It’s a well known fact that Star Wars is one of the best franchises when it comes to branding, creating memorable imagery that captures fans’ imaginations long after the credits have stopped rolling. Today we’re looking at some of the most memorable set pieces in each generation of Star Wars movies.
Canto Bight, The Last Jedi
Starting with the latest movies, it’s fair to say that The Last Jedi has had the most staying power of all three. It was polarizing, maybe, but that has made it the most memorable for fans of all stripes. Following that logic, the most memorable set piece would be Canto Bight, an elite hangout where gambling games are played by the galaxy’s richest.
It’s one of those moments where you’re reminded that Star Wars is an analog sci-fi, which is to say that they don’t have internet or other digital luxuries that we’ve cracked already. It wasn’t part of Lucas’ vision in ’77 and even today, there are still technological gaps that haven’t been filled. So, they don’t have space-themed slot games like Super Star or Gravity Bonanza, which are available at online casinos with free play today. So, when the aliens of the galaxy are looking for a gambling game, they go to Canto Bight.
Finn and Rose Tico arrive at the casino city searching for a codebreaker (another problem that could’ve been solved by email, probably). They find themselves amid grand, ornate set dressing that dips into prequel territory. It enraptures Finn, to the point they have trouble staying on mission. It’s a fun, brief escape from a plot that’s full of defeat for the good guys while showcasing how other parts of the galaxy operate away from the ongoing conflict.
Mustafar, Revenge Of The Sith
The Mustafar duel is the single most iconic scene in the prequels, with the Darth Maul fight coming in close second. More than any other, the scene ties a bow on Anakin’s arc of becoming Darth Vader. After securing the Emperor’s new regime, Anakin is ready to return to a hero’s welcome when Padme confronts him, and she brings a friend. Anakin injures Padme and turns his saber to his old mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi.
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>George Lucas speaking about Obi-Wan & Anakin’s Mustafar duel in 1977:<br><br>“It was a whole part of the plot that essentially got cut out. It may be in one of the sequels…Ben & Vader have a confrontation…Ben almost kills Vader…he falls into a volcanic pit & gets fried.”
George Lucas speaking about Obi-Wan & Anakin’s Mustafar duel in 1977:
“It was a whole part of the plot that essentially got cut out. It may be in one of the sequels…Ben & Vader have a confrontation…Ben almost kills Vader…he falls into a volcanic pit & gets fried.” pic.twitter.com/xQV18Fo26O
— Star Wars Holocron (@sw_holocron) October 10, 2021
What follows is the most energetic, vertical, high-stakes duel in Star Wars history. It doesn’t just have narrative significance; it goes all out by showing the young knights at their very best, with more lightsaber flipping and force jumping than you can shake a death stick at.
Cloud City, The Empire Strikes Back
The climax of what is widely regarded as Star Wars’ best movie, with a twist that has become iconic, echoing for decades after it was first spoken. Cloud City was where Luke faced Darth Vader for the first time. It doesn’t go well, as Luke loses his hand and lets himself fall down the central air vent in a devastating defeat.
Source: Unsplash
Before taking a tumble, Vader tells Luke to join him on the dark side. When Luke refuses, and calls Vader out for killing his father, Vader drops the iconic line – “No, I am your father.” Then Vader doubles down, telling Luke that they should rule the galaxy together as father and son.
This duel is one of the first and best doses of lightsaber combat we get in the OT, as they cut away the catwalk surrounding them. Vader fights effortlessly with one hand while Luke grips his with both, trying to survive the robotic onslaught. By the end of it, we know that Vader easily outmatches Luke but that the relationship between them is a lot more complicated, setting fertile ground for Vader’s redemption in Return of the Jedi.