Movie Soundtracks of the Month (February): Star Wars Saga

Last Updated on August 5, 2021

There are many things that make a movie what it is. It all starts with a story (according to what every How-To book on screenwriting tells us), there is the director and his crew, there are the actors, who bust their asses to bring a vision to life. Then comes the wonderful world of post-production. What is one result of that? The music. Soundtracks enhance the movie going experience. They can make us cry, they can pump us up, they can make us remember the 80’s. Whether it be a musical band or a composer, soundtracks help our favorite movies stay etched in our mind forever. In the honor of the apparently completely necessary move of re-releasing The Phantom Menace in the apparently completely necessary fad of 3D here is my testament to John Williams’ wonderous work for the saga of Star Wars throughout the years.

1. THE PHANTOM MENACE – DUEL OF THE FATES

If this piece was accompanying Jar Jar Binks on one of his hijinks would it be so loved. Every fiber of my being is telling me to say no, but Duel of the Fates brought the epic so much it is impossible to say so. This track has been described as capturing the concept of the Light Side and Dark Side of the Force at war with eachother, it’s been used throughout the prequel films to bang this idea into our ears literally and metaphorically. An abridged version was featured in Attack of the Clones on Anakin’s search for his mother, while apparently battling his inner demons on the way. It was again brought to the table in Episode III, in a duel that I had wanted to see since ROTJ in Sidious vs. Yoda. Long story short, if I decide to buy a ticket for the re-release of Phantom Menace…it will be to hear this in the theater again.Purchase the soundtrack here

2. ATTACK OF THE CLONES: TUSKEN CAMP & HOMESTEAD

As a matter of opinion, Attack of the Clones was shitty love story with better scenes that served as a break from the cringe inducing romantic dialogue sprinkled throughout. One of those scenes was Anakin’s sand people massacre and his breakdown that followed. The first time I saw AOTC I have to say the first glimpse into who Anakin was going to become shoved me in to fanboy status. The turn the score took the moment his rescue mission fails sent chills up the spine. Well done, you did your best acting when you looked pissed Hayden.Purchase the soundtrack here

3. REVENGE OF THE SITH: ANAKIN’S BETRAYAL

Revenge of the Sith is without a doubt in my mind the best of the prequel films and the only one on par with the original trilogy. The more obvious choice to go for within this film may be the Battle of the Heroes that kept the emotional duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan company, but to me the piece that was playing during Order 66 hit every emotional chord I had in my body. The goings on of this sequence and this particular score was heartbreaking and one of the most powerful scores I’ve ever heard, it’s earned a place in my heart and on my Ipod forever. Purchase the soundtrack here

4. A NEW HOPE: BINARY SUNSET

How do I describe this track? To me it has stayed the perfect “shit’s about to go down” piece since it’s inception. I don’t know if I believe in the idea of destiny, but damn if I don’t get all emotional when the idea of a young man falling into his to save the universe and redeem his father is hinted at in the form of music as amazing as that. The shot of young Luke looking out on the horizon to the hope of a grander future has become iconic, for good reason. See what we started by loving these movies so much? Purchase the soundtrack here

5. EMPIRE STRIKES BACK: HAN SOLO & PRINCESS LEIA LOVE THEME

He knows Leia, he knows. If only the romance between Anakin and Padme was as enthralling as the romance between the princess and the scoundrel they could have gotten somewhere with AOTC. From the witty banter, to the kiss full of unexpressed love that was interrupted by that c*ck block C-3PO, to the improvised line heard round the world. What made this romance so appealing was the strength of both characters, so stubborn both of them. But when you feel it you feel it. In the DVD commentary Carrie Fisher stated how much Harrison Ford hated on screen kissing, could have fooled me. Purchase the soundtrack here

6. RETURN OF THE JEDI: LUKE VS. VADER

Your father always has a way of knowing how to push your buttons, and let’s be honest sometimes it leads to big daddy’s hand getting chopped off. A hand for a hand Vader. Seeing Luke finally losing control and charging his father with this track softly invading our ears was always nothing short of perfection to me. I remember first seeing the film thinking to myself for a split second that the Emperor was going to get what he wanted, that is power folks. It should also serve as a reminder for Mr. Lucas that a soundtrack like this conveys all the emotions necessary. A “nooooooooo” is not always called for George. For the next DVD re-release let the magic speak for itself. Purchase the soundtrack here