Upon release, the Star Wars prequels were met with intense backlash from the saga’s fanbase. Thanks to this vitriolic response, George Lucas decided against making a sequel trilogy and the franchise ended up in the hands of Disney. In the years since the prequel trilogy hit theaters, it’s been venerated as a cult classic by the millennials whose childhoods were as informed by it as the older fans who grew up with the original trilogy.
While none of the prequels are perfect movies like the 1977 original or The Empire Strikes Back, they’re all enjoyable blockbusters with more than a few memorable moments.
The Phantom Menace: Qui-Gon & Obi-Wan’s Introduction
In the original trilogy, the Jedi had been extinct for years. In the prequel trilogy, the Order is at the height of its powers. The inclusion of trade disputes in the plot might have created a lot of dry dialogue scenes, but Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan’s mission to negotiate with the Trade Federation was the perfect introduction for the Jedi in this era.
Seeing wise old Ben Kenobi as a naive young padawan with a lot to learn is fun, and Liam Neeson made an instant icon out of his master. As the Trade Federation tries to kill them, Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan draw their lightsabers and take on a legion of battle droids and even a couple of droidekas.
Attack Of The Clones: Jango Fett’s Seismic Charge
One of the most incredible sound effects created by sound designer Ben Burtt for the Star Wars saga is the seismic charge that Jango Fett uses against Obi-Wan in Attack of the Clones.
The seismic charge made a triumphant return in the second season of The Mandalorian as Boba Fett released one from Slave I to blow up a couple of TIE fighters.
Revenge Of The Sith: The Opening Space Battle
The Clone Wars are in full swing when Revenge of the Sith opens with a battle-hardened Obi-Wan and Anakin on a mission to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from the Separatists.
Not all of the CGI in Revenge of the Sith holds up today, but with its intricate details and dizzying virtual camera movements, the opening space battle is more spectacular than a lot of CG effects from the past couple of years.
The Phantom Menace: The Boonta Eve Classic
When Qui-Gon determines that Anakin is the prophesized “Chosen One,” he makes a bet with Watto that he can earn his freedom by winning the Boonta Eve Classic podrace. Anakin faces all kinds of technical difficulties throughout the race — including sabotage by his rival Sebulba — and still manages to narrowly emerge as the champion.
There’s no music for a lot of the sequence, but Ben Burtt creates an immersive kind of rhythm with the sounds of the podracers thundering through the canyons of Tatooine.
Attack Of The Clones: Yoda Arrives On The Battlefield With The Clone Army
When the Separatists bring out Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Padmé and feed them to a trio of monsters in front of the Geonosians, Mace Windu shows up with the full force of the Jedi Order to fight back.
Unfortunately, the Jedi find that they’re massively outnumbered by the Separatists’ factory-line army of droids. And then, at the last second, Yoda arrives with a few ships full of Clone Troopers to help them out.
Revenge Of The Sith: Battle Of The Heroes
The confrontation between Obi-Wan and Anakin in Revenge of the Sith is possibly the most emotionally charged lightsaber duel in Star Wars history. The fiery volcanic landscapes of Mustafar perfectly capture the explosive emotions at play, while the orchestrations of John Williams’ “Battle of the Heroes” are suitably epic.
When Obi-Wan takes the high ground and the duel comes to a head, some of the dialogue may be a little goofy, but Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen continue to play Obi-Wan and Anakin’s tragic dynamic beautifully.
The Phantom Menace: Duel Of The Fates
When Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan take on Darth Maul in the final act of The Phantom Menace, it’s one of the most crucial moments in the Star Wars saga, as it determines nine-year-old Anakin Skywalker’s fate — hence the name of John Williams’ iconic score, “Duel of the Fates”.
From the surprise reveal of Darth Maul’s second lightsaber blade to Qui-Gon’s heartbreaking death scene to Obi-Wan’s glorious bisection of the Sith Lord, the “Duel of the Fates” sequence is filled with unforgettable moments.
Attack Of The Clones: Young Yoda In Action
In the context of Yoda’s 900-year lifetime, he’s not much younger in the prequel trilogy than in the original trilogy. He’s at the height of his powers, so he’s mastered the ability to catch Force lightning, but he still has the dexterity to do all kinds of manic somersaulting in the midst of a lightsaber duel.
After Yoda maintained the role of a wise old mentor in The Phantom Menace, fans finally got to see him in action when he faced Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones.
Revenge Of The Sith: The Birth Of Darth Vader (Minus The “NOOOO!!!”)
After Palpatine recovers Anakin from the molten plains of Mustafar, Star Wars fans got to see the moment they’d all been waiting for — the birth of Darth Vader — and it didn’t disappoint. The fact that Anakin goes into the suit in agonizing pain is certainly fitting, and when the mask is lowered over his face and the distinctive breathing kicks in, the sound design is pitch-perfect.
The moment is ruined a little when Palpatine falsely tells Vader that he killed Padmé to erase his last shred of humanity and Vader cartoonishly cries out, “NOOOOO!!!”