Star Words: Episode IV, Part 37

[matril]

There are a lot of portentous, highly quotable lines leading up to, and during, the big battle. Vader declares "This will be a day long remembered" and he is right, though for the opposite reason that he assumes; just as it wasn't the true end of Kenobi, it will mark a new hope for the Rebellion. Threepio finally reveals his affection for Artoo
with a wistful, "You wouldn't want my life to get boring, now would you?" And we get a glimpse of Luke and Biggs's friendship, in a bittersweet reunion scene that was a wise choice to restore in the special editions.

Then the quick, highly-charged moments in battle: "look at the size of that thing!" "I'm on the leader" "stay on target" "almost there..."

But my favorite comes right at the point when all hope seems lost. Their assault brought a skilled pilot into position where he launched his torpedoes with computer-assisted precision...and the impact failed. One by one the ships are taken out, until at last even Red Leader is gone.

You see the realization come upon Luke. There's no one left to lead; it's a mere three X-wings against the entire Death Star. The odds went from extremely unlikely to pretty much impossible.

So he takes charge. Orders the next pass. Becomes a leader, in that instant. Is there any hope of succeeding? Can they maintain their speed and evade the TIE fighters?

"It'll be just like Beggars Canyon back home."


This is the instant when Luke's heroism is forged. The crucible that will make or break him. And it's so fitting that his words hearken back to home. He's a long way from the quiet farm on Tatooine, and yet that humble background is a crucial part of what informs his character.

I just love Luke. His pure, unwavering determination, his ability to lead and inspire hope...a true hero. He'll have a lot more growing to do in the next few films, but this is a crowning moment for Episode IV.

Next time, it is more than piloting skills guiding Luke to victory.....

Comments

[krpalmer]

I'd had a hard time disentangling "lines" from the overall cinema of this sequence (diverting myself instead with an alchemic thought or two about how it's put together from special effects shots and individual actors in small sets surrounded by bluescreen, with the score working away in the background). Again, though, you're finding things to delve into.

[matril]

Yes, the overall effect of the battle is a masterwork of editing, more than the sum of its parts. I recall Denis Lawson being excitedly asked how thrilling it must be to play Wedge (probably by his little nephew Ewan) and he would explain in exasperation that was hours of sitting in a fake cockpit, reciting lines to no one. But somehow it all comes together. Of course the incredible John Williams score makes a huge difference.