Legends The StarWars.com 10 thread

[Bim]

Ok, so basically this thread is to discuss the different Star Wars blog top 10 countdowns, since it appears they will start posting different ones each time. To start things off, we have Best Fights of the 6 films:

http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/09/09/the-starwars-com-10-best-fights/

10. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. General Grievous, Revenge of the Sith

Obi-Wan versus General Grievous is maybe the most varied and dynamic fight of any Star Wars film. It moves from lightsaber duel to high-speed chase to a knock-down drag-out fist fight, and ends in a pretty surprising (if uncivilized, by Obi-Wan’s standards) way. Not counting the Clone Wars cartoon, the sequence gives audiences their first real look at what Grievous can do — his two arms become four, he spins lightsabers, his mechanical body is adaptive (and creepy) — and also works to reinforce Obi-Wan and the droid army general’s characters. Obi-Wan never gives up, even after losing his Jedi weapon, and is creative throughout; Grievous relies on brute strength and fear, and once those prove ineffective, his cowardly nature takes over and he tries to escape. All in all, a fast, fun scene, mixed with both thrills and — unique for a one-on-one Star Wars fight — laughs.

9. Mace Windu Vs. Darth Sidious, Revenge of the Sith

Teased to great effect in the trailer for Revenge of the Sith, this fight was something fans have wondered about for years — even before Mace Windu’s debut. How exactly did the Jedi try to deal with Palpatine? How did Palpatine reveal himself to them? The answers are given here, and they’re awesome: Mace Windu and three other Jedi show up in Palpatine’s chambers, ready to arrest him after the revelation that he is indeed the mystery Sith Lord they’ve been searching for. After some of Palpatine’s usual superficial pleasantries, Windu states plainly why the Jedi have come. With a dark, guttural scream and the ignition of a crimson blade, we get our first true glimpse of Darth Sidious. He welcomes the combat. Enjoys it. And quickly dispatches Windu’s support. The sequence is full of close-ups — Windu is grim, Sidious hisses and scowls — showing what’s at stake for both men. The ending continues to be debated; Windu seemingly has Sidious beaten, unarmed and cowering. But was this all planned to get Anakin to come to his defense? Either way, it doesn’t end well for Mace.

8. Yoda Vs. Count Dooku, Attack of the Clones

A memorable fight for one huge reason: this is the first time we see Yoda in action, and it’s thrilling. Yoda’s skills were hinted at earlier in the film (”If you spent as much time practicing your saber techniques as you did your wit,” Obi-Wan tells Anakin, “you’d rival Master Yoda as a swordsman.”), but the idea of seeing Yoda in battle was almost unbelievable. And if handled incorrectly, the scene could have been a disaster — would audiences laugh? Yet from the second he walks into Count Dooku’s hangar, it works. The short, green Jedi Master leaps and parries with a fast, exhilarating style, one never before seen in Star Wars. We also see, for the first time, that Force lightning can be stopped, when Yoda absorbs Dooku’s attack. Crowds loved it in theaters, and it stands as one of the prequel trilogy’s most memorable scenes.

7. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Darth Vader, A New Hope

The first lightsaber duel ever seen in a Star Wars film finds an older Obi-Wan squaring off against his former pupil — providing a diversion for Luke and friends to escape the Death Star. What’s significant about this fight is not the choreography, but what happens before, during, and after the duel. The I’ve-just-seen-a-ghost look on Obi-Wan’s face when he first sees Vader. The exchanges (”When we last met, I was but the learner. Now I am the Master.”). The smile Obi-Wan gives Vader before sacrificing himself. In the span of a few minutes, these moments tell us of the history between the characters — reinforcing what we already know and raising more questions, too — and establish lightsaber duels as high-stakes and emotional. It’s not the longest or most complex of duels, but Obi-Wan versus Vader looms large over the entire saga.

6. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Jango Fett, Attack of the Clones

Known as the “Rumble in the Rain,” Obi-Wan squares off against bounty hunter Jango Fett in the ceaseless downpours of Kamino. While investigating an assassination attempt on Padmé, Obi-Wan finds himself on Kamino, a world dedicated to cloning, where he uncovers a strange plot involving a clone army created for the Republic, based on the genetic blueprints of Jango Fett — who is also behind the attacks on Padmé. After a tense meeting, the two battle as Jango tries to escape. This fight delivers on something fans had longed to see: what can Mandalorian armor really do? Moreover, we got to see what it does in use against a Jedi. Jango pulls out all the stops to take down Obi-Wan: flame thrower, rocket, blasters. Obi-Wan handles it all, but both sides take their lumps, with the Jedi and bounty hunter proving to be formidable opponents. Overall, a unique fight for Star Wars in setting and style.

5. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader, Return of the Jedi

The final duel of the original trilogy in which the fate of, well, everyone and everything depends on the outcome. Luke seeks out his father, Darth Vader, with the hopes of bringing him back from the dark side; clearly conflicted, Vader still does his Sithly duty and takes his son before his Master, Emperor Palpatine, who wants to turn Luke to the dark side. After the Emperor goads Luke into an aggressive attack, father and son do battle but with Luke intermittently stopping the fight, hoping to find another way to resolve the conflict. Still, the young Jedi is eventually pushed into a blind rage, but pulls back at the last moment, throwing away his weapon and letting his father live; it’s a move the Emperor cannot comprehend — and proves the only way to truly defeat him. What happens next is one of the key moments of the saga, bringing the stories of Anakin Skywalker and his son full circle. All lightsaber duels in Star Wars have some differentiating factor, and Luke/Vader II is particularly original: there’s a third party involved who’s more powerful than either combatant, yet he’s just watching; Luke continually disengages from the fight. Moreover, this battle maybe ties in more directly to the themes of Star Wars than any of the others. “How am I to know the good side from the bad?” Luke asks Yoda in The Empire Strikes Back. “When you are calm, at peace,” he replies. That sounds good, but it’s hard to believe — until you see Luke choose compassion for his father, instead of the easy killing blow, in Return of the Jedi.

4. Yoda Vs. Darth Sidious, Revenge of the Sith

Battle of the ultimate Masters. That’s what this fight is, as it moves from precise lightsaber combat to an awesome back and forth display of Force wizardry. The Emperor revels in unleashing his power, gleefully tossing Senate pods at the Jedi Master and cackling as he blasts his “little green friend” with Force lightning; Yoda is calm and determined, able to evade the attacks and absorb Sidious’ dark side powers. As a meeting between arguably the two most powerful beings in the galaxy, this battle does not disappoint. And it reinforces what we learn in Return of the Jedi, which is that the Emperor wants to fight, as the fight is where he thrives — Yoda learns this the hard way. While he holds his own with the Sith Lord, even the ancient Jedi cannot outright defeat him.

3. Obi-Wan Kenobi Vs. Anakin Skywalker, Revenge of the Sith

The most highly anticipated of any Star Wars fight scene, and a marvel of choreography and visual effects. With Anakin lost to the dark side and having killed countless Jedi, Obi-Wan reluctantly agrees to find and kill his former apprentice. The two meet on the lava planet Mustafar, with Anakin clearly deluded and power hungry (”If you’re not with me, you’re my enemy.”). The former friends square off in a blistering, kinetic sequence, epic in scale and scope unmatched by any other entry on this list. They battle in interior corridors of a mining facility, balance and duel on a narrow pipe above a lava river and then along a giant collection arm, and continue face to face on a small hovering platform. And then there’s the tragic, numbing end. To go from the shiny exterior of The Phantom Menace to the hell of Mustafar in just three films is an amazing thing, illustrating (on the surface, at least) just how far Anakin has fallen. It’s the one lightsaber duel in which the dangerous surroundings are a factor — a major threat to both combatants — yet Anakin seems oddly at home. Ultimately, while the sequence dazzles with its grand spectacle and unmatched swordplay, the biggest testament to its success is the fact that while we already knew the outcome, it was still shocking.

