weapon was supposed to be a profound, tragic moment for the heroes and audience, but we are ultimately witnessing the destruction of planets and people we never knew existed. The government of the New Republic was not previously established, therefore we had no attachment to them nor do we have any clue what effect their loss will have. Secondly, The moment represents a common problem with the film; the lack of originality. Starkiller Base is essentially another Death Star. It is the same thing with a slightly different design and function.
The whole concept is just treading over ground that has been already been worn out.
--Best: The Death Of Han Solo
A lot could have gone wrong here but I choose to go with this because it was a great dramatic moment that did not rely on fan service or nostalgia. Kylo Ren was shown to be less of a cold blooded killer and more of psychologically tormented person, giving him a similarity to Darth Vader while still being an original and unique character. It was also a great moment for Han as he shows that he still has nothing but love and sympathy for his son despite his actions. It was also a risky move by the filmmakers as doing such a thing to an iconic movie character could be seen as disrespectful, but they pull it off successfully by fitting it into the "Death of a Mentor" theme that is common within the series.
--Underrated: Finn vs Kylo Ren
Though it did strain suspension of disbelief with two rookies going up against and subsequently defeating Kylo Ren, the actual fight scene was exciting and well choreographed. New and creative elements were added to the fight, such as the use of Kylo's saber-ed cross guard. It was also a good bit of character development for Finn as it showed him willing to engage a superior opponent in order to protect a friend.
THE LAST JEDI
--Worst: Rose saves Finn
This moment failed on so many levels it is difficult to count them all. First and foremost, the "Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love" proverb was contradicted minutes earlier in the film when Holdo sacrificed herself to save the fleet, and yet she was hero for doing so and Finn is moron. Furthermore, saving people is what Finn was trying to do. If he managed to destroy the ram, it would have bought the resistance more time to escape. More bewildering is how either of them survived the crash or how they made it back to base in one piece. Finally, the kiss was just awkward, as the two characters never showed any romantic feelings for each other prior to this. The only emotion this scene managed to created is confusion.
--Best: Luke Condemns the Jedi
Though it could have been fleshed out more, the moment where Luke condemns the Jedi Order as a whole was both thought provoking and challenging to the status quo. Looking back at the Prequels, you'll find that many of the Order's actions were quite shady and the notion that the organization as a whole was dysfunctional did raise questions of their nobility. Like Vader's revelation in The Empire Strikes Back, this moment challenged the black & white morality that has been expected from the series.
--Underrated: Falcon Attack
One of the few scenes in the film that managed to replicate the sense of fun that the original trilogy had. The sight of the Millennium Falcon coming to rescue yet again, reinvigorated the hopeless situation the heroes were in just as it did in A New Hope. It was a familiar situation, yet done differently and very well.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
--Worst: "Death of Chewbacca"
An unnecessary shoehorning of a dramatic moment into the film. If you are going to kill Chewie, kill Chewie. Don't give the audience these cheap "tear jerker" moments and then cop out a few minutes later. And if you are going to cop out, at least put some time between the "death" and reveal so there is some emotional weight to it.
It fails in both concept and execution.
--Best: Memory of Han Solo
By far the most emotional and profound moment of the film, strengthen by the great performances of both of the actors. It showed that Han's death, as well as his mother's, did have an effect on Kylo/Ben which caused him to question his identity and ultimately lead to him reject his dark side persona. It was also neat how the film was not clear if it is Han's Ghost conversing with Kylo or if it is Ben replaying the event in his mind, only now doing what he should've done back in The Force Awakens. While Star Wars is most famous for it's action and special effects, this quiet dialogue scene proved to be one of the most emotional of the entire series.
--Underrated: Rey and Poe Argue
The lack of interaction between to three main leads was a noticeable problem in the trilogy up until this point. The dialogue and chemistry between the characters in this early scene did a great job in creating a feeling that the group were friends who cared for each other despite their differences. This, and other moments like it, were successful in a sense of camaraderie between Rey, Finn, and Poe. Thus giving the finale celebration scene a sense of emotional resonance.
