The Millennium Falcon has a well cataloged past created AFTER the original three films. Those 'accounts' don't interest me, so spare me the diatribe.
The 'Falcon' as seen in the original '3' is what I respect.
This is a ship that has become more than a vehicle, but rather a 'character' in a couple of the greatest movie's ever made.
First on Tantoween in SW #4 , we hear of a ship that is something of an avionic 'hero'. She's the ship that can do ".5 past light speed."
She can "outrun Imperial Star cruiser's... the BIG Corilian ships!"
Why she even made the "Kessel Run in less than 12 Parsecs!"
She's fast! In fact she's the "fastest hunk a' junk in the galaxy!"-Lando Carlrissian.
Fast AND maneuverable! If she can't outrun you, she certainly CAN out-maneuver you!
After all, a lot of "special modifications" have been made to the 'Falcon' by it's owner which make's her "full of surprises"!
When you're being pursued by Imperial Tie -Fighter's in an asteroid field it's good to be able to maneuver between these floating boulder's of death in a ship that's narrow enough to safely pass between them!
And if the Imperial Fleet is on your tail , and your fresh out of light speed, no worries if your flying in the 'Falcon'!
She's very stealthy . You can easily hide her in a giant space worm's throat , or use docking clamps to "tick" onto a much larger ship , and then "float away with the rest of the garbage" as it's released!
Now the 'Falcon' is unassuming, which is an advantage!
Reason?
Luke's pressing down the final leg of the trench in 'New Hope'. Vader is about to get a lock on him, but suddenly the Millennium Falcon appears on the Death Star's scanners! Grand Moff Tarkin is informed, but he doesn't worry- it's just an "piece of junk"(Luke's quote), so no immediate threat to the station.
He commands it be ignored in his "Moment of Triumph"!
However the 'Falcon' has a "few trick's up it's sleeve", and Han deliverer's the critical shot's destroying Vader's wing men and sending HIM -SITH LORD-tumbling out of control ...and out of Luke's WAY!
If ever a ship was a hero, she was then!
And she played the hero once more on Hoth, for without the Millennium Falcon Princess Leia would have had no escape and surely would have been captured by Vader.
Again , 'The Falcon' is instrumental in saving the only hope the galaxy has to defeating the 'dark side' of the 'force' by rescuing Luke while dangling from beneath Cloud City with one hand!
And who could EVER forget one of her most thrilling achievement's : destroying the yet complete , but "fully armed and operational" NEW Death Star!
This time she's piloted by her former owner Lando, who lost her to Han in a card game "fair and square" , but was NOW Squarely BACK in the Falcon's cockpit and hoping she 'saves his life at least ONE MORE time'!
The Falcon navigated , in classic form , past a system of tangled Space Station 'guts' to the reactor core being pursued by Imperial fighter's! With one crucial chance to target the main reactor, he fires a a series of missile's and head's for the exhaust port hoping the Falcon can outrun the fire storm!
She does! That's just how the Falcon rolls!
She "hold's together!"
So I ask you, what ship in cinema has had such a colorful and HEROIC history as the esteemed Millennium Falcon?
If you're struggling with an answer, I'll offer you this quote from Han Solo as help:
"Good luck. You're gonna need it"!
Headlopper
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