You can expect the appearance of certain tried and true events in any Star Wars film, so much so that they feature into drinking games based on the series.  Here are a few of the more obvious ones:

• Episode I
• Qui Gon attempts to cut through doors on the Trade Federation battleship
• .Episode II
• Young padawans engage in saber practice
• Episode III
• Anakin cuts hole in top of elevator
• Episode IV
• Ben shows lightsaber to Luke
• Ben uses lightsaber on cantina patron
• Luke practices with it on the Falcon
• Episode V
• Luke uses lightsaber to cut himself from in cave
• Then uses lightsaber on Wampa
• Han cuts open tauntaun
• Episode VI
• Luke uses lightsaber to cut through Boba Fett's trap line

• Episode I
• Hundreds of battle droids lose their heads and/or limbs as they are lightsabered and otherwise ripped to pieces.
• Darth Maul loses his lower limbs.
• Episode II
• Assassin Zam Wessel loses an arm to Obi-wan.
• Tuskin Raiders lose their heads to Anakin.
• Scores of Geonosian insect people are sliced and diced by Anakin.
• C-3PO's body and head are separated.
• Anakin loses an arm to Count Dooku.
• Episode III
• Count Dooku loses a couple hands (and head) to Anakin.
• Loads more droids lose their heads and/or limbs to Obi-wan and Anakin.
• General Grievous loses an arm, then another to Obi-wan.
• Mace Windu loses his right hand to Anakin.
• Anakin loses his remaining limbs to Obi-Wan.
• Several clones lose their heads to Yoda.
• Episode IV
• C-3PO falls down and loses a leg.
• Walrus Man loses an arm to Ben Kenobi.
• Han remarks that "droids don't pull people's arms out of their socket when they lose. Wookies are known to do that."
• Episode V
• Luke cuts off the Wampa's arm.
• C-3PO is blown (literally) limb from limb.
• Luke loses an arm to Vader.
• Episode VI
• Luke is shot in the hand on the sail barge.
• Leia is shot in the arm on at the shield bunker.
• Luke cuts off Vader's hand.

• Episode I
• Anakin's friends on Tatooine
• Aliens in the stands at the Pod Race
• Some more Jawas
• Even Piel (Jedi Council guy who looks like a white Yoda)
• .Episode II
• Jawas (as usual)
• Episode III
• [Everyone's CG now.  The little people should sue.]
• Episode IV
• Jawas
• Cantina alien(s)
• Episode V
• Ugnaughts
• Episode VI
• Ewoks

• Episode I
• No one is dead yet, so this film doesn't count.
• Episode II
• Albeit briefly, Qui Gon's voice is heard yelling to Anakin.
• Episode III
• Qui Gon's ghost is mentioned, though not seen. (Yoda is "talking" with him in one scene.)
• Episode IV
• Obi-wan to Luke: "Use the Force."
• Episode V
• Obi-wan's corporeal form appears to tell Luke to go to Dagobah.
• Obi-wan's disembodied voice obliquely reveals Yoda's identity.
• Obi-wan's corporeal form appears and confers with Luke.
• Episode VI
• Obi-wan's corporeal form makes another unnecessary appearance to reveal Leia's relation to Luke.
• Yoda, Anakin, and Obi-wan appear in corporeal form outside the celebration.

• Episode I
• Good guys: R2-D2 and assorted droids
• Bad guys: Sebulba, Watto, and Jabba
• Episode II
• Good guys: R2-D2
• Bad guys: Poggle the Lesser (leader of the Geonosian bug people), Jango Fett
• Episode III
• Good guys: R2-D2, Wookies, and Padme's medical droids
• Bad guys: ??? (No subtitles in this movie.)
• Episode IV
• Good guys: R2-D2, Chewbacca, and various other droids
• Bad guys: Greedo (and Walrus Man gets Dr. Evian as a translator)
• Episode V
• Good guys: R2-D2, Chewbacca, and Ugnaughts
• Bad guys: ??? (No subtitles in this movie.)
• Episode VI
• Good guys: R2-D2, Chewbacca, Boush (Princess Leia in disguise), Nien Nunb, and Ewoks
• Bad guys: Jabba, Bib Fortuna, and droid at door of Jabba's palace

• Episode I
• While repairing the hyperdrive for the Queen's ship.
• Episode II
• ??? (Suddenly Artoo can fly... huh?)
• Episode III
• Skidded across General Grievous' cruiser into a pile of destroyed battle droids.
• Runs into wall
• Kicked by super battle droids
• Episode IV
• By Jawas who zap him.
• Following the assault on the Death Star.
• Episode V
• Is eaten and spit out by a swamp creature.
• Episode VI
• By the shield generator bunker's door console.