THE CLONE WARS (Film)
--Worst: Padme's "Episode"
Firstly, I am well aware that this movie was really just the first few episodes of the Clone Wars Animated TV series. However, this subplot was an unneeded distraction for both formats. It had little impact on the main story and really just diverted from it, especially since it abruptly pops up two thirds into the movie. The only purpose seems to be a way to shoehorn Padme into the story.
--Best: Anakin Abandoning His Clone Troopers
This is a rather small moment in the film, but it turned out to be a very subtle and humanizing piece of characterization. During a mission to rescue Jabba's son, Skywalker is forced to desert his clone troopers to an onslaught of battle droids, which the Clone Captain Rex responds to with understanding, rather than feelings of betrayal or anger. Not only did this show Anakin's remorse for having to leave his men behind, but it showed that both he and his commander understand that this is simply the unfortunate part of being a solider. It was surprisingly mature for such a small moment of what wasn't really a movie.
Underrated: Anakin and Ashoka on Tatoonie
It is kind of difficult to consider a moment underrated when the film itself is not frequently discussed. Still, I will include this moment as it did create a connection to the events of Attack of the Clones and showed that those events did have a profound impact on Anakin.
ROGUE ONE
--Worst: Bodhi Rook tortured by the Bor Gullet
Bizarre and unnecessary. That is really all that can be said about it, which is the main problem. This monster torture scene contributed nothing and honestly could have been cut entirely with no impact on the story. Saw Gerrra wasn't shown getting any information from the torture, nor did the pilot have any lasting effects from it. So what was the point of it? Just random weirdness?
--Best: Darth Vader Attack
Absolutely chilling. Prior to this the audience had never seen Vader in a battle situation and watching him go all out on a squad of rebel soldier was a scene to remember. At that moment, the movie transforms into a horror film as you witness the terrified troopers get effortlessly massacred by one of cinema's most feared and deadly villains.
The filmmakers also did a great job meshing the fighting styles of the original films and the prequels. It was a great combination of the fast paced agility of the prequels and the sheer power of the originals.
--Underrated: Cassian kills the spy Tivik
Though it could have been explored more, it was interesting to see a dark side(pun intended) to the rebellion where tough choices and ruthless actions are needed to be made for the greater good. It was something that set Cassian apart from other characters in the Rebellion as they were primarily shown "fighting the good fight" whereas he is the one having to do the dirty work.
SOLO
--Worst: Death of LE-37
LE-37 is a much derided character and not without reason. However, regardless of the character's appeal(or lack thereof), her death entirely missed the mark. The hinted romance between the droid and Lando was just weird. But even absent those problems, the image of Lando cradling the wrecked droid as if it were his dying love was just awkward and silly. And not in an comical way.
--Best: Han Meets Chewbacca
A clever and amusing way for the famous duo to have met. The scene did a good job of establishing the working relationship between the two characters as they improvise an escape out of the pit. Also, it was amusing to see a human speak the Wookie language.
--Underrated: I Hate you. I Know
A humorous throwback to the famous line from The Empire Strikes Back. It also added a nice bit of levity after the intense action of the Kessel Run. As well as establishing the frenemies relationship between Han and Lando.
Thank you to everyone for reading this admittedly lengthy post. If you have any thought are selections of your own please share them.
This is an update of a post I made a while back. Basically, I take each of the Star Wars movies and pick what I think are the best and worst moments in each of them. I also added a new category in which I select an underrated moment. Which are good scenes that I feel do not get the attention they deserve. Obviously there will be spoilers. With all that said I hope you enjoy my list.
THE PHANTOM MENACE
--Worst: Anakin Accidentally Destroying the Trade Federation Command Ship.
This one is pretty self explanatory. The destruction and deactivation of the entire droid army was not planned or even done on purpose. Just simple luck. Which, according to "Old Ben", doesn't exist. It would have been better if, while inside the hangar, Anakin noticed the main reactor and attacked it. This would have shown the audience his resourcefulness and talents as a pilot. Instead, the victory of good over evil was achieved by a series of coincidences instead of planning and skill.
