In honor of the major milestone on May 25, 2017 of the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: A New Hope, I decided this week to run down a list of 40 things I love about the Star Wars franchise.
Note: these are in a random order pretty much off the top of my head as they occurred to me aside from the final number one choice!
- Kylo Ren’s temper tantrums – EPIC, but duck!
- Darth Maul – such a bold colorful character created randomly in the middle of the prequel chaos. He was the Boba Fett of the prequel trilogy and I still wish we had seen him more in films.
- Poe Dameron / Cassian Andor – I would like to take this time to personally thank the casting directors for giving us Oscar Isaac and Diego Luna. That is all.
- General Leia – for all the girls who grew up wanting to be Princess Leia… and then became the women who want to grow up to be General Leia, Carrie Fisher is owed a great debt of gratitude.
- Getting to see actors from the prequel series and the original series in the sequel series and standalones. Yay for continuity!
- Wicket. Yes, the space teddy bears were probably not the best idea in retrospect. But still… cuddly Wicket.
- Getting to make your own custom Star Wars action figure with your own face on it at various Disney Star Wars events via D-Tech Me. Everything. REALLY hoping this comes to the new Star Wars Lands as a regular offering.
- And along with that – the “Build Your Own” stops at both Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios where you can build your own light saber, droid (ala R2-D2) and newly introduced protocol droids (ala C-3PO).
- The dearly missed Star Wars Weekends at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. No, I never went to one, but I always enjoyed reading about them and would have loved to attend even once.
- Hugging Chewbacca at the Launch Bay at either Disneyland Park or Disney’s Hollywood Studios. If you have not been hugged by a Wookiee, your life is incomplete. Sorry.
- Ewan McGregor’s vocal impersonation of Alec Guinness along with copying his physical mannerisms in the prequel series. Eerie and awesome.
- Star Wars holidays – Note: NOT the Holiday Special! I’m talking about May the 4th Be With You (aka the day I can wear my Jedi robe to the office… and I do) and Revenge of the 5th, along with I Am Your Father’s Day!
- R2-D2 – my favorite character in all of Star Wars. He’s the loyal companion ever faithful to his master.
- BB-8 – and of course much affection for the younger sidekick also stealing hearts in the sequel series.
- Yoda – for his wisdom and faith.
- Luke Skywalker – for being the hero we all wish we could be – so human but with potential for such greatness.
- The AT-AT outside of Star Tours at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – that thing absolutely took my breath away the first time I saw it there looming above the crowd!
- The upcoming Star Wars Land(s) at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios – I can’t wait to see what kind of immersive world the Imagineers create for all of us! Though admittedly, I’m not looking forward to the crowds!
- Jawa trading – at times there are Jawas at Disney’s Hollywood Studios that you can trade pretty random things for other random things! I haven’t done it yet, but I hope to at some point!
- Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular Fireworks at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – a show I have not yet seen in person but hello, fireworks set to John Williams’ amazing music?! Win!
- Speaking of which… John Williams’ brilliant iconic movie scores, especially the main theme shown against the opening crawls, Darth Vader’s Imperial March and the Han & Leia love theme – my heart!
- Obi-Wan Kenobi for being that grumpy hermit/warrior/father figure we all know and admire.
- ALL THE QUOTES! “These aren’t the droids you’re looking for…” “Wretched hive of scum and villainy…” “Scruffy-looking nerf herder!” “Do. Or do not. There is no try.” and so many, many, many more!
- Lando Calrissian – because no one will ever be as cool as him (especially rocking a cape). Even if he’s not always on the side of the good guys.
- Han in Carbonite – one of the most torturous movie cliffhangers ever!
- Jedi Training Academy at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios – because there is nothing cuter than seeing younglings fight a light saber battle with Darth Vader and defeat him!
- Star Tours – because this was the beginning of bringing Star Wars and Disney together and would lead to their future matrimony!
- Mos Eisley Cantina – I really hope that someday this is made into a real restaurant. I’m sure we’ll get some kind of eating establishment in the new Star Wars Lands, but as the Imagineers have emphasized that these are set in a new location, I don’t think we’ll be getting the Cantina or the awesome Cantina band there.
- The Millennium Falcon – as much a character as any organic being or droid, if the sight of the Falcon escaping from enemies doesn’t fill your heart with happy, I don’t know what would!
- X-Wings, Tie Fighters, Landspeeders – oh, all the toys… and I do mean all of the full size vehicles we’d all want to pilot!
- The Death Star – so nice we had to blow it up twice! But seriously, look at the size of that thing!
- Ralph McQuarrie’s concept artwork – without whom Star Wars would never have looked so magnificent!
- All of the artists who created the various memorable movie posters for the franchise, from the Hildebrandts and Jung to Struzan and beyond.
- Ben Burtt’s sound effects – R2 would not be R2 without Ben Burtt’s beeps and boops!
- James Earl Jones – and speaking of sounds, there is nothing that says “Star Wars” more than the voice of Darth Vader himself!
- ILM – the ultimate FX company that put the magical visuals into so many movies thanks to its creation for the Star Wars universe.
- Light sabers – the definitive magic swords powered by The Force that made every kid (and kid-at-heart) want to duel.
- The Force – for providing a moral compass for the Hero’s Journey.
- How Rogue One ended. Because perfect.
- Star Wars: A New Hope – the movie that started it all. Thank you, George Lucas, for giving us this joyous adventure that changed the movie industry, the merchandise and collectibles world and fans’ lives everywhere. Happy 40th anniversary, Star Wars!
What do you love most about Star Wars that was left off this list? (And apologies for not adding more but I could only pick 40!)
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