7. Yoda Lifts The X-Wing - The Empire Strikes Back
The Empire Strikes Back is one of the few instances in Hollywood where a sequel outdid its predecessor in all facets. One of the main reasons for this was the addition of Yoda, who is responsible for several of the film's memorable moments - both comedic and dramatic. He's the last guy you'd expect to be a Jedi Master, but that's the point. Lucas was illustrating that you didn't need to be a great warrior in order to be powerful (something that was lost on him in the prequels). The Force was about more than physical strength; it's mainly about spiritual strength. In the setup for this scene, Luke attempts to use the Force to lift his X-Wing out of the Dagobah swamp but fails because he claims it's just too big. Yoda scolds his pupil with a priceless monologue about how "size matters not" and that the Force is a powerful ally because life creates it. "Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter," Yoda says as he pinches Luke's shoulder. Unimpressed, Luke goes away to pout and what follows is one of those magical movie moments. Yoda, small, old, frail Yoda, closes his eyes and places the ship on the ground, demonstrating the true power of the Force and what you can accomplish with it. Luke, awestruck, exclaims "I don't believe it," learning the most important Jedi lesson of all. You need to believe in the Force in order to control it and have it be your ally.