What makes this more humorous, is that the "attack scenario" actually happen in the LEGO Star Wars video game. Creating a highly unusual case where the parody was more believable than the original.
--Best: The Podrace
A nice departure from the standard violent action that is present throughout the rest of the saga. The effects were great and it was well directed. The podracers themselves were interesting vehicles as they basically two large engines dragging a seat, which would, of course, maximize their speed. The scene also showed a part of Tatoonie culture that the audience had not previously seen. Sometimes it is good to be off beat.
--Underrated: Qui-Gon Jinn Cheats
Re-watching The Phantom Menace, I find Qui-Gon Jinn to be more intriguing than when I previously watched the film. This is best seen when Qui-Gon uses the force to manipulate a chance cube in order to bet on Anakin's freedom over his mother's. Cheating like this would not be something you'd expect a Jedi to be okay with, but it was shown throughout the film that Qui-gon would bend the rules if it felt there was a greater good at stake. Later in the trilogy, particularly in Revenge of the Sith, we see the Jedi council violate the code as well, but unlike Jinn they preached strict adherence towards it.
Also unlike Jinn, their violations were mainly acts of self interest. Thus it showed Qui-Gon's refusal to be an ideologue and his belief in individual judgement over strict adherence to the Jedi Code.
ATTACK OF THE CLONES
--Worst: Anakin & Obi-Wan vs. Dooku
There were several problems with this fight. Most significantly, the fact that Dooku's skills with a lightsaber had not been previously established, so he did not feel like a legitimate threat to Obi-Wan & Anakin. Also, Anakin's use of dual lightsabers is glanced over and contributed nothing to the fight. Considering how thrilling the climatic duel with Darth Maul was in The Phantom Menace, this fight left a lot to be desired.
--Best: Obi-Wan vs. Jango Fett
What made this fight enjoyable was that it was a duel between two different types of weapons: a lightsaber and blaster pistols. Usually, it is two of the same weapons being squared off against each other, so seeing the two fighting styles clash was a very welcome change of pace. Normally, the Jedi is clearly the more powerful fighter, so it was interesting to see a formidable opponent that was not another force user.
--Underrated: Chase Through Courscant
Granted some of the stunts the characters pull off are way too over the top, even for a Star Wars film, this chase did provide a unique type of action that the series had not seen before. Apart from the action of the chase it was interesting to see the vast cityscape of Courscant, as well as its more civilian aspects. The billboards, bars, the crowds, all created an immersive environment for the audience.
REVENGE OF THE SITH
--Worst: The Killing of the Padawans
This was just in bad taste. It is rather ironic because previous two films in the trilogy have been criticized for pandering to kids, whereas this moment seemed to do the exact opposite; terrifying them. If Lucas's intention was to make us sympathize with Anakin, he killed any chance of that with this one scene.
--Best: Anakin's Death
I have always found this part of the movie interesting. Not necessarily because of the scene itself, but people's reaction to it. Whenever I discuss this moment with others, they always refer to it as "Anakin's Death" even though he did not literally die on that volcanic slope. It is like Obi-wan said in Return of the Jedi: The good man that was Anakin died and Vader took his place. That is how the character was developed and the audience's perception of what happened reflects that. It was something that Lucas executed extremely well, as it legitimately felt like Anakin died and that a new character was born.
--Underrated: Council asks Anakin to Spy on Palpatine
If one really pays attention to the story of Revenge of the Sith, they'll find that the Jedi are not as noble as they are often perceived. Many of their actions throughout the film are quite shady which make Anakin's distrust of the order much more understandable. The scene were Obi-Wan, on behalf of the Jedi Council, asks Anakin to spy on Chancellor Palpatine shows him (and the audience) that the Order was concerned about maintaining their power and saw themselves as something more than "servants of the Republic". The way the Sidious plays off this behavior to seduce Anakin was also intriguing as he used the Jedi's misdeeds against them, ultimately leading to their near annihilation.
