National Star Wars Day

I've seen Star Wars Phantom of the Menace more times then most of the movies I've seen (some that I've seen more: Coach Carter, Wedding Crashers, Harold and Kumar 1, and Training Day). In honor of May 4th, aka Star Wars day, aka an excuse for closet Star Wars fans to post pic stitch compilations on Instagram without feeling nerdy, I'm going to make a Star Wars post. Before I start, I want to go over a few ground rules:

• I was born in 1992 - so YES, I do like all 6 Star Wars films 
• I saw the films in the following order - 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3
• My personal favorites are Phantom of the Menace and Return of the Jedi
• Having a "least favorite" would be a sin
• I've seen all 6 enough to know everything from the movies, but I know virtually nothing else 

My fundamental understanding of the Star Wars Universe - The Top 10 List 

1. Understanding the force is the strongest known ability in the galaxy
2. Jar Jar Binks is the most unexplainable character in the galaxy
3. Anakin Skywalker IS Darth Vader
4. The coolest character ever, Darth Maul, is dead - BUT IS HE? 
5. Yoda's word is gospel
6. To knowledge, the Jedi are nearly extinct by the time Luke Skywalker is born
7. Stormtroopers are actually enslaved clone troopers of the Old Republic
8. Chancellor Palpatine - Emperor Palpatine - Darth Sidious = same guy
9. C-3PO, R2D2, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett have been around since before the Clone Wars
10. Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala are the parents of twins Luke & Le
11. Bonus: HAN SHOT FIRST! 

Certainly, some major parts were left out of that list, but to me those are the ten most important things one needs to know when they watch the Star Wars series.

In honor of Star Wars Day - "May the fourth be with you" - I decided to do what I do best, make lists. So without further ado here we go:

My Personal Favorite Characters - Top 15 (click on each character for my favorite moment)

1. Obi Wan Kenobi 
2. Darth Vader
3. Darth Maul
4. Mace Windu
5. Qui Gon Jinn
6. Padme Amidala
7. Princess Leia
8. Luke Skywalker
9. Han Solo
10. Yoda
11. Darth Sidius
12. Lando Calrissian
13. Boba Fett
14. Jabba the Hutt
15. Count Dooku

Best Lightsabers - Top 5

#5 Obi Wan Kenobi (old) - blue (1st lightsaber shown)

This one is fairly self explanatory as it was the first real lightsaber we had ever seen. While Ben Kenobi ultimately falls to Darth Vader in the Death Star, his sacrifice ultimately proves to be a major reason Luke is able to restore balance to the galaxy.

#4 Yoda - small green

In the original trilogy, we never see Yoda fight. When he first draws his small green lightsaber in Attack of the Clones everyone's heart skipped a beat, finally. Almost as cool as his green lightsaber were his arial spinning attack moves.

#3 Mace Windu - purple

Legend goes that Samuel Jackson requested the purple lightsaber when he signed on to work the movie because he wanted to stand out in combat. We're sure glad he did.

#2 Luke Skywalker - green

When Luke Skywalker first dawned his new green lightsaber many fans clamored for his traditional blue one. Not me. In fact when Luke broke out the green lightsaber to start Return of the Jedi, it signaled a new era, and a new Luke Skywalker.

#1 Darth Maul - double-sided red 

Was there any doubt? What's better than any lightsaber? Two lightsabers. 

Best non-Jedi Characters - Top 6

#6 Lando Calrissian

Kind of gets the gang in trouble, and spends half of Return of the Jedi fighting Boba Fett trying not to get eaten by the snake in the ground, but all in all, a pretty swell guy.

#5 R2D2

So cool partly because he's in all six movies. Saves Anakin and the Queen from certain death when their ship was being attacked in Phantom of the Menace. He also shuts down the Death Star's defense shield in Return of the Jedi.

#4 Princess Leia Skywalker

Eludes swag, strength, and courage throughout the original trilogy. Every original nerd's fantasy.

#3 Chewbacca

Pretty awesome for someone who doesn't talk huh?

#2 Boba Fett

Boba Fett is the only bad guy on this list. While he spends the greater part of his life as a bounty hunter, it is shown that Boba Fett isn't fully a bad guy when he was young. His life of work against Jedi Knights came from witnessing Mace Windu decapitate his father during an early battle in the Clone Wars.

#1 Han Solo (duh)

There's no words, just so much swag. 

Best Star Wars Quotes - Top 20

• "Into the garbage chute, flyboy!" 
• "That's no moon, it's a space station" 
• "I'm Luke Skywalker, I'm here to rescue you" 
• "What a piece of junk"
• "Help me Obi Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope"
• "Use the force Luke"
• "I find your lack of faith disturbing"
• "I love you." "I know"
• "Who is more foolish? The fool, or the fool that follows him?" 
• Han Solo: "Uh, everything's under control. Situation normal." Stormtrooper: "What happened?" Han Solo: "Uhh, we had a slight weapons malfunction, but uh, everything's perfectly all right now, we're fine, we're all fine here now, thank you...How are you?" 
• "You're all clear kid! Now let's blow this thing and go home!"
• "That's no moon"
• "Never tell me the odds!"
• "I'm not afraid"
• "That...is why you fail"
• "Sorry about the mess"
• "R2D2, you know better than to trust a strange computer!"
• "Aren't you a little short for a stormtrooper?"
• "I'll never join you"
• "May the force be with you"

That's about as much Star Wars as I can handle for now, but I anticipate writing more on these phenomenal films in the future.