2. Luke Skywalker Vs. Darth Vader, The Empire Strikes Back

It’s not the flashiest lightsaber duel. It doesn’t feature the acrobatics of Anakin/Obi-Wan, and it doesn’t have the wow-factor of Yoda/Dooku. But it’s probably the most emotionally powerful Star Wars duel — the slow pacing, the haunting aesthetic, and the tangible reality of Luke’s first duel with Darth Vader all make for one of cinema’s most memorable sword fights. Luke heads to Cloud City — against the wishes of Yoda and Obi-Wan — in an effort to save his friends, and finds Vader waiting. Holstering his blaster, Luke ignites his lightsaber and battles the Sith Lord in the Jedi tradition. But Luke’s training is incomplete, and he takes his licks — by the duel’s end, he’s battered and bloodied, having been slammed left and right with debris and machinery through Vader’s dark side trickery, and eventually, loses a hand. There’s a harsh beauty to this particular fight. Every saber strike seems thought-out and deliberate; Luke’s missteps, including multiple falls, add to the tension; and there’s a sense that Vader is holding back until Luke tags him, at which point he quickly ends the fight. It’s all shot beautifully, it’s thrilling, and the ending, of course, is the stuff of legend.

1. Obi-Wan Kenobi & Qui-Gon Jinn Vs. Darth Maul, The Phantom Menace

This duel, in many ways, captures much of what makes every other entry on this list special. Darth Sidious dispatches Darth Maul to Naboo, where he awaits Queen Amidala and the Jedi. During Amidala’s raid, Maul engages Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon, moving from the Theed hangar to the Generator Complex, a maze of never-ending walkways. Finally, Obi-Wan becomes separated from Qui-Gon and Maul, and can only watch as the Sith Lord jabs his Master through the gut. When he finally reaches Maul, Obi-Wan is seemingly bested, left dangling, unarmed above a bottomless shaft — until he uses the Force to leap over Maul, grab Qui-Gon’s lightsaber, and cut the Sith Lord in two. This is a breathtaking duel from start to finish, showcasing Jedi and Sith at the peak of their powers. The choreography is astonishing — not too fast, not too slow — and that is probably due to the fact that Ray Park (Darth Maul) is a trained martial artist. Maul is the quickest, seemingly deadliest villain we’d seen in Star Wars up to that point, and we believe in him as a viable threat, spinning a double-bladed lightsaber with ease, and unbelievably agile. At the same time, Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are impressive, as well, parrying relentlessly with the silent Sith. As the fight progresses, it gains in momentum, but also takes its time to play with the audience — note the breaks when Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon are separated from Maul, and then the break after Maul kills Qui-Gon. It all pays off in Obi-Wan’s explosive solo attack on the Sith Lord, a sequence that is maybe the most visually exciting of any lightsaber duel, and Obi-Wan’s exhilarating defeat of Maul is classic Star Wars — a how-are-we-gonna-get-out-of-this-one moment that’s inventive and downright fun. Taken together, it has great action, high stakes, and heartbreak, and it’s the best fight in Star Wars.

That’s it. What do you think? Did we nail it? Are we out of our minds? Did we overlook something? Let us know in the comments below!

I would probably switch Yoda vs Sidious with Kenobi vs Vader in ANH, just because the emotional and psychological aspect of the second one brings it to a different level. Yes, it isnt flashy or as intense physically as the other duels, but it's one of the most powerful moments (for me).

But overall, i mostly agree with this list.

