Because there’s more than just “May the force be with you.”

As all diehard fans know, the Star Wars movies are far more than just “movies”…they’re a lifestyle.

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And over time, they’ve almost become a part of our personal stories. There are distinct moments from these films that we carry with us daily.

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When Han willingly goes out to look for Luke on Hoth.

History has turned Han Solo into a ~who gives a crap~ character, when really he’s the character who (arguably) gives THE MOST craps. Han is fiercely loyal, and willing to go to insane lengths to protect his friends, and this moment is just one small example. He braves the cold, desolate wasteland of Hoth to find Luke when no one else wants to leave the base, and even weathers the stink of a Tauntaun’s guts to keep his friend warm.

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Ewan McGregor’s entire performance, TBH.

“Blah, blah the prequels are bad, blah, blah.” As time has gone on, I do feel like people are starting to give McGregor his due. After all, the man had HUGE shoes to fill, following Sir Alec Guinness’ turn as the jedi master turned sith babysitter. Obi-Wan Kenobi was truly one of the best parts of the prequels, and McGregor maintained the balance of humor and wisdom needed to make the role a success. I, for one, cannot wait for the stand-alone film.

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Leia’s immediate unimpressed attitude upon being rescued.

If you were to describe the plot of the original Star Wars in basic terms to someone who’s never seen it, “two guys save a princess” would sound like any old fantasy adventure. One thing that has ALWAYS set Star Wars apart is just how unimpressed Carrie Fisher’s Princess Leia is by her own rescue. The second the door opens, the first thing she does is call out Luke’s small stature, which was likely an area of insecurity. Her entire attitude is literally ~a mood~ forever.

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This facial expression.

For all of the prequels faults, Hayden Christiansen’s silent moments as a tormented Anakin never truly gets its due. It’s well done, and believable. It’s when he opens his mouth and the horribly-written dialogue falls out that the problems really begin, IMHO.

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Also, this facial expression.

Fun fact: This pivotal moment in Rey’s journey was actually NOT in the original script. We have director Ava DuVernay to thank for Rey’s startling face of realization mid-fight with Kylo Ren, which she suggested after seeing a cut of the film. It’s hard to imagine this fight being as powerful without this intense face of self-confidence.

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K-2SO’s comic relief.

Rogue One is a HEAVY movie. Pretty much from the start, you know the tragic fate of our heroes, which would make for a very dark film; however, sprinkling in little moments of humor (some of the best coming from K-2SO) allowed room for fans to breathe. It also helped to humanize the droid in a way that few other droids (namely BB-8, R2-D2, and C-3PO) enjoy, and made his sacrifice all the more painful for the audience.

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“BEN!”

It’s the first time we hear Kylo Ren’s birth name the entire movie, which instantly stripped any scary lore from him and made him just a sad boy in a mask. Harrison Ford really put everything he had into this moment, and his facial expression is absolutely heartbreaking. If this father’s begging bellow to his only son didn’t give you goosebumps, idk what the heck would.

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And finally, this incredibly simple, but powerful, exchange.

I’ve seen The Empire Strikes Back a million times, but this part never hit me until my dad (also a life-long fan) specifically pointed it out. It’s a seemingly throw away exchange, but an intense life lesson in two lines. If you don’t believe in yourself or your cause, how can you expect to succeed? It’s important to believe in who you are and what you stand for in order to move forward in life (and also move an X-Wing Fighter).

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