8. The Death Star Trench Run - Star Wars
Everything in the original film builds up to the climactic showdown as the Rebels stage one last-ditch effort to defeat the Empire and save their base. It's a thrilling and exciting finale for a great film. From a technical standpoint, the special effects are still fantastic if not unparalleled. It may lack the fancy CGI of today, but ILM's models and miniatures look great and make everything feel real. The way the sequence was edited stands out as well. Using footage of World War II dogfights as inspiration, the crew created an extremely fast-paced battle that never drags. John Williams's score once again sets the tone as the audience is swept up in the danger and adventure of going toe-to-toe with the Empire. But like all the best parts of the
Star Wars trilogy, the Death Star trench run also serves the characters involved. Luke learns the lesson of trusting his feelings when he destroys the Death Star by using the Force, not his targeting computer. And we also get the great moment when Han Solo saves the day at the last minute, showing that this scoundrel has a heart of gold and a conscious. By combining style with substance, Lucas gave moviegoers a reason to cheer when the credits rolled.