 

[Bim]

Time for another Top 10, this time about SW music! (to listen to each theme you can go to the original article's link, the videos are embedded there): http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/10/08/the-starwars-com-10-best-music/

The StarWars.com 10: Best Music

Welcome to The StarWars.com 10, a feature where StarWars.com’s editorial staff huddles to discuss — in a committee — various topics relating to a galaxy far, far away. Today, we pick the top John Williams compositions of the Star Wars films.

Note: This list is based on the tent-pole symphonic music (thus, no cantina band, “Jedi Rocks,” etc.) found on the official soundtracks of the Star Wars films. We opted to count only the primary composition, and not alternate arrangements or reworkings — for example, “Yoda’s Theme” is used in various places and arrangements in both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, but we based our voting only on the main piece.

10. “Across the Stars,” Attack of the Clones

The most memorable piece of music composed for Attack of the Clones, which manages to sound like a lost classical masterpiece yet still very Star Wars. A grand, romantic work, “Across the Stars” succeeds on numerous levels — its melody hits a balance between melancholy and a feeling of longing, and the powerful use of strings conveys what the forbidden love between Anakin and Padmé means for both characters and the galaxy. The idea of a Star Wars love song or composition seems almost impossible, but John Williams pulled it off with aplomb.

9. “The Emperor Arrives,” Return of the Jedi

Accompanying our first real look at the Emperor as he arrives on the Death Star in Return of the Jedi, there is no life or punch to this composition, compared with the iconic “Imperial March” or other Empire-centric music. The melody here is simple, dark, and foreboding, driven by — for the first time in Star Wars — a male choir, adding a new aural color to Star Wars. The piece would be revisited at the film’s climax, and appear in different arrangements throughout the prequel trilogy. Utterly haunting, “The Emperor Arrives” is the sound of the dark side.

8. “The Asteroid Field,” The Empire Strikes Back

John Williams’ Star Wars music is as much about emotion and mood as it is technical ingenuity of the composition, and “The Asteroid Field” is a perfect example. Primarily a brass piece, it has a frantic pace, accomplished through rising and falling notes that give the music a roller coaster-like feel (which is probably why it worked so well in Star Tours). It matches the chaos that you’d imagine navigating an asteroid field would yield — and the serene turn that the piece takes when the sequence ends is an almost magical payoff.

7. “Battle of the Heroes,” Revenge of the Sith

As the soundtrack to the Anakin versus Obi-Wan duel from Revenge of the Sith, “Battle of the Heroes” is one of the Star Wars saga’s most important compositions. Combining a choir, staccato brass, and lush strings, the music is rich and full, but has a solemn yet anxious tone. It’s unique from other “duel” music in the films, but also recalls certain aspects of older pieces — the vocals from “Duel of the Fates,” the stinging brass from Luke versus Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back — giving the sequence the weight it deserves.

6. “Princess Leia’s Theme,” A New Hope

Debuting in A New Hope but recurring in The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Revenge of the Sith, “Princess Leia’s Theme” has emerged as one of the most recognizable music passages in all of Star Wars. Both gentle and sweeping, the string-driven arrangement stands alone in Star Wars music by dialing back the energy and faster rhythms of the action scenes. Only “Across the Stars” comes close to the wonder of this track; and when you think of Leia, you probably hear this composition in your head — a true testament to its power.

5. “Yoda’s Theme,” The Empire Strikes Back

If “The Emperor Arrives” is the sound of the dark side, this is the sound of the light side. Strings build from a whisper to a multi-layered crescendo, but always with a benevolent air. The music here is calm but confident, and strong but not aggressive — essentially, it mirrors what Yoda says a Jedi must be. To illustrate how brilliant this composition is, note its use in the sequence where Yoda lifts Luke’s sunken X-wing from the Dagobah swamp, where it’s stirring and powerful; then see Yoda’s death scene in Return of the Jedi, where the same melody becomes purely gentle. Amazing work.