A NEW HOPE
--Worst: Vader Being Knocked Out of the Final Battle
First off, yes, I know that this movie had a troubled production, especially during the filming of the final scenes.Still, the way Vader was knocked out of the fight never really made sense to me. I had to read a synopsis of the movie to really understand what happened. I am not a fan of Lucas redoing scenes, but I kind of wish this part would be elaborated on.
--Best: The Binary Sunset
This is the most iconic image of the saga, and possibly one of the most iconic in all of science fiction. I have always seen this moment as the beginning of Luke Skywalker's adventure, as immediately afterwards he finds R2-D2 missing and goes searching for him. Outside of that, it represented Luke's desire to see the worlds he has not been able to see because of his life as a simple farm boy. The audience is put in a similar position as Luke, since we had not seen a significant part of this galaxy yet, and we, like Luke, wish to experience it. I think it is a perfect metaphor for Luke's character and the entire Star Wars universe; beginning as a something seemingly insignificant, but turning out to be nearly infinite.
--Underrated: Wedge Saving Luke
This is something that never really got enough attention, in my opinion, because it is truly a great moment. It always gives a jolt to who ever I show it to, even those who are not a fan of the series. But what is genuinely significant about this scene, is that it (along with a few other) gave notability to the character of Wedge Antilles. This character, and his popularity, has always fascinated me. He was basically a throwaway character who is very competent and even contributes to the outcome of the story. In some ways, he correlates with Luke in that he seems to be insignificant, but proves himself to be otherwise. In a strange way, Wedge's story(or lack thereof) reminds me of the opening shot of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho, which implies that there are numerous stories happening at once and we are only witnessing one of them. In this case, we are watching Luke's story, but Wedge's abilities and contributions makes us wonder what his story is and what other stories are out there.
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
--Worst: Leia Kissing Luke
Definitively, not the most original choice, but it has to be mentioned (largely due to the scarcity of bad moments in the movie). I know that the familial relationship between Luke and Leia had not yet been established, but this moment makes the scene very awkward, rather than being a humorous "screw you" to Han Solo. It also provided the basis of an endless number of lame jokes in other media.
--Best: Vader's Revelation
Not the most original choice, but it wouldn't be right to say otherwise. It is one of, if not the, greatest plot twist in movie history. Unlike most twists which exist solely to provide a surprise at the end of a story, Vader's revelation drastically changed the dynamics of the story, sending it into a confusing array of different directions. And in the process laid the foundation for the entire Prequel Trilogy.
--Underrated: Yoda Reveals Himself
It is quite ironic that, in a space opera, a quite dialogue scene could have such an impact. It plays with the audience's expectations and goes along with the notion that anything in this universe is possible. The audience initially sees Yoda's size, stature, and personality as mere comic relief, but he turns out to be a wise and powerful Jedi Master. Audience are somewhat "trained" to prejudge strange characters like Yoda, but like the wise hermit later says: "you must unlearn what you have learned".
RETURN OF THE JEDI
--Worst: The Ewok Stealing the Imperial Speeder Bike
Like with The Phantom Menace, this moments seems to exist solely to pander to the children in the audience. It is not humor that requires any comedic strategy, it is just cute imagery to entertain kids, rather than the audience as a whole. Which is what Star Wars is meant to be; entertainment for all ages.
--Best: Anakin's Funeral/Galactic Celebration
A fantastic way to conclude the saga. Especially in hindsight, as the whole saga could be viewed entirely from Anakin's/Vader's point of view. It is also worked great as a throwback to the classic Binary Sunset scene from A New Hope. First, it creates the nostalgic mood that, while this story has ended, Luke still has more adventures ahead and that the Star Wars universe still has many more stories to tell. Secondly, it serves as an endpoint to Anakin's part of the story, just as the Binary Sunset scene served as a starting point for Luke. It was simply a superb send off of a memorable character and an equally memorable trilogy.