• Episode I
• Aurra Sing
• .Episode II
• Jango Fett and Zam Wesell
• Episode III
• Vader acts as one for Palpatine
• Episode IV
• Greedo
• Episode V
• Boba Fett, Bossk, IG-88, Dengar, Zuckus, and 4-LOM
• Episode VI
• Boushh/Princess Leia

• Episode I
• Qui Gon trained Obi-wan.
• Episode II
• Yoda trained Dooku.
• Dooku trained Qui Gon.
• Episode III
• Vader is Anakin.
• Episode IV
• Obi-wan trained Vader.
• Episode V
• Vader is Luke's father.
• Episode VI
• Leia is Luke's sister.

 
So, in summary...
Yoda trained Dooku, Dooku trained Qui Gon, Qui Gon trained Obi-wan, Obi-wan trained Anakin, Anakin is Vader, Vader is Luke's father, and Luke is Leia's brother.

• Episode I
• Obi wan & Qui Gon vs. Darth Maul
• .Episode II
• Obi wan & Anakin vs. Count Dooku vs. Yoda
• Episode III
• Obi wan vs. Anakin and Emperor Palpatine vs. Yoda
• Episode IV
• Obi wan vs. Darth Vader
• Episode V
• Luke vs. Darth Vader
• Episode VI
• Luke vs. Darth Vader (again)

• Episode I
• Planetside: Gungans vs. battle droids on Naboo
• Space: Naboo starfighters vs. Trade Federation vulture droids
• .Episode II
• Planetside: Jedi vs. Geonosians vs. Clone troopers vs. Battle droids
• Space: Asteroid field chase with Jango and Obi-wan
• Episode III
• Planetside: Clone wars on multiple planets
• Space: Battle above Coruscant
• Episode IV
• Planetside: [No budget for this.  Wait for a sequel.]
• Space: X-Wings vs. TIE fighters while attacking the Death Star
• Episode V
• Planetside: Rebel troops vs. AT-ATs on Hoth
• Space: Asteroid field chase of the Falcon
• Episode VI
• Planetside: Ewoks vs. stormtroopers
• Space: Rebels attack Death Star (again)

• Episode I
• Diplomatic ship carrying Obi-wan and Qui Gon to the Trade Federation battleships above Naboo.
• Episode II
• Padme's ship and several smaller fighters deliver her to Coruscant.
• Episode III
• Republic star destroyer with Obi-wan and Anakin's fighters enter the fray above Coruscant.
• Episode IV
• Leia's blockade runner is chased by an Imperial star destroyer.
• Episode V
• Vader's star destroyer passes near Hoth, releasing probe droids.
• Episode VI
• Vader's shuttle arrives at the new Death Star.

• Episode I
• Gungans and humans celebrate victory on Naboo with a parade.  The characters pose on the stage.
• Episode II
• Padme and Anakin secretly marry and we see a shot paralleling the closing of Empire with the droids joining the principals in the frame.
• Episode III
• Uncle Ben and Aunt Beru hold baby Luke and look out toward the Tatooine sunset(s).
• Episode IV
• Luke, Han, and Chewie are awarded medals at a celebration.  The closing shot is mirrored in Phantom Menace where all (droids included) stand on stage and face the crowd and movie audience.
• Episode V
• Luke, Leia, and the droids watch as the Falcon leaves to rescue Han.
• Episode VI
• The Rebels celebrate at the Ewok village as Luke looks out at the Jedi spirits.

