50 Greatest Star Wars Movie Moments

34. Blasting Into The Detention Level - Episode IV

This scene is one of my favorites. It's like Han and Luke suddenly become space cowboys entering the OK coral. They step through the door and immediately all eyes are upon them. The Imperials know that they're not supposed to be there and everyone's trigger finger gets really itchy, really quickly.

Then one of the guards tries to take Chewie. Immediately he throws off the handcuffs and the shoot-out begins. The three of them begin blasting the entire place like they're destroying a saloon and after the gun-smoke clears all the Imperials are dead. Then comes Han's hilarious attempt to explain all the shooting over the com-link. He blows it and true to his personality, blows the com-link with another blaster bolt. "Boring conversation anyway."

33. Luke and Leia Swing Across the Chasm - Episode IV

Up until this moment, Luke could almost be the guy who's along for the ride. Obi-Wan only got Luke to come with him after his family had been killed by the Empire. There was nothing left for him on Tatooine so he packed up. He still doesn't truly know about the Force and he basically just guesses his way through things while Han jeers him.

Then he and Leia get separated from Han and Chewie. They are all of a sudden on their own and get trapped in a hallway by stormtroopers. Luke blasts the door controls, sealing themselves off, but there is a problem: a huge chasm lays before them with no way across, the stormtroopers are coming through the door, and more troopers have opened fire from another level above them. While Leia fires back at the enemy, Luke grabs a small grappling hook from his belt and hooks it above them with a throw. Together they swing across the chasm. That is the first time you realize that Luke is a hero. He's the main character. He's going to save the day. No more whiney kid with a doofy haircut. He's now a leader and the sole hope for the Alliance.

32. "I Know" - Episode V

Han and Leia have what one might call a tumultuous relationship. True to life, they start off hating each other, but as opposites attract they warm to one other's company in The Empire Strikes Back. Leia realizes she loves him right as Han gets frozen in carbonite. Han doesn't return her words, but instead nods his head: "I know." I realize that Harrison Ford improvised that line on set, but the moment could not have been better played. It's the subtext underneath Han's "I know" that makes it so much more powerful than a "I love you too." What Han really meant by his "I know" is that "I'm coming back for you." He knows it might be a while, but he is making an underlying promise that he will be back for the love she has for him. The line is also perfect since throughout the movie up to that point he is constantly kidding her about having hidden feelings for him. Later on in Return of the Jedi, even after rescuing him from Jabba, Han is still unsure of where he and Leia stand. He thinks she's in love with Luke. Then she reveals their true relationship and kisses the bewildered Han. By this point the audience has spent three movies watching the relationship between these two develop, which allows this scene to carry a lot of emotional resonance with it.

31. The Funeral Of Qui-Gon Jinn - Episode I

One of the saddest moments in all of Star Wars. In more ways than one, Qui-Gon sort of feels like the main character of Episode I and when he died it struck a chord.

Then there is the haunting conversation between Yoda and Mace Windu where they talk about the return of the Sith to the galaxy. Palpatine is standing less than twenty feet from them. What Yoda could have prevented with one throw of his lightsaber. Kind of makes you wonder why - in the Star Wars universe - they haven't invented time travel yet.

30. The Very Beginning Of A New Hope - Episode IV

The beginnings of the Star Wars films have certainly had their fair share of ups and downs. Between all six of them, though, nothing will beat the opening words of A New Hope as they scrolled away from the audience and into space.

Then came the shot of the Star Destroyer chasing the Corellian Corvette. As the smaller ship enters the screen, we were all blown away by how large and realistic the ship looked, though nothing could prepare us for the colossal expanse of the Star Destroyer that followed it. Without a single line of dialogue, George Lucas established who the good guys were and just how powerful their antagonists were going to be. Most impressive.