--Underrated: Luke & Vader on Endor
Though Star Wars tends to be remembered for its more operatic moments, it does have many great subtle and low key moments as well. This scene was particularity effective as a piece of character development for both Luke and Vader. It showed how much Luke has matured, being able to confront Vader on an emotional and philosophical level. It was also the first time that we see Vader on the defensive as he begins to show a vulnerable, even human, side to a character who had previously been seen as pure evil.
At times it seems like Luke is talking to Anakin, not Vader.
THE FORCE AWAKENS
--Worst: The Activation of Starkiller Base
This moment easily makes the list both for what it is and what it represents. Firstly, the use of this new super weapon was supposed to be a profound, tragic moment for the heroes and audience, but we are ultimately witnessing the destruction of planets and people we never knew existed. The government of the New Republic was not previously established, therefore we had no attachment to them nor do we have any clue what effect their loss will have. Secondly, The moment represents a common problem with the film; the lack of originality. Starkiller Base is essentially another Death Star. It is the same thing with a slightly different design and function.
The whole concept is just treading over ground that has been already been worn out.
--Best: The Death Of Han Solo
A lot could have gone wrong here but I choose to go with this because it was a great dramatic moment that did not rely on fan service or nostalgia. Kylo Ren was shown to be less of a cold blooded killer and more of psychologically tormented person, giving him a similarity to Darth Vader while still being an original and unique character. It was also a great moment for Han as he shows that he still has nothing but love and sympathy for his son despite his actions. It was also a risky move by the filmmakers as doing such a thing to an iconic movie character could be seen as disrespectful, but they pull it off successfully by fitting it into the "Death of a Mentor" theme that is common within the series.
--Underrated: Finn vs Kylo Ren
Though it did strain suspension of disbelief with two rookies going up against and subsequently defeating Kylo Ren, the actual fight scene was exciting and well choreographed. New and creative elements were added to the fight, such as the use of Kylo's saber-ed cross guard. It was also a good bit of character development for Finn as it showed him willing to engage a superior opponent in order to protect a friend.
THE LAST JEDI
--Worst: Rose saves Finn
This moment failed on so many levels it is difficult to count them all. First and foremost, the "Not fighting what we hate, saving what we love" proverb was contradicted minutes earlier in the film when Holdo sacrificed herself to save the fleet, and yet she was hero for doing so and Finn is moron. Furthermore, saving people is what Finn was trying to do. If he managed to destroy the ram, it would have bought the resistance more time to escape. More bewildering is how either of them survived the crash or how they made it back to base in one piece. Finally, the kiss was just awkward, as the two characters never showed any romantic feelings for each other prior to this. The only emotion this scene managed to created is confusion.
--Best: Luke Condemns the Jedi
Though it could have been fleshed out more, the moment where Luke condemns the Jedi Order as a whole was both thought provoking and challenging to the status quo. Looking back at the Prequels, you'll find that many of the Order's actions were quite shady and the notion that the organization as a whole was dysfunctional did raise questions of their nobility. Like Vader's revelation in The Empire Strikes Back, this moment challenged the black & white morality that has been expected from the series.
--Underrated: Falcon Attack
One of the few scenes in the film that managed to replicate the sense of fun that the original trilogy had. The sight of the Millennium Falcon coming to rescue yet again, reinvigorated the hopeless situation the heroes were in just as it did in A New Hope. It was a familiar situation, yet done differently and very well.
THE RISE OF SKYWALKER
--Worst: "Death of Chewbacca"
An unnecessary shoehorning of a dramatic moment into the film. If you are going to kill Chewie, kill Chewie. Don't give the audience these cheap "tear jerker" moments and then cop out a few minutes later. And if you are going to cop out, at least put some time between the "death" and reveal so there is some emotional weight to it.
It fails in both concept and execution.