4. “Binary Sunset,” A New Hope

One the most iconic pieces of music in Star Wars, period. For many, the scene in which Luke gazes at the setting suns of Tatooine is what makes Star Wars — but maybe more than any other sequence in all six films, the music is essential. The image of the setting suns conveys the passage of time; Luke is getting older, and there are things he wants to experience and do. There is an entire galaxy awaiting him. Williams’ music again builds and builds, conveying all the longing inside of Luke, and all the promise he has — but it’s also tinged with sadness. For such a short piece of music, its impact is even more impressive.

3. “Duel Of The Fates,” The Phantom Menace

The most unique track of the prequel trilogy, and one of the best pieces of music found in any Star Wars film. Employed during the climactic Darth Maul/Obi-Wan/Qui-Gon duel of The Phantom Menace (and also during Anakin’s search for his mother in Attack of the Clones), “Duel of the Fates” features a choir almost throughout, punctuated with hits of brass and strings, a tempo that slows then quickens, and a wall of sound that grows and grows. What’s most interesting is that the piece feels neither like a good guy or bad guy theme — it’s complex, with dark and light sounds pulling back and forth, not taking a side. As such, there’s really nothing else like it in the saga.

2. “The Imperial March,” The Empire Strikes Back

Signifying the might of the Galactic Empire, “The Imperial March” is an ominous work that has become possibly the most popular music in Star Wars; as a symphonic leitmotif, it is one of the most successful ever. “The Imperial March” is used throughout The Empire Strikes Back (first heard in its full arrangement with the reveal of the Imperial fleet) and Return of the Jedi, and is featured at points throughout the prequel trilogy. But like other great Star Wars tracks, it’s versatile — note Darth Vader’s death scene, in which it’s played only on a harp and sounds more like a lullaby. Still, the full version, with its dark melody and driving militaristic rhythm, is instantly recognizable, and remains a classic today.

1. “Main Title,” A New Hope

“Main Title” is synonymous with Star Wars, and for good reason. It opens every Star Wars film with an explosion of sound, and is also used throughout the saga as an overall theme. Williams has said that he wanted something with an “idealistic, uplifting but military flare to it,” and “Main Title” is just about perfect — it’s entirely hopeful and energizing, filled with sweeping brass and strings and an innately hummable melody. Right from the beginning, you know that you’re in for a romantic adventure, and it never feels forced or disingenuous. One of the all time great themes in film.

That’s it. What do you think? Did we nail it? Are we out of our minds? Did we overlook something? Let us know in the comments below!

I gotta say, i tend to agree with their choices, except maybe 8 and 9; those i wouldnt have thought to put in here. I'd probably switch those with Throne Room from ANH, Order 66 from ROTS or Luke vs Vader in ROTJ (the one playing when Luke yells "Never!"). The rest are probably some the SW themes i remember the most and always make sure i listen to.

 

[Bim]

Oooh boy, this one could be controversial lol: http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/index.php/2013/11/06/the-starwars-com-10-best-bounty-hunters/

The StarWars.com 10: Best Bounty Hunters

Welcome to The StarWars.com 10, a feature where StarWars.com’s editorial staff huddles to discuss — in a committee — various topics relating to a galaxy far, far away. Today we’re looking at the top mercenaries of Star Wars.

“Bounty hunters. We don’t need their scum.” So said Admiral Piett in The Empire Strikes Back, though he couldn’t be more wrong. Bounty hunters have played a huge role in Star Wars, often doing the dirty work for the series’ major villains, whether it’s killing a senator or capturing a rogue smuggler. Many have become icons in their own right — sometimes based solely on appearance, leaving it to the audience to imagine what they’re capable of. For this list, we looked at bounty hunters in the Star Wars films and on Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and ranked them according to several factors, including their job success rate, combat ability, and which are the most “fearless and inventive.” Note: No Expanded Universe characters or exploits were considered.

