As a devoted fan of the cinematic universe, I must say that James Earl Jones has truly left an indelible mark on the silver screen with his iconic voice roles. From the ominous tones of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” to the regal and wise Mufasa in “The Lion King,” his performances are as timeless as they are captivating.
Today, we bid farewell to James Earl Jones, who sadly passed away at the age of 93 in New York State. If you’d like to rewatch some of his finest performances, they won’t be hard to find; his top five films as rated by IMDb can all be streamed on Disney+.
As a dedicated fan, I can’t help but rejoice over the fact that Disney now owns Lucasfilm, the studio behind the iconic “Star Wars” trilogy, which includes my favorite films featuring the legendary Harrison Ford. Not only did Disney produce the animated movie where he delivered an unforgettable performance, but they also happen to be the streaming platform where his most famous films reside.
No James Earl Jones movie marathon would be complete without these five picks, though … and they’re all on the same streamer. Here are Jones’ five best movies that you can watch on Disney+.
Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back
Amongst “Star Wars” enthusiasts, there’s often heated debate that “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back,” the middle movie in the original trilogy, is the finest film in the entire saga. While we can save the reasoning for another discussion, it’s undeniably a remarkable installment and boasts James Earl Jones’ most memorable portrayal as the villainous Darth Vader, with his voice performances, while David Prowse handles the physical acting.
In the role of the Imperial Fleet’s ruthless commander, Darth Vader is persistently pursuing the Rebel Alliance, a faction that encompasses the gallant Luke Skywalker (played by Mark Hamill). As planned, he lures key members such as Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher) to Cloud City under false pretenses, with Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) acting as Vader’s hired enforcer. When they surrender, Luke arrives to save his friends but is tricked into sealing Han in carbonite before confronting Vader. Although Lando and Leia manage their escape, Luke engages Darth Vader in a fierce battle.
You’re likely aware of this film, as it famously discloses that Vader is Luke’s father (a spoiler from years past). This scene, performed by Jones, remains one of the most memorable and influential in the “Star Wars” series. Given its profound impact, it’s not surprising that it holds his highest rating among movies, and it’s currently available on Disney+.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith
To clarify, it’s important to note that James Earl Jones, who famously voices Darth Vader, doesn’t have a significant role in the entire “Star Wars” prequel trilogy. In “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”, he makes an appearance, but it’s extremely brief and comes towards the very end. Throughout the three films, Anakin Skywalker, who later becomes Darth Vader, is portrayed by Hayden Christensen, and this actor has also reprised his role in the Disney+ original shows “Ahsoka” and “Obi-Wan Kenobi”.
In the movie “Revenge of the Sith,” although David Prowse (Jones) doesn’t receive screen credit, he delivers the famous Darth Vader voice after Anakin Skywalker fully embraces the Dark Side following his wife Padmé Amidala’s (portrayed by Natalie Portman) sorrowful death during childbirth. Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) deceptively claims that Anakin was responsible for Padmé’s death, which pushes him further away from the Jedi Order. Even though Jones’ voice is only heard briefly after Anakin puts on the mask, it’s an awe-inspiring scene, and you can watch this iconic moment on Disney+.
Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope
The original “Star Wars” film, later named “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope,” remains one of the most cherished science fiction movies ever made, largely due to James Earl Jones’ iconic portrayal of Darth Vader. In this movie, we are introduced to Darth Vader for the first time as he strides through the corridors of the Death Star, accompanied by John Williams’ epic “Imperial March.” This encounter takes place before Darth Vader meets Princess Leia Organa, a secret Rebel leader who has been captured by Vader’s troops. From this initial meeting, we understand immediately that Vader is a formidable and terrifying character; he demonstrates his power by Force-choking one of his subordinates and ordering the annihilation of Alderaan, Leia’s home planet, causing her to witness the deaths of everyone she cares about.
Ultimately, we meet Luke Skywalker as he sets out to save Leia — informed of her captivity by her faithful droid R2-D2 and his buddy C-3PO — aided by the Jedi master Obi-Wan Kenobi (the late Alec Guinness), who eventually sacrifices himself to protect Luke by fighting Vader himself. We learn about Vader’s nuances later — as well as the fact that, well, he’s Luke and Leia’s dad — so throughout “A New Hope,” he just looks totally evil … and Jones’ vocal performance sells it. Again, the movie’s ready for you on Disney+.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi
In the climactic third movie of the original “Star Wars” series, titled “Episode VI – Return of the Jedi,” Darth Vader is ultimately vanquished. This conclusion, though expected, carries an unexpected emotional weight due to James Earl Jones’ exceptional vocal performance. Through the guidance of Yoda and the spirit of Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke comes to understand that Vader is his father. He hopes that he can help his father return to the ways of the Jedi and the Rebel Alliance. However, Vader remains steadfast in his allegiance to the dark side, ultimately leading to his own demise.
In the epic battle of Star Wars, Emperor Palpatine confronts Luke Skywalker when he’s apprehended by the Empire and taken to the Death Star. As Luke engages the Emperor using the Jedi skills taught by Yoda, Darth Vader can’t resist intervening. When Palpatine employs Force lightning to torment Luke, Vader ends up killing him, only to expire himself in front of his son. This emotional moment where the film’s principal antagonist perishes is a powerful demonstration of Jones’ multifaceted portrayal of the villain – and, as you might have guessed, it’s available on Disney+.
The Lion King
Among the films on this list, only one isn’t a “Star Wars” movie, but it holds an iconic status equal to any role James Earl Jones played in George Lucas’ sci-fi films. Interestingly enough, this film also features a memorable voice performance by Jones. In 1994, Jones lent his voice to the Disney animated feature film “The Lion King,” portraying Mufasa, the original lion king who greets his newborn son, Simba (Jonathan Taylor Thomas), at the start of the movie. As a young cub, Simba is eager to grow up and become king, often clashing lovingly with his wise father, Mufasa. Tragically, when Mufasa’s treacherous brother Scar (Jeremy Irons) deceives Simba and leads him away from the safe kingdom, it falls upon Mufasa to rescue him.
In one of the saddest scenes in the history of animated movies, Mufasa rescues Simba from a horde of stampeding wildebeests, only for Scar to throw him into the fray while Simba watches his father perish. Jones later reappears in the movie when Mufasa’s spirit appears to Simba in the sky to help guide him, and actually, this isn’t the only time that Jones played the beloved character. In 2019, Jon Favreau made a photorealistic remake of “The Lion King” with stars like Donald Glover (as Simba) and Beyoncé (as Nala), and guess who voiced Mufasa? Jones himself. Both versions of “The Lion King” are on Disney+ (but the animated version is still … king).
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2024-09-10 03:00