Hello everyone!

This blog was getting incredibly long, so I split it in two... here's Part I.

The Star Destroyer opening... a classic scene, if there ever was one. If ANH had opened with a different scene, the whole movie would have been different. GL grabbed us all instantly with that scene, giving us the scope of the GFFA, and showing us just how amazing this movie was going to be!

I find it interesting that C-3P0 kept so much of his personality after having his memory erased. Does that seem fishy to you? I think so.

Darth Vader was meant to be scary and to appear purely evil. Well, George Lucas, you did good. That walk through the smoke onto the Tantive IV was brilliant. That image stuck in my mind for years after I first saw it... it still does, in fact.

Luke's first appearance. After seeing what his father was like, one must ask, he's just a farm boy? Yes, so was Ani, essentially, before Qui-Gon came along, but still, one expects him to be something more. But you've got to give him kudos... he's enthusiastic, and is clearly looking for something more.

Luke tells his uncle that R2 claimed to be the property of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Owen acts defensively, saying that he should forget about it, and that Kenobi was dead. If he was truly looking out for Luke's best interests, I think he should have told him everything.

Ben Kenobi, aka Obi-Wan, shows up for the first time in the OT. Having just watched the PT, it's hard to imagine what he must have gone through on Tatooine to have changed so much. He clearly made contact with Luke, since they knew each other, but he must not have told him anything.

As Obi-Wan tells Luke about the Clone Wars, you can see it in his face that he was remembering his past and his mistakes with Anakin. It gives us a sense of finality, that that part of his life is over, and he started a new chapter with Luke.

Luke sees his dead family, and at that very moment decides to go with Ben. He realizes he has nothing left where he is, much like when Anakin found his mother, and she died in his arms. Like father, like son, I suppose.

Now for the biggest genocide since Order 66 was given - the destruction of Alderaan, Leia's home planet. Leia finally breaks (or so we think), right before watching her entire planet blown up with 1 shot. And we get our first glimpse at just how powerful (let alone evil) the Empire really is.

So when Luke is practicing with his lightsaber, he asks Han if he "believes" in the Force. After having watched the PT right before this, I realize just how much the galaxy had changed in 20 years. The Emperor spread so many lies that the average person started to think of the Force as legend. Amazing, what only 20 years (and a little movie magic) can do.

Well, Luke and Leia, long lost twins, meet for the first time, and what do they do? Flirt with each other! I mean, come on! But I guess I can let it slide - they didn't know they were twins. Then they escape the cell, going to find Ben Kenobi. This got me thinking.... Bail Organa must have told her about Obi-Wan. The question is... how much did he tell?

I'm not going to say anything about the garbage chute....

Master and Fallen Apprentice finally "meet again, at last". Even though this is a slow, unexciting fight, it's still great, because the emotions behind it, especially watching it right after their Mustafar battle, are so intense. It's so clear that they both want to win, but they remember their pasts so vividly. And Obi-Wan's sacrifice was so great. His death was tragic, yes, but necessary. I always loved that scene, and I do even more now that I know the back-story. "I can't believe he's gone" is right, Luke.

The Alliance fighters go in to destroy the Death Star. It seems impossible for those tiny fighters to destroy something that massive. Like always, it's got me on the edge of my seat, eagerly awaiting the outcome. But, as always, Luke destroys the Death Star in the nick of time. A comeback story if there ever was one. Then Han and Luke get their shiny medals, and everyone's happy.... Until the next episode, of course.

So now we're into Ep. V, ESB. Luke escapes from the Ice Creature's cave only to meet Obi-Wan. It seems that Qui-Gon did indeed teach him great deal on Tatooine. Seeing all of this in sequence, I see just how important Qui-Gon is to the Saga. But I'm not going to get into that debate now.

After Luke is rescued by Han, and he is recovering from his injuries, Leia kisses him to hurt Han. *cringes* Having seen them born seconds after each other only about 2 hours ago, this carries a bit more weight than usual.

"The Rebels are there, and I'm sure Skywalker is with them." So Vader was thinking of his son even then, before his son even knew who he was. I don't know why, but just having watched the movies in order, this quote struck me for some reason.

Some great action sequences now with the Imperial Walkers and the Snowspeeders. If not for the introduction of a new Imperial weapon, this battle would have seemed repetitive from ANH. I guess GL thought of this when he made his 'sequel'. He must have known that he had to do something new and different, or the film would have flopped, which it definitely didn't.

After seeing Yoda live out his 'glory days', so to speak, it was devastating to see him in the state he was in on Dagobah, after 20 years of exile. He seems so weak, so fragile, that it's almost hard to believe that he was fighting the Emperor only about 2.5 hours ago. It just goes to show what 20 years of solitude can do to a person.

