The Defining Star Wars Moment

My turn Capt @BB-Rey I believe this was mine. Seeing Yoda making the impossible possible with the force was defining moment for me.

 

Tough to pick, but that's a great question.

It's easier for me to pinpoint defining moments for each episode:



I can't say these are my "top favourite" moments (although I guess they all would be high on the list) but I think they altogether sum up what Star Wars is about: faith, love, friendship, family, defining yourself as a person...

I guess most of them are pretty much self-explanatory, but perhaps I should explain the AotC one. I really love that scene. It's the climax of Anakin's arc in the film IMO. He totally breaks here, his emotions take over and he shows that love is more important to him than anything, even though it's the worst possible moment for such display (I mean within the universe). Obi-Wan stops pretending he doesn't know what's going on in Anakin's head and confronts him about it in the middle of extreme battle chaos, which for a moment becomes merely a background. Great job by John Williams here - I love how we get Across the Stars briefly as Padme falls and later the Force theme kicks in when Obi-Wan manages talk some sense into Anakin. Then it cuts to Yoda feeling all that. Brilliant.

If I had to pick one for the whole Saga, I would probably go with Yoda and the X-wing. It's so powerful every time. - I don't believe it. - That is why you fail.

 

That's so cool, thanks.

Here's that moment in the score (7:10 - 8:00), it's spot on:

 

Agreed I was going to let someone else mention that one. Share & share alike.

 

That good can always triumph over evil. That even in the darkest of times, there is always a glimmer of hope... of light.

Palpatine was never able to fully vanquish Anakin from Lord Vader, the creation of an empire also created the catalyst for its destruction, though Padme died she lived on through her children...

 

The reveal of the Jedi in the Geonosis arena for me.

Lightsabers, exotic place, aliens, droids and robots, and warfare that oppose Good&Evil (plus Yoda coming aboard a spaceship): all of this is SW for me.

 

one piece of dialogue in ROTJ changed everything for me. one line opened my eyes to the possibility of what could and did eventually happen at the end of the film, and that the dark side isn't something that you can't come back from.

"It is too late for me, son."

 

For me there were three defining moments. Two in ANH and one at the end of RotJ. The double sunset you posted was by far the biggest and first. Second was the scene of Luke coming upon his burnt home and the charred remains of his family. After that there was no other path for him. That moment defined Luke and set him on his path to the final defining moment in RotJ. Vaders redemption. To me, all three OT movies can be summed up in those three moments.

 

I don't know why, but for me it's the relatively quiet scenes with the droids on Tatooine after the Tantive IV attack. Something about it just seems to scream "Star Wars". It's not an action scene, really, and it doesn't really have dialogue, but it does such a great job of wordlessly telling a story, setting atmosphere, and hooking the audience. Binary Sunset also fits into this category, I'd say.

 

i have to bandwagon on this ~ this was it for me.
as a kid i wanted to be Luke so much in that moment: to have that kind of conviction and certainty, courage and honor.

and the other moment would be when Anakin is dying and Luke says he can save him and he says "you already have".
i cried in the theatre the first time and i still want to cry 40 years later, every time i see it. : D

 

Luke: "No. You're coming with me. I'll not leave you here, I've got to save you."
Anakin: "You already have, Luke. You were right. You were right about me. Tell your sister... you were right."

 

Luke seeing his dead aunt and uncle, and the music building up as he makes a decision that will change him and everyone he knows forever.

 

Eveyone has great posts. I like them all.

To me this defines star wars. When Obi wan explains to Luke about the Jedi, the Force, the Old Republic, and The Empire, which conects to the prequel trilogy. He also gives Luke his father's lightsaber. Which is significant in the sequel trilogy.
To me this one scene defines the entire saga.

If i were to pick a single moment. It would be the look Obi wan had when Luke asked how his father died. Even though Lucas didn't know Vader would be Luke's father Alec Guinness' look was still applicable.

 

Another thought I had:

The Cantina in A New Hope. So much stuff happened in those few moments- we met Han and Chewie, saw a lightsaber in action for the first time, iconic songs, references to the Falcon, we see Greedo v Han...

Plus, a ton of alien species introduced. In an incredible feat of worldbuilding, Lucas managed to really establish his movie in a universe that felt real and diverse, then immediately contrasted that with the bleak black halls and white armor of the Empire. But in the cantina, many now iconic species were introduced, including some that haven't seen a live film incarnation since, while still remaining extremely important in fans' eyes.

Plus, it's important enough that this very forum is named after it.

 

Well, it might be a cliche due to the controversy, but long before the internets my moment was "I've waited a long time for this, Solo."
With the appropriate response.
A good runner up - "I know."
The asteroid field score still gives me chills on a good day.

Hmm.. I guess I'm a Han-fan after all ..