Star Wars Meme, Day Nine
Day 9: Best Scene: The Empire Strikes Back
Honestly, so many scenes, but I think it's the reveal on Bespin that's my favorite (although sadly, I didn't get the shock that others did, as I kind of got it spoiled from TOY STORY 2 at the time. XD). I think there's something about how battered and bruised, yet defiant, Luke is, and how Vader's trying to reach him. I just love both James Earl Jones' (and David Prowse's, for that matter -- being able to act through all that armor? That's why the man's a pro. :) and Mark Hamill's acting there. Especially Mark's, because it felt like he had genuinely had his world ripped out from under. And later, the mental communication scene. I think there's something about Luke's almost plaintive "Father?" and pleading with Ben as to why he didn't tell Luke that's really heartbreaking. And Vader...it's always been just an inkling on my part, ever since I first watched THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, but I think part of what's driving him is a sort of desire to be loved. And, perhaps, to make amends. It's not just the matter of turning Luke to the Dark Side so they can overthrow the Emperor -- he wants to reclaim the son he's barely known. I know some have suggested that Vader didn't love Luke (after all, in their eyes, he's no more than a machine, and a Sith, to boot! How can he be capable of loving anyone?), but I think he genuinely did. After all, he has to all but plead with the Emperor earlier to spare Luke's life ("He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him." and "If he could be turned, he would make a powerful ally.") and after the FALCON escapes into hyperspace...well, he doesn't even strangle one of the officers for their failure. He just turns away from the viewing window, seeming so genuinely broken, and walks away. It's amazing how one can communicate so much of what's happening to Vader through body language alone.
And then there's Luke himself. I don't think it's a stretch to think that part of him wanting to redeem Vader was, in a way, wanting to reclaim the father he never knew. Because...well, all his life, he wanted a father. To think that his beloved father was the Dark Lord of the Sith...well, it broke him. And yet when Vader contacted him across their link in the FALCON...he wasn't repulsed. He seemed surprised, but not exactly repulsed. Add in the matter of the link itself, and I have to wonder...well, what did Luke feel across that link? Probably a lot of things. A lot of emotions from Vader. I doubt it's a stretch to think that Vader contacting him while he's still in the FALCON planted the seeds of Luke trying to redeem him in RETURN OF THE JEDI.
I think the revelation was also important because...well, Vader's not the Big Bad Wolf anymore. He's not just a monster. There's a shred of humanity in him, and that human quality...well, it's why I love Anakin/Vader, really. It's why I love the Saga in general, but Anakin/Vader especially.
Rest of questions:
Day 10: Best Scene: Return of the Jedi
Day 11: Best Scene: The Phantom Menace
Day 12: Best Scene: Attack of the Clones
Day 13: Best Scene: Revenge of the Sith
Day 14: A moment that breaks your heart
Day 15: A character you wish was in the saga more.
Day 16: Favorite Villain
Day 17: Funniest Scene
Day 18: Favorite Duo/Friendship
Day 19: Favorite Battle
Day 20: Jedi or Sith
Honestly, so many scenes, but I think it's the reveal on Bespin that's my favorite (although sadly, I didn't get the shock that others did, as I kind of got it spoiled from TOY STORY 2 at the time. XD). I think there's something about how battered and bruised, yet defiant, Luke is, and how Vader's trying to reach him. I just love both James Earl Jones' (and David Prowse's, for that matter -- being able to act through all that armor? That's why the man's a pro. :) and Mark Hamill's acting there. Especially Mark's, because it felt like he had genuinely had his world ripped out from under. And later, the mental communication scene. I think there's something about Luke's almost plaintive "Father?" and pleading with Ben as to why he didn't tell Luke that's really heartbreaking. And Vader...it's always been just an inkling on my part, ever since I first watched THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, but I think part of what's driving him is a sort of desire to be loved. And, perhaps, to make amends. It's not just the matter of turning Luke to the Dark Side so they can overthrow the Emperor -- he wants to reclaim the son he's barely known. I know some have suggested that Vader didn't love Luke (after all, in their eyes, he's no more than a machine, and a Sith, to boot! How can he be capable of loving anyone?), but I think he genuinely did. After all, he has to all but plead with the Emperor earlier to spare Luke's life ("He's just a boy. Obi-Wan can no longer help him." and "If he could be turned, he would make a powerful ally.") and after the FALCON escapes into hyperspace...well, he doesn't even strangle one of the officers for their failure. He just turns away from the viewing window, seeming so genuinely broken, and walks away. It's amazing how one can communicate so much of what's happening to Vader through body language alone.
And then there's Luke himself. I don't think it's a stretch to think that part of him wanting to redeem Vader was, in a way, wanting to reclaim the father he never knew. Because...well, all his life, he wanted a father. To think that his beloved father was the Dark Lord of the Sith...well, it broke him. And yet when Vader contacted him across their link in the FALCON...he wasn't repulsed. He seemed surprised, but not exactly repulsed. Add in the matter of the link itself, and I have to wonder...well, what did Luke feel across that link? Probably a lot of things. A lot of emotions from Vader. I doubt it's a stretch to think that Vader contacting him while he's still in the FALCON planted the seeds of Luke trying to redeem him in RETURN OF THE JEDI.
I think the revelation was also important because...well, Vader's not the Big Bad Wolf anymore. He's not just a monster. There's a shred of humanity in him, and that human quality...well, it's why I love Anakin/Vader, really. It's why I love the Saga in general, but Anakin/Vader especially.
Rest of questions:
Day 10: Best Scene: Return of the Jedi
Day 11: Best Scene: The Phantom Menace
Day 12: Best Scene: Attack of the Clones
Day 13: Best Scene: Revenge of the Sith
Day 14: A moment that breaks your heart
Day 15: A character you wish was in the saga more.
Day 16: Favorite Villain
Day 17: Funniest Scene
Day 18: Favorite Duo/Friendship
Day 19: Favorite Battle
Day 20: Jedi or Sith