--Best: Memory of Han Solo
By far the most emotional and profound moment of the film, strengthen by the great performances of both of the actors. It showed that Han's death, as well as his mother's, did have an effect on Kylo/Ben which caused him to question his identity and ultimately lead to him reject his dark side persona. It was also neat how the film was not clear if it is Han's Ghost conversing with Kylo or if it is Ben replaying the event in his mind, only now doing what he should've done back in The Force Awakens. While Star Wars is most famous for it's action and special effects, this quiet dialogue scene proved to be one of the most emotional of the entire series.
--Underrated: Rey and Poe Argue
The lack of interaction between to three main leads was a noticeable problem in the trilogy up until this point. The dialogue and chemistry between the characters in this early scene did a great job in creating a feeling that the group were friends who cared for each other despite their differences. This, and other moments like it, were successful in a sense of camaraderie between Rey, Finn, and Poe. Thus giving the finale celebration scene a sense of emotional resonance.
THE CLONE WARS (Film)
--Worst: Padme's "Episode"
Firstly, I am well aware that this movie was really just the first few episodes of the Clone Wars Animated TV series. However, this subplot was an unneeded distraction for both formats. It had little impact on the main story and really just diverted from it, especially since it abruptly pops up two thirds into the movie. The only purpose seems to be a way to shoehorn Padme into the story.
--Best: Anakin Abandoning His Clone Troopers
This is a rather small moment in the film, but it turned out to be a very subtle and humanizing piece of characterization. During a mission to rescue Jabba's son, Skywalker is forced to desert his clone troopers to an onslaught of battle droids, which the Clone Captain Rex responds to with understanding, rather than feelings of betrayal or anger. Not only did this show Anakin's remorse for having to leave his men behind, but it showed that both he and his commander understand that this is simply the unfortunate part of being a solider. It was surprisingly mature for such a small moment of what wasn't really a movie.
Underrated: Anakin and Ashoka on Tatoonie
It is kind of difficult to consider a moment underrated when the film itself is not frequently discussed. Still, I will include this moment as it did create a connection to the events of Attack of the Clones and showed that those events did have a profound impact on Anakin.
ROGUE ONE
--Worst: Bodhi Rook tortured by the Bor Gullet
Bizarre and unnecessary. That is really all that can be said about it, which is the main problem. This monster torture scene contributed nothing and honestly could have been cut entirely with no impact on the story. Saw Gerrra wasn't shown getting any information from the torture, nor did the pilot have any lasting effects from it. So what was the point of it? Just random weirdness?
--Best: Darth Vader Attack
Absolutely chilling. Prior to this the audience had never seen Vader in a battle situation and watching him go all out on a squad of rebel soldier was a scene to remember. At that moment, the movie transforms into a horror film as you witness the terrified troopers get effortlessly massacred by one of cinema's most feared and deadly villains.
The filmmakers also did a great job meshing the fighting styles of the original films and the prequels. It was a great combination of the fast paced agility of the prequels and the sheer power of the originals.
--Underrated: Cassian kills the spy Tivik
Though it could have been explored more, it was interesting to see a dark side(pun intended) to the rebellion where tough choices and ruthless actions are needed to be made for the greater good. It was something that set Cassian apart from other characters in the Rebellion as they were primarily shown "fighting the good fight" whereas he is the one having to do the dirty work.
SOLO
--Worst: Death of LE-37
LE-37 is a much derided character and not without reason. However, regardless of the character's appeal(or lack thereof), her death entirely missed the mark. The hinted romance between the droid and Lando was just weird. But even absent those problems, the image of Lando cradling the wrecked droid as if it were his dying love was just awkward and silly. And not in an comical way.
--Best: Han Meets Chewbacca
A clever and amusing way for the famous duo to have met. The scene did a good job of establishing the working relationship between the two characters as they improvise an escape out of the pit. Also, it was amusing to see a human speak the Wookie language.
--Underrated: I Hate you. I Know
A humorous throwback to the famous line from The Empire Strikes Back. It also added a nice bit of levity after the intense action of the Kessel Run. As well as establishing the frenemies relationship between Han and Lando.
Thank you to everyone for reading this admittedly lengthy post. If you have any thought are selections of your own please share them.