• Episode I
• Jedi vs. Sith battle among the platforms inside the Theed complex.
• ...where Obi-wan ends the battle hanging just inside pit
• Episode II
• Obi-wan hangs onto the assassin droid above Coruscant.
• Artoo and Threepio in the droid factory.
• Episode III
• Anakin in the elevator shaft (later Anakin, Obi-wan, and Palatine.)
• Obi-wan during his battle with General Grievous on Utapau.
• Mace while battling the soon-to-be Emperor in his office on Coruscant.
• Yoda over the Senate floor during his battle with the Emperor
• Episode IV
• Luke and Leia are forced to swing across a chasm on the Death Star to evade stormtroopers.
• Obi-wan deactivates the tractor beam.
• Episode V
• Luke hangs above the apparently bottomless pit at the core of Cloud City ("I am your father")...
• ...then falls down the shaft and hangs underneath Cloud City itself until being rescued by the Falcon.
• Episode VI
• Luke on the skiff above the Sarlacc Pit...
• ...as well as Han, Chewie, and Lando later in the battle that follows.
• ...and the sequence concludes with Luke and Leia reprising the swing across to the skiff.
• The Emperor before being tossed down a shaft by Vader.

• Episode I
• Annakin and his mother are held by Watto.
• Queen is captured by Trade Federation.
• .Episode II
• Anakin's mom is abducted by sand people.
• Obi-wan, Anakin, and Padme are captured by Geonosians.
• Episode III
• General Grevous kidnaps Palpatine...
• then captures Anakin and Obi wan.
• and also captures Shak Tii (deleted scene)
• Episode IV
• Princess Leia is captured by Vader.
• R2 and 3PO are captured by jawas.
• Episode V
• Han, Chewie, Leia, and 3PO are captured by Vader on Bespin.
• Episode VI
• Han is frozen and kept by Jabba.
• Princess Leia is captured by Jabba.
• Chewie too.
• And the droids.
• Then Luke too.
• The Ewoks capture all the good guys.
• Luke allows himself to be captured by Vader.
• Han and Leia are captured by Imperials.

• Episode I
• The queen pretends to be one of her handmaidens (and vice versa).
• Qui Gon pretends not to be a Jedi (also cheats with dice).
• .Episode II
• Padme arrives on Coruscant disguised as a pilot escorting her decoy.
• Anakin and Padme disguise themselves as peasants to go to Naboo.
• Zam Wesell is a shape-shifter who attempts to sneak up on Anakin and Obi-wan.
• Episode III
• Papatine finally stops pretending he's a good guy.
• Episode IV
• Leia pretends to be on a "diplomatic mission."
• Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru pretend not to know Obi-wan.
• Luke and Han pretend to be stormtroopers transporting a prisoner (Chewie).
• Episode V
• Lando pretends the Empire hasn't taken control of Cloud City.
• Yoda pretends to be a muppet  (Well, he is, of course, but you know what I mean).
• Episode VI
• R2 pretends to be Jabba's servant (3PO doesn't know any better).
• Leia disguises herself as Boush the bounty hunter.
• Chewie pretends to be a prisoner.
• Luke pretends to be unarmed.

• Episode I
• Qui Gon, Obi-wan, and Jar Jar repeatedly eaten in their submarine by aquatic monsters while in the planet's core.
• Episode II
• Geonosian eaten by Reek in the arena.
• Episode III
• ??? (No one was very hungry, apparently.)
• Episode IV
• Luke by the dianoga (trash compactor).
• Episode V
• The Falcon by a space slug.
• Artoo by something in the Dagobah swamp.
• Episode VI
• Gamorean Guard by the Rancor.
• Boba Fett and friends by the Sarlacc Pit.

• Episode I
• Qui Gon brings Anakin to his old master Yoda.
• .Episode II
• Yoda meets his old apprentice Count Dooku.
• Obi wan visits his old buddy Dexter Jetster.
• Episode III
• ???
• Episode IV
• Obi wan meets his old apprentice Darth Vader.
• Episode V
• Han visits his old buddy Lando.
• Episode VI
Han finds himself captured by his old boss Jabba.

• Episode I
• Qui Gon tries unsuccessfully to influence Watto.
• Episode II
• Obi-wan tells a "death stick" dealer to go home and rethink his life.
• Episode III
• Obi-wan uses force influence to accquire lizard on Utapau for transportantion (cut scene)
• Episode IV
• Obi-wan to stormtroopers: "These aren't the droids you're looking for."
• Episode V
• ???
• Episode VI
• Luke controls several guards and Bib Fortuna, Jabba's right-hand man.