On the other end of the spectrum, we just saw the Emperor again. He's just as evil and creepy as always. But as they speak, I think of Vader's memory. He says 'it cannot be' when talking of "the son of Skywalker". But if he didn't know Luke was his son, hen why did he say "I'm sure Skywalker is with them" in the beginning of the film when they were searching for the Rebel Base? Hmmm....

Now there's the creepy Cave scene that I've never really understood. I mean, they fight, "Vader" dies, and Luke's head is revealed inside. Incredibly prophetic, yes, but I still don't get it.

"Size matters not." "Do, or do not. There is no try." Great quotes, back to back (almost). Yoda shows Luke that anything is possible through the Force (figuratively, anyways). We already know this, from the PT, but when ESB came out, this was our first glimpse into its true power, which was amazing. I think every SW fan loves this scene - I know I do... it's my favourite in this episode.

Here comes Lando for the 1st time. I've always had mixed feeling about him. In the end, though, he's a great addition to the Saga. Despite his selling of his friends to Vader and Boba Fett, he is still acceptable in the movies.

So Han, Leia and Chewie are tortured on Cloud City by Darth Vader, which lures Luke to them. Just before Luke arrives, Han is frozen in carbonite and is taken away by Boba Fett, leaving us with a feeling of dread. Everything seems to be going to the dogs, and it appears that the days of the good guys getting off safe and sound are over. After everyone being nice and cozy (except for the end of ROTS, really) for 4 ˝ episodes, it's almost a nice change.

And, yes, you all know what happens next. The immortal words, "No. I am your father." When the movie came out, I'm sure everyone was completely shocked. But having just watched the other Ep.'s, obviously I already knew this. It carries just as much emotional impact, however, in the fact that Luke just learned who his father was, and we know how much that hurt him. Luke is rescued by Leia and Chewie (and partly Lando) and they go and try to recover from their losses.

Five down, one to go! Episode VI, ROTJ, beings with a Star Destroyer panning over the screen, just like the opening of ANH. I liked how they added that little touch to kind of bring the OT full circle. Also, the return of all the main characters to Tatooine brings not only the OT full circle, but the entire Saga. Tatooine is, after all, where it all started, and I really like how they returned there one last time.

And now here's the... Max Rebo Band!! The best part of Jabba's Palace, I have to say! (Not to mention the fact that Max Rebo is the coolest guy around!)

Now for some Sarlacc action! I've always loved this sequence, for some reason. I was happy when Boba Fett was eaten (I just never really liked him, okay!). Then Leia kills Jabba, which is always a great moment. I still find it sickening though - that creepy sound he makes as he's being strangled gets me every time! (I used to have to plug my ears and cover my eyes when I was younger!)

Very soon after Luke returns to Dagobah, Yoda meets his end. This has always been very, very sad, and especially so after watching all 5 other films. But the fact that the last (known) survivor of the Old Jedi Order dies unceremoniously in a tiny hut on a swamp planet with only 1 witness is heartbreaking. I only wish he could have had a more spectacular death, for lack of a better phrase. It is comforting, however, to know that he lived on in the Force, and in spirit.

Luke then finds out that he has a sister, and he figures out that it's Leia. Just like her, I think Luke "always knew". They had a connection that he couldn't ignore, and I think he always knew there was something special between them.

As the shuttle is about to land on Endor, and Vader willingly lets them pass, Luke clearly knew he was endangering the mission. I think he greatly regretted going on the mission, even though he desperately needed to face his father again. This indecision surely caused great turmoil in him, and I thought they could have played it out more.

Watching the speeder chase through the forest seriously reminds me of the TPM podrace. Seeing them both in one day really makes you notice these things! The two speeders ramming into each other is so close to podracing... it's great! I wonder what Vader would have thought about this - would he have remembered his childhood had he witnessed this?

The Ewoks are awesome. 'Nough said.

See this blog for my thoughts on the Ewoks considering Threepio a God.

As Luke and Leia talk of their mother, I can't help but picture Padmé and remember everything she went through to bring them into existence. I think Leia always knew, deep down, who her parents were. It just hurts her to hear it as a fact. But they come to terms with it, and that makes them so much happier, I think, when Anakin finally redeems himself.

Now, as Vader watched as Sidious attacks Luke with Force lightening, something happens inside him. Anakin finally wins the inner struggle between himself and Vader, and he decides to redeem himself by saving his son. He kills the Emperor, thereby killing himself. Darth Vader is no more, and Anakin Skywalker has been reborn. This is such a powerful scene.

So when Luke takes off the mask, it is Anakin, his father, he sees, not Darth Vader.

By destroying the Sith, Anakin fulfills the Prophecy by bringing balance to the Force.

The Saga of Anakin Skywalker, his fall, and finally his redemption, is finished. What an amazing Saga it is. Now, 13 hours later, I realize that I love SW even more than when I started, earlier this morning. If you ever have the chance, watch all the movies in order, in one day. As a fan, you'll benefit from it more than you can imagine.

May the Force be With You, and Happy 30th Anniversary!