10. Zam Wesell, Attack of the Clones

A shape-shifting bounty hunter, Zam Wesell is doubly dangerous, and is also a good shot. Hired by Jango Fett to assassinate Senator Padmé Amidala, Wesell was almost successful in her attempts on the senator’s life, first in a bombing of Amidala’s starship, and then with a deposit of two venomous arthropods into her sleeping quarters — an attack thwarted by Jedi Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker. In the resulting pursuit, she proves a strong match for Kenobi and Skywalker, leading them on a frantic high-speed chase throughout Coruscant, but ultimately could not outrun or outsmart the Jedi.

9. Dengar, The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Clone Wars

One of the bounty hunters hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon in The Empire Strikes Back, Dengar sports distinctive armor, has a unique headdress, and carries heavy weaponry. As seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he’s also adept at hand-to-hand combat, standing his ground against an onslaught of Kage warriors.

8. IG-88, The Empire Strikes Back

A towering, imposing figure, IG-88 is another of Vader’s preferred bounty hunters — and is the only droid on this list. While only seen briefly in The Empire Strikes Back, IG-88 has remained popular with fans, appearing in comic books, video games, and cartoons. What perhaps resonates with fans is the fact that IG-88 is a free agent; he’s beholden to no master or owner, unlike other droids, which represents something truly scary — a bounty hunter with no humanity.

7. Asajj Ventress, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Asajj Ventress, a fierce killer and former Sith apprentice of Count Dooku, became a bounty hunter not exactly by choice, but more by circumstance and curiosity. Betrayed by Dooku, forced into exile, and directionless, Ventress agrees to join Boba Fett and his team for a seemingly simple job: escorting a box on a train. Her Force sensitivity and combat skills make her an asset when the group is attacked, but Ventress’ heart is (slightly) too big. Upon learning that the chest contains a captive girl, Ventress sets her free…for a ransom. She later proves to be a highly-skilled bounty hunter on her own, successfully tracking and capturing a Jedi — Ahsoka Tano — when no one else could. But again, there is more good in Ventress than she realized, and the once dark side devotee opts to help Tano instead of immediately collecting her reward.

6. Embo, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Fast and unpredictable, Embo is a formidable male Kyuzo bounty hunter, ranking alongside the great mercenaries of the era. Among his many exploits in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Embo is hired by farmers on Felucia for protection from Hondo Ohnaka and his band of pirates, and his skills are stunning: He captures a moving speeder bike from a pirate, blasts accurately with his bowcaster, leaps and spins, and blocks incoming fire with his shield-hat. Embo rarely talks, but his actions speak for him. And he gets bonus points for having a pet anooba.

5. Jango Fett, Attack of the Clones

Hugely important to Star Wars, Jango Fett is so respected a bounty hunter that he became the clone army blueprint. Wearing blue and grey Mandalorian armor, Jango holds his own against Obi-Wan Kenobi in Attack of the Clones, and in the Battle of Geonosis, blasts a Jedi out of a private box overlooking the planet’s arena — without moving — and kills a reek with a precision shot at point blank range. His arsenal, of course, is awesome: jet pack, flame thrower, rocket launcher, blasters, and more. While he ultimately falls to Mace Windu, Fett lives up to his reputation.

4. Bossk, The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Threatening and intimidating, Bossk became a fan favorite after his snarling I-can-hear-you grunt at an Imperial officer in The Empire Strikes Back. As seen in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, he is among the galaxy’s most in-demand bounty hunters, working closely with Boba Fett, and as a Trandoshan, is a natural hunter. His attitude and original character design — no armor, a reptilian appearance, long arms and legs with clawed hands and feet — make him unique in the Star Wars galaxy.

3. Aurra Sing, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Ruthless and cunning, Aurra Sing is a sharpshooting bounty hunter with seemingly little conscience. In Star Wars: The Clone Wars, we see the depths that Sing is ready to go to for profit: she executes captive clone troopers, snipes security with long-distance head shots, and kills former partners face-to-face. Sing also is a mentor to the orphaned Boba Fett, and shows him the killer instinct necessary in their line of business.

