I know when a movie has truly transcended life when it has that moment that gives me chills, such as Captain John Miller's "Earn this" in Saving Private Ryan, Oskar Schindler's wishing that he could have done more in Schindler's List, and Adele August selling her dream car so that Ann could go to college in Anywhere but Here.

Since first watching Return of the Jedi, I've been moved and fascinated by the Star Wars chill inducing moment of Darth Vader's redemption. Our choices determine our destiny and it's interesting to see how Anakin finally fulfills his. After first watching The Phantom Menace, I felt that ROTJ had become a stronger film because of the newfound depth in the scene where Luke tells Leia that they're brother and sister. Suddenly, we had faces and people to match to the good man that was Luke's father and the very beautiful, kind but sad mother.

Seeing Anakin's fall in Revenge of the Sith was an emotional punch to the gut, even though I knew it had to happen. But the scene that really moved me was Padme's death and funeral. Right before she dies and shortly after she has gently caressed Luke, she tells Obi-Wan that there is still good in Anakin. This scene gives me chills when I think about it. The poetry here is absolutely beatiful and stunning. In the darkest hour, Padme still believes that there is good in Anakin. In spite of all that he has done, she still has compassion for him. She still loves him unconditionally. She cannot approve of what he has done, but she can still love him.

I now see the end of ROTJ in a new light. Vader is clearly conflicted yet again. The dragon that he sought to slay in ROTS(thank you Matt Stover) is still there. There is deep sadness and regret in his voice when he says, "It is too late for me, my son." I wonder how empty it feels to Vader when he tells Luke that going to the dark side is the only way to save his friends. After all, he went to the dark side to save Padme, and we all know how that ended. And after Luke cuts off his hand, Vader must remember that moment years before when he killed Dooku, only to assume his place at Palpatine's side. Now he sees the treachery of the Sith, and knows he's going to die as nothing more than a pawn in Palpatine's game.

And yet, Luke throws his lightsaber aside, refusing to kill his father. He will not take revenge. And as Palpatine unleashes the full fury of the darkside on Luke, Vader knows that Luke would rather die than kill his father. In spite of all that Vader has done, Luke still loves him uncondionally. Luke's aunt and uncle were brutally murdered. He saw Obi-Wan struck down. He lost his right hand at the hand of a Sith Lord's lightsaber, and yet he won't take revenge. He won't give into his anger and his hate.

At this moment I like to think that Vader remembers Padme, how she comforted him on the lonely ride to Coruscant, how she loved him, even after the Tusken slaughter. And maybe, just maybe, he had a vision of her death, as she told Obi-Wan there was still good in him. Maybe he saw the jappor snippet she wore in her casket, remembering the sweet little boy that he was. I like to think that Vader knew that her caring for him still remained. And her caring for him still remained in the form of Luke. In spite of all that Vader had done, Luke still reached out to the good he believed was in his father as Palpatine was killing him. I love of Luke is the only one who believes that there is still good in Vader. Even though he had no memory of his mother, he did have a memory of the kind of person she was.

As Vader looks at his son being killed by Palpatine, he realized that it wasn't too late for him. He hadn't always been a monster and he didn't need to die as one. While he couldn't save Padme, he could save her son, and so he summons every ounce of strength he has and picks up his old Master, knowing that his body will be destroyed and his life will end, and throws Palpatine to his doom, finally bringing balance to the Force and peace to the galaxy. In the end, Anakin learns that love is the only way you can save the ones you love.