May the 4th Be With You!

It’s one of the greatest debates of our time, and has wounded and sometimes destroyed relationships.

I always get anxious when I meet someone new, because I know sooner or later, this question will surface. I always try to ask the inevitable question early on, because then and only then will I know if the relationship can progress.

“What is your favorite Star Wars movie?”

If my potential beau replies with any of Episodes I thru III, the chances of the relationship progressing are slim – especially if he says he likes Jar Jar Binks.

I will walk away and never look back if he replies, “I’ve never watched Star Wars.”

If a man hasn’t watched Star Wars Episodes IV – VI, I have no use for him. Perhaps I’m being fickle, but if you are a true fan, as I am, you understand my reasoning.

Star Wars A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of The Jedi are now and always will be the true and ultimate trilogy.

I can appreciate Episodes I – III, as they did re-create the background and also enticed an entirely new generation of fans to watch George Lucas’ epic masterpieces, but nothing beats the original trilogy.

Star Wars first introduced me to the science fiction genre when I was only five years old; my love and appreciation for it only grew from there.

Han Solo has always been my favorite. Han was so brave and dashing – even as a child, I could appreciate his dry sarcasm.

“Who shot first – Han or Greedo?” Han of course, silly.

So I guess I should get to telling you what my favorite movie is. That would be, Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back.

Why, you may ask? (Well if you’re a true fan, no explanation is needed.)

First of all, just the title alone tells you all you need to know – The Empire strikes back at the Rebels, which means you get to see a lot of Darth Vader as the central villain. This also foreshadows that there will be a lot of action, and in The Empire Strikes Back, there is never a dull moment. I’m serious. Never.

You also get to see a romance starting to form between Han Solo and Princess Leia, albeit it’s more of a sarcastic and witty blossoming. One of my favorite exchanges of dialogue between them is right before he’s frozen into the carbonite:

Leia: “I love you.”

Han: “I know.”

In addition to the romance, Han, Chewbacca and the rest of our favorite characters are constantly running, whether it’s in the Millennium Falcon or on foot. Again, never a dull moment.

Another reason Empire incredibly rocks: the characters.

Boba Fett. He’s a bad ass bounty hunter who is finally able to deliver the goods, with the help of Darth Vader, of course.

Lando Calrissian. Han’s suave, yet shady friend, who definitely doesn’t take the moral high road, betrays them and sells them out to Darth Vader. Lando eventually redeems himself, but you’ve got to appreciate the conflicts it causes.

Jedi Master Yoda. Luke’s teacher who is wise in the ways of The Force. While Yoda has his own special way of speaking, his lines are inspiring.

“Size matters not. Look at me. Judge me by my size do you? Hmm? Hmm. And well you should not. For my ally is the Force – and a powerful ally it is. Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us, and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you! Here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere! Even between the land and the ship.”

And finally, the best part of Star Wars Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, has to be the biggest cinematic reveal of all-time: when Darth Vader tells Luke Skywalker that he is Luke’s father.

This was a very powerful and dramatic plot twist in the trilogy, and the best part was only a few people knew about the lineage reveal during the movie production. Even James Earl Jones, who played the voice of Darth Vader, thought the line “Luke, I am your father.”, was a lie!

Epic awesomeness.

May the 4th be with you today, on International – or Intergalactic, if you will – Star Wars Day. Always remember, in the immortal words of Jedi Master Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try.”