• Episode I
• Anakin: Ahhhh.... it wasn't my fault really... Sebulba flashed me with his vent ports.  I actually saved the Pod... mostly.
• Episode II
• Padme: Mentors have a way of seeing more of our faults than we would like.
• Episode III
• Obi-wan: Oh, so all of a sudden it's my fault.
• Episode IV
• Threepio: That malfunctioning little twerp.  This is all his fault! He tricked me into going this way, but he'll do no better.
• Threepio: It wasn't my fault, sir.  Please don't deactivate me.  I told him not to go, but he's faulty, malfunctioning; kept babbling on about his mission.
• Threepio: Sir, would it help if you told him it was my fault.
• Threepio: I would much rather have gone with Master Luke than stay here with you.  I don't know what all the trouble is about, but I'm sure it must be your fault.
• Threepio: Listen to them!  They're dying, Artoo! Curse my metal body!  I wasn't fast enough.  It's all my fault!  My poor master!
• Threepio: Help! I think I'm melting!  (to Artoo) This is all your fault.
• Episode V
• Han: The transfer circuits are working. It's not my fault!
• Leia: No light-speed?  Han: It's not my fault.
• Lando: They told me they fixed it.  I trusted them to fix it.  It's not my fault!
• Episode VI
• Han: Look, Jabba, I was just on my way to pay you back, but I got a little side-tracked.  It's not my fault.
• Obi-wan: I don't blame you for being angry. If I was wrong in what I did, it certainly wouldn't have been for the first time.  You see, what happened to your father was my fault.

• Episode I
• Obi-wan to Qui Gon in the opening scene while waiting for Trade Federation representatives.
• Episode II
• Obi-wan while being carried by the assassin droid.
• Anakin in the arena.
• Episode III
• Obi-wan while crash landing into the hanger bay of General Grevous' cruiser.
• One of the battle droids aboard General Grevous' cruiser.
• Episode IV
• Luke while approaching the Death Star aboard the Millennium Falcon
• Han while in the trash compactor.
• Episode V
• Leia remarks to Han while inside the giant space slug.
• Episode VI
• C-3PO to R2 before entering Jabba's palace.
• Han while standing on the skiff above the Sarlacc Pit.

• Episode I
• Sio Bibble: Please, Your Highness, reconsider. Our only hope is for the Senate to side with us... Senator Palpatine will need your help.
• Episode II
• ??? This film breaks with several traditions.
• Episode III
• Palpatine: We can only hope the Council didn't make a mistake.
• Palpatine: We can only hope that Master Kenobi is up to the challenge.
• Anakin: I don't know . . . Many Jedi have been killed. We can only hope that he's remained loyal to the Chancellor.
• Episode IV
• Leia: Help me, Obi-Wan Kenobi. You're my only hope.
• Leia: You must use the information in this R2 unit to plan the attack. It is our only hope.
• Episode V
• Threepio: Your Highness, we must take this last transport. It's our only hope.
• Episode VI
• Obi-wan: Then the Emperor has already won. You were our only hope.
• Luke: If I don't make it back, you're the only hope for the Alliance.

 

Episode I Naboo Tatooine Coruscant Episode II Coruscant Tatooine Naboo Kamino Geonosis Episode III Coruscant Utapau Kashyyyk Mustafar Pollis Massa Naboo Alderan Tatooine (Shown briefly: Mygeeto, Felucia, Cato Xeimoidia, and Saleucami)

Episode IV Tatooine Death Star Yavin Episode V Hoth Dagobah Bespin Episode VI Tatooine Death Star II Endor (Shown briefly: Coruscant, Naboo, and Bespin)

• Episode I
• Darth Sidious and Darth Maul before the Nemodians.
• Senator Palpatine before the Queen's audience.
• Sio Bibble to Padme and others on her ship.
• Episode II
• Obi-wan projects to Mace and Yoda.
• Episode III
• Darth Sidious (repeatedly)
• Absent members of Jedi counsil (several scenes)
• Anakin (and later as Darth Vader) in several scenes
• Obi-wan (repeatedly as well)
• Episode IV
• Leia: "Help me Obi-wan, you're our only hope."
• Episode V
• Vader to the AT-AT commander.
• The Emperor appears to Vader.
• Various Imperial officers communicate with Vader.
• Episode VI
• Luke is projected by Artoo before Jabba's throne.
• The Death Star attack scenario by Mon Mothma.

