FAVORITE STAR WARS CHARACTERS

I just realized we’ve been up and running for about 4 months now and have failed to dedicate a single post to Star Wars. A travesty which I intend to rectify today.

You see, I’ve been a Star Wars fan my entire life. The first movie I ever went to, though I was in my mother’s belly at the time, was Star Wars. As a kid, I had almost every action figure, ship and playset Kenner ever made. A collection I set out to restore in my 20’s. Here’s a glimpse at the current toy room:

Between that and the movie obsession, I’m as shocked as you that the Editor-in-Chief said yes when I got down on one knee… believe me!

But I digress, so, I thought it would be interesting to thumb through the old collection and dive into the seemingly endless world of characters George Lucas has created over the years and pick my favorites. I’ll admit, like most my lists, time and circumstance can change my opinions. However, right now, these are my Top 10 FAVORITE STAR WARS CHARACTERS.

Here we go (in order):

10. RED LEADER.

For those of you that don’t know, Red Leader is the title given to the leader of the Red Squadron… the X-wing attack force that Luke Skywalker joins in Star Wars: A New Hope. Many have taken on the title of Red Leader in the Star Wars mythology including Luke himself. Though often overlooked, the outer space battles are a huge part of what makes Star Wars so great. And in space, Red Leader is king!

9. LUKE SKYWALKER.

Thought he’d be a little higher on THE LIST? What can I say? I’ve never been a huge fan of “boy scout” type characters… the kind of character that always does the right thing in the end. Always been more of an anti-hero guy myself. Still, Luke is the main protagonist in the greatest trilogy ever made. He’s also the closest thing to a face we’ll ever have on Joseph Campbell’s “Hero” archetype. So, he makes THE LIST… but #9 is the best I can do.

8. STORM TROOPER.

Sure, Storm Troopers seem like idiots, they’re bad shots and can even be taken out by Ewoks and nerdy droids. However, Storm Troopers are awesome for the same reason zombies are… their sheer numbers are frightening and overwhelming. I’m a fan of all the different Trooper incarnations though, I must say, the Biker Scouts from Return of the Jedi are my favorites.

7. CHEWBACCA.

He’s a Mog… half man, half dog. Oh, wait, wrong movie! Chewy is a Wookie and how do you not love a Wookie? They’re loyal, they’re great mechanics, they can handle a blaster, they’ll back you up in a fight and they let out the most adorable growl when you scratch them behind the ears. Chewy being on this list is probably no big surprise to anyone. However, he gets bonus points for being the inspiration behind one of the funniest lines ever uttered on The Simpsons. When Nelson breaks Ralph Wiggums’ Chewbacca action figure he says: You broke my Wookie! Couldn’t find a clip for you but it’s out there, folks… I suggest you find it!

6. R2-D2.

R2 is the unsung hero of the entire Star Wars saga. He can co-pilot an X-wing fighter, get a rebel transmission halfway around the universe and can even stop a giant trash compactor from crushing you and your friends. He even manages to make C3PO tolerable. Not to mention, he manages to provide comic relief for 3 films while only speaking in Boops, Beeps and WOOOOOOW’s. Gotta love, R2!

5. DARTH MAUL.

Personally, Darth Maul is my favorite “baddie” in the Star Wars universe. It just seemed sacreligious to put him ahead of Vader. Still, the argument is there… tatted face, yellow eyes and teeth, never says a word and rocks a double lightsaber like a Bo staff. What’s badder than that? My favorite scene in all the Star Wars films is the one where Darth Maul takes on Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon. Sure, he disappears as quick as he came but he does it in style and earns his place on THE LIST by being the only reason people will ever rewatch The Phantom Menace!

4. DARTH VADER.

Now, let’s be clear… we’re talking Darth Vader here. Not Anakin! While the original trilogy focuses on Luke Skywalker, the six films combined are really dedicated to the evolution, dissent and ultimate redemption of Vader’s character. And while the 2nd trilogy left many a bit disappointed, mainly due to the execution, the overall journey of this character is fascinating. Plus, he can choke a dude out from across the room… Thank God he didn’t have to walk over there. He has breathing problems, ya know?

3. BOBA FETT.

Sure, Boba Fett dies like a punk being eaten by a giant sand vagina… but, in his limited screen time, Boba Fett manages to cement his position as baddest of the bounty hunters. It’s a shame, though, how little time we get with his character. George Lucas has even been quoted as saying that had he known Boba Fett would’ve been so popular he wouldn’t have killed him off the way he did. He tried to make up for it by introducing Boba as a boy in the 2nd trilogy and even tried to recreate the magic by giving us Jango Fett but it just wasn’t the same… it just wasn’t the same. 

2. YODA.

I really struggled with whether or not to throw Yoda up at #1. Unfortunately, he lands right here. The oldest and wisest of the Jedi comes in 2 forms: CGI and puppet. Personally, I’m a fan of puppet Yoda. Used to have one of my own! However, I will give CGI a little love. After all, it gave me my 2nd favorite Star Wars scene. I was there on opening night for Attack of the Clones, when shaky old Yoda pulled back his robe, used the force to draw his lightsaber from it’s hollster and went all ninja on Dooku. The crowd errupted and I was provided with one of my favorite all time cinema experiences.

1. HAN SOLO.

Let’s be honest… there’s only one character in movie history cooler than Han Solo and that’s Indiana Jones. If you disagree, you’re probably a communist! 😉

I love Han Solo for being all the things that Luke Skywalker is not… a true anti-hero. A character with few friends, lots of enemies and no affilliations. Someone with a shady past who still finds themselves compelled to do what’s right when the time calls. A flawed character. Not to mention, a character that will cut open a Tan-Tan and stuff you inside of it to keep you from freezing… regardless of how bad it smells… and make the Kessel run in the Millineum Falcon in “less than 12 parsecs”… whatever the hell that means.

That’s it for now, you Rebels and Imperialists. Please feel free to leave your comments below. I never edit any of the comments. Remember, this was meant to be an interactive site, as much as I love the sound of my own voice.

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Check back next Saturday as that is when new posts go up. I’m also going to try and keep the Wednesday posts going in the future so stay tuned. I’m having to work more these days but I’ll do my best!

Have a great week and remember… HAN SHOT FIRST!!!!!