2. Boba Fett, the Star Wars films, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

When someone thinks of “Star Wars bounty hunter,” they most likely picture Boba Fett. Originally debuting in the Star Wars Holiday Special, and then playing a major role in The Empire Strikes Back, Fett struck a chord with audiences immediately. With his distinctive, battle-worn armor, sleek helmet, and weaponry — rocket pack, sawed-off rifle, wrist gauntlets with grappling rope and blasters — Fett was like nothing else seen in Star Wars. His ship, the Slave I, seemed to match him perfectly, from color scheme to design. Of all the bounty hunters hired by the Empire, he is the one who successfully tracks the Millennium Falcon to Cloud City, and then collects an additional reward by delivering Han Solo to Jabba the Hutt — something no other bounty hunter could pull off. His demise in Return of the Jedi is still debated among fans, but for a character with so little screen-time, his impact on Star Wars is even more impressive.

1. Cad Bane, Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Deadly, no-nonsense, and always dangerous, Cad Bane — who looks like he stepped right out of The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly — is the most effective bounty hunter seen in Star Wars. His resume from Star Wars: The Clone Wars is amazing: Bane frees Ziro the Hutt from a highly-guarded prison on Curscant; he infiltrates the Jedi Archives and steals a holocron, is later apprehended by Jedi, then still manages to escape; and he holds his own in battles against both Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, and captures Ahsoka Tano. He’s also creative — see his zero-gravity fight against Anakin and Ahsoka. With his arsenal and gadgetry, including twin blasters, rocket boots, and weaponized gauntlets, Bane is a formidable foe to everyone — no one is safe, be it fellow bounty hunter or Jedi. While he’s a relatively new character, Bane has become one of the great pure villains of Star Wars, cold and calculating and all business.

I would rank Zam in IG-88's spot for sure, Assaj where Aurra is, and Aurra where Bossk is and ofcourse, Jango where Boba is, ha!

 

[Bim]

The next SW.com top 10: Best Yoda Quotes - http://starwarsblog.starwars.com/2013/11/26/the-starwars-com-10-best-yoda-quotes/

Welcome to The StarWars.com 10, a feature where StarWars.com’s editorial staff huddles to discuss — in a committee — various topics relating to a galaxy far, far away. Today we’re looking at the most memorable quotes from the Emperor’s “little green friend.”

Yoda has become one of the biggest icons of Star Wars since his introduction in The Empire Strikes Back — in fact, he won this year’s This Is Madness tournament. While he’s popular for various reasons — his design, his power — it’s his personality and words of wisdom (often in his backwards speak) that resonate the most. For this list, we looked at Yoda’s lines from the Star Wars films, ranking them on quotability, relevance to Yoda as a character, and overall significance to the saga.

10. “When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not.” Return of the Jedi

Yoda could be stern and strict, but he was also playful. When Luke returns to complete his training in Return of the Jedi, he finds that Yoda’s health has deteriorated. This classic line shows Yoda’s sense of humor, but also adds a layer to his ability as a teacher: he doesn’t want his student to feel burdened with the fact he’s dying.

9. “Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is.” Attack of the Clones

In Attack of the Clones, Obi-Wan is trying to locate the planet Kamino, which has been erased from all records in the Jedi Archives. When he approaches Yoda — in the middle of a lightsaber class with younglings — for help, Yoda turns to the students. And one of them nails it, saying that it’s missing because someone erased it. Yoda’s response, “Truly wonderful, the mind of a child is,” shows that despite all he’s seen, he doesn’t exclude the thoughts and opinions of others, no matter their size or age, and that teachers can still learn from their students.

8. “That is why you fail.” The Empire Strikes Back

This is Yoda being brutally honest with Luke, who breathlessly says, “I don’t believe it,” after his Master raises an X-wing from the Dagobah swamp. It’s a definitive statement that comes from Yoda’s years and years of experience as a Jedi and a teacher, and it cuts through both to Luke and the audience.