• Episode I
• Darth Maul has a double bladed saber.
• Three-way battle.
• Episode II
• Anakin uses two sabers at the same time.
• Mace has a purple saber (new color).
• Yoda does battle.
• Episode III
• General Grievous with four sabers
• The Emperor battles Mace, then (later) Yoda.
• Episode IV
• Ben and Vader battle.
• Episode V
• Luke and Vader battle (younger adversary; the hero of the series).
• Episode VI
• Luke gets a green saber (new color).

• Episode I
• Battle Droids
• Episode II
• Super Battle Droids
• Clone Troopers
• Episode III
• Clone Troopers (new costumes)
• Clone Pilots
• Clone Biker Scouts
• Clone AT-TE Driver
• Clone Turbo Tank Gunner
• Clone Commander
• etc. (they spared no expense!)
• Episode IV
• Storm Troopers
• TIE Fighter Pilots
• Episode V
• Snow Troopers
• AT-AT drivers
• Episode VI
• Biker Scouts

• Episode I
• Queen and troops climb up to the palace.
• Episode II
• Jango launches cable durin fight with Obi wan on Kamino platform.
• Episode III
• Obi wan and Anakin use cables in the elevator shaft.
• Gen. Grevous launches cable to pull himself back to the command ship from outer space.
• Clone troops use cables to decend into Utapau sinkholes.
• Episode IV
• Luke and Leia swing across Death Star chasm on grappling hook.
• Episode V
• Tow cables bring down AT-ATs.
• Luke ascends to attack AT-AT with lightsaber, grenade combo.
• Episode VI
• Boba Fett launches snare cable to capture Luke on the skiff (which totally doesn't work).
• Luke and Leia swing across from Jabba's sail barge to their skiff.

• Episode I
• Droid Fighters
• Darth Maul's Interceptor
• Episode II
• ???
• Episode III
• Jedi Starfighters (with fold-out wings)
• Tri-fighters
• Episode IV
• Original TIE Fighter
• Darth Vader's TIE Fighter
• Episode V
• TIE Bomber
• Episode VI
• TIE Interceptor

For what might arguably be the ultimate guy's movie series (James Bond 007 notwithstanding), the Star Wars saga has steadily established a pattern of increasing the number of climaxes through each successive movie.

Star Wars = 1
1) Luke and the Rebels attack the Death Star.

Empire Strikes Back = 2
1) Luke battles Vader.
2) Leia, Chewie, Lando, and the droids try to save Han, then escape from Cloud City.

Return of the Jedi = 3
1) Luke battles Vader (again).
2) Rebel fleet attacks the second Death Star.
3) Han, Leia, Chewie, and the droids (and, yes, the Ewoks) try to sabotage the shield generator.

Phantom Menace = 4
1) Qui Gon and Obi-wan battle Darth Maul.
2) Anakin and the Naboo fighters attack the Trade Federation battleships.
3) Gungans and battle droids re-enact Braveheart (or, more accurately, Spartacus).
4) The Queen and her guards infiltrate the palace.

Attack of the Clones = 5
Jedi commanding Clones to attack Battle Droids built by Geonosian bugs lead by Separatists controlled by the apprentice of the future Emperor.  Seriously, did anyone follow all this?

Revenge of the Sith = 4 (these are more wrap-ups than climaxes)
Star Destroyer: Vader and Palpatine survey the Death Star's construction
Naboo: Padme's funeral
Alderan: Leia is delivered by Bail Organa
Tatooine: Luke is delivered by Obi-wan

You know why the Batman series worked as long as it did?  They had a formula to maintain the novelty:
N = M + 1, where N is the number of characters and M is the movie in the series.

Batman = 1st movie = 2 characters:

1) Batman
2) The Joker

Batman Returns  = 2nd movie = 3 characters:

1) Bats
2) Cats
3) The Penguin

Batman Forever  = 3rd movie = 4 characters:

1) Bats
2) Robin
3) The Riddler
4) Two-Face

Batman and Robin  = 4th movie = 5 characters

1) Bats
2) Robin
3) Batgirl
4) Mr. Freeze
5) Poison Ivy

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