The climax of a Star Wars film
The Skywalker Saga is defined by the number three. You have your three sets of three films that are loosely centered around a trio- and I would argue that the climax in each film is also a mini trilogy.
In (almost) every Star Wars film you have your three-part climax followed by a two-part resolution. The resolution is a 1) bit of dialogue that is followed by 2) silent reflection with swelling music that leads into the film’s exclamation point: the main fanfare. One could argue this is the films 1) falling action and 2) resolution.
But before we arrive at our conclusion we have what I’m going to call the three-part climax. I could be more pedantic and say it’s technically three stories running parallel through the “rising tension” and “climax” but I’m going to just stick with the term three-part climax for this structure I want to dive into.
The 3-Part Climax
Each film crescendos into a three-part harmony of action that can be defined as: land, space (or air), and saber. To demonstrate, we’ll use the climax of Return of the Jedi and not because it’s the greatest Star Wars film of all time but because it best showcases what I’m talking about.
In Return of the Jedi, about an hour-and-a-half in, the rebel fleet arrives at the second Death Star. Here is the moment in this movie where things really take off. The fleet has arrived for it’s triumph but as we’re told point-blank by our Admiral… it’s a trap. And so it begins. Everything has been leading to this and the pieces are as follows:
- Land: The ground troops (Solo and co.) have yet to succeed in their operation
- Space: The rebel fleet is fighting to stay alive as long as possible- desperately waiting for the ground troops to do their part.
- Saber: Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and the Emperor are locked together in a room having a battle of dialogue on the cusp of an epic Lightsaber battle.
Here we are. We’re ready for the climax of this movie (and this trilogy). We now swing back and forth between the three as things escalate and situations become more and more dire. The weaving of these galactic struggles is so enrapturing because of its display of humanity. Yes, I know they aren’t all humans. I’m speaking directly of the the spirit within our heroes. Just because an Ewok or Sullustan are not humans doesn’t mean they lack “humanity.”
The Humanity in each part
Land: We see this nitty-gritty struggle between living creatures. The fighting is so personal for our heroes. These Ewoks are using tactile, forest engineering to try and take down an invading force. It’s hand to hand at times. This war is being fought by creatures in brutal ways right in front of our eyes. Also, in this ground battle and others in the saga you have the land battle in two parts with the soldiers fighting each other and then heroes trying to something specific. Here, it’s Han, Leia, and the droids trying to get into the bunker while soldiers and Ewoks fight it out.
Space: Now we’re really putting the stars in Star Wars. We get a sense of cosmic scale that reminds us it’s just a battle for the whole galaxy. This technically takes place in a relatively small corner of the galaxy but the literal stars and scale convey that truly grand nature of the battle. Swarms of enemies fill the screen and titanic ships blast each other. Yet it still keeps things grounded in a humanity struggle. The dialogue is loud and urgent as scores of our heroes disintegrate. The fires engulf the cockpit as screams ring out over the coms. Close-ups and cockpit shots coupled Lando’s frantic commands as they attempt to just survive until they can do the next impossible task keeps our eye’s glued the struggle.
Saber: This is tense as ‘lil Annie would say. But we’re not done. Our lead hero is having his final showdown with his corrupted but not hopeless father and the most powerful person in the known universe. In this three-part climax, the most personal battle isn’t in space or on land- it’s the final lightsaber fight. That’s because the point isn’t the saber- it’s the one(ish) on one(ish) battle of good and evil. Specifically, in Return of the Jedi, it’s more than just lightsabers, it’s the confrontation of father and son. It’s fought through lightsabers but also words. Often with the saber, it’s more than a fight for life or death… it’s for the soul of our hero. Here, the climax isn’t just leading survival, it’s leading to our hero’s soul being intact (and bonus, we get back our fallen hero from the trilogy before).
All of this is happening at the same time and it’s beautiful.
The Rest of the Saga
Let’s look into each movie individually to see how this climax shows itself. Quick note, you’ll notice not all of these are stacked on top of each but the 3-part structure is there (sans one).
The Phantom Menace
Land: Gungans and droids fright it out as Padmé, our Queen, is striving to save her people in short-range shootouts.
Space: We watch the “birth” of the patriarchal hero that shapes the entire saga as he does spin moves with R2 to save the day.
Saber: Ultimate evil sends a proxy to take on Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon as the choir rings out in this temple like structure. It might not seem like a battle for a soul but it turns out it was… he just wasn’t there for it.
Attack of the Clones
Land: Jedi make a rare land battle appearance and clones attack as that pesky sand swirls.
Space: The ships don’t leave the atmosphere but the idea is the same as Confederate and Republic ships battle.
Saber: Obi-Wan gets nicked and Anakin become a little more machine than man. Yoda makes his ballet debut.
Revenge of the Sith
Here is where the key doesn’t quite fit. Once we get to this moment, land and space take place outside of the climax as the saber takes center stage. It makes sense, saber usually displays the most humanity and here our hero loses nearly all of his.
A New Hope
Land: The land is a small metal moon and not quite a battle but the trio fights it’s way off the Death Star as that old wizard disables the tractor beam
Saber: Kenobi and his old padawan face off in which a body is destroyed but a soul released.
Space: Luke shows signs of his father as he destroys the first Death Star.
The Empire Strikes Back
Land: Leia, Lando, and Chewie run around turning stormtrooper hearts into sparks.
Saber: The greatest moment in cinema history as father and son face off for the first time. The soul of hero is nearly shattered as his hand waves goodbye.
Space: Not really a battle but one ship trying its best get the f*** out there.
The Force Awakens
Land: Han is back on a giant space station with the new kids on the block.
Space: Though not in space, we echo back to A New Hope.
Saber: Finn, Rey, and Ben hack at each other as the world around them collapses.
The Last Jedi
Land: The white landscape bleeds as…
Space: … the “space” battle rages on. Here our ships and ground battle are greatly tied together though we do also have Chewie and Rey pull a Han Solo to help save the day at the last moment.
Saber: We could talk about Rey and Ben’s co-fight but more aligned with the climax is the most unique and subversive lightsaber fight in the entire saga as Luke and Ben wage a war of words and apparitions.
The Rise of Skywalker
Land: Here we have the most unique land fight where the land is just a freaking Star Destroyer.
Space: Welcome to the largest “space” battle in the Saga with more ships than you can count.
Saber: Benjamin Solo and Rey Palpatine finally destroy the ultimate evil thanks to literally of all of the Jedi giving Rey strength, and Ben sacrificing himself to keep Rey alive.
In conclusion
This type of structure appears throughout television and Rogue One also follows this structure in it’s own way. However, the lightsaber bit at the end is just a vicious lightsaber slaughter. Either way it’s rather dramatic.
And that’s just it. Star Wars is dramatic. The way it weaves its drama between the land, space, and saber is operatic. And when it stacks these on top of each it’s downright monumental. But as I run out of adjectives I’ll just say this: It’s all of these things while also being personal and full humanity. It’s a climax that appeals to the imagination and to the soul.