7. “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” The Empire Strikes Back

One of Yoda’s key teachings to Luke on Dagobah, “A Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack,” is core to the Jedi way and to the Star Wars saga. It’s hard to understand on its own — after all, Jedi have weapons and they use them frequently. But in Return of the Jedi, when Luke throws his lightsaber away instead of making the killing blow to his father, we see what Yoda meant. In that moment, Luke becomes a true Jedi, and it all goes back to this line.

6. “Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things.” The Empire Strikes Back

After Luke comes to Dagobah, Yoda initially withholds his true identity. He’s trying to get a sense of who Luke is as a person; Yoda understands that there’s a lot at risk in training Luke to be a Jedi, especially considering what happened with his father. And Yoda is not impressed — Luke is impatient and selfish. With “Adventure. Excitement. A Jedi craves not these things,” the Jedi Master makes clear that Luke must understand the significance and meaning of the journey he thinks he wants to make. It’s an important lesson for Luke and for audiences, because when Luke faces Vader at the film’s climax, we see the stakes involved in the life of a Jedi.

5. “Judge me by my size, do you?” The Empire Strikes Back

One of Yoda’s instructions to Luke is to “unlearn what you have learned” (another great line!). When Luke is tasked with raising his X-wing from the swamp, he complains that it’s too big, which frustrates Yoda — size matters not when it comes to the Force and to life. What’s amazing about this quote is that when Yoda says it, it’s not funny. It rings true, you believe him, and you see that he makes no excuses for himself — and does not want to hear any from his students.

4. “Fear is the path to the dark side…fear leads to anger…anger leads to hate…hate leads to suffering.” The Phantom Menace

This line became instantly memorable when it was featured in the trailer for The Phantom Menace, and it resonates as the core of Anakin Skywalker’s downfall. Yoda says this while evaluating a young Anakin for training, and he’s proven right. Ultimately, it’s a basic truth that Yoda conveys in a captivating way.

3. “Wars not make one great.” The Empire Strikes Back

Another line that works both in-context (“I’m looking for a great warrior,” Luke says to Yoda, which prompts this smart response) and standalone. It all filters into one of Yoda’s great lessons: aggression and violence do not make a Jedi or a person strong. The meaning behind this quote is strengthened when one sees that Yoda knows the reality of war and battle in the prequel era.

2. “Luminous beings are we…not this crude matter.” The Empire Strikes Back

Dave Filoni, supervising director of Star Wars: The Clone Wars and executive producer of Star Wars Rebels, spoke to StarWars.com about the Sith. He said, “There’s such a big fear of death because they try to hold onto life. And I think that’s why they’re willing to basically mutilate themselves and live these cybernetic half-human lives.” Yoda’s lesson with this quote reflects the exact opposite of this mentality, and it’s essential to the saga. It speaks to the underlying difference between Jedi and Sith: being completely selfless, and recognizing that the Force binds all life and creation together.

1. “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” The Empire Strikes Back

Yoda’s most memorable quote, bar none, and one of the greatest in all of Star Wars. This is another line from the X-wing sequence on Dagobah, and are the last instructions the Jedi Master gives Luke before he attempts to raise his fighter from the swamp. Within the scene, it was a lightning bolt of dialogue, another great nugget of undeniable wisdom that teaches Luke to have a more serious mind. Yoda had consistently tried to teach Luke to focus on the present, and essentially, to grow up. In this moment, with these words, he makes it clear. Outside of the film, the line has become a modern slogan — a reminder to commit oneself to something completely, win or lose.

That’s it. What do you think? Did we nail it? Are we out of our minds? Did we overlook something? Let us know in the comments below!

I would take out #6 and put in instead "Train yourself to let go of everything you fear to lose" from ROTS. One of my favorite Yoda quotes for sure.