Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher
Directed by: Irvin Kershner
You can only imagine the daunting task it was to try and follow up one of the biggest blockbusters of all-time. Nowadays, sequels are commonplace, but back in the '70s and '80s, sequels were coming into the foreground of filmmaking. Enter a film like Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, a film that was expected to expand the already fantastical universe of the Star Wars saga. Today, The Empire Strikes Back is one of the rare movie sequels out there that general consensus agrees is better than the original film. For me, this is actually a really tough debate to have. In many ways, I've found both films to be the definition of a PERFECT Star Wars film, but only one can be my favorite. In what I'm sure is going to be an unfortunate discovery for my regular viewers, I already answered which was my favorite in my previous review. Nevertheless, I enjoy the heck out of Empire Strikes Back, and I'm going to spend some time discussing how some of the characters I didn't cover last time are able to develop further, while also discussing some of the newer characters that are introduced. I'm also going to talk about the ending that created one of the biggest moments in film history (so *SPOILER* warning for the few people who have been living under a rock for 35 years), so this one's going to get very interesting.
One of the key reasons behind the success of The Empire Strikes Back is Darth Vader, played by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones. The man, the myth, the legend, Vader is one of the all-time greatest bad guys in film history. Just look at the costume, hear the raspy breathing, listen to his iconic theme song, and look at the army of forces he has at his disposal. Then factor in that he can handle quite a bit on his own once you see him do battle with a lightsaber or choke some people out with the Force. He's just awesome and one of the key figures and symbols of the entire Star Wars franchise. But there's also Vader's defining moment in the film, which I will talk about later.
But my favorite character moments in this film belong to the legendary Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford. The highlights of Han's adventures in The Empire Strikes Back includes his romance with Princess Leia, being frozen in Carbonite, navigating the Millennium Falcon through some rough situations, rescuing Luke in the snow, and having some of the best one-liners you will ever hear in a film. What's not to love about him? I've often believed that while we can relate with Luke more, deep down we'd all love to be Han.One of the new characters introduced in The Empire Strikes Back is Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams. A friend of Han and original captain of the Millennium Falcon, Lando just oozes coolness out of him. From beginning to end, no matter whose side he is on, Lando always has a reason for his actions. For the most part, he just wants to help his people on Cloud City. But when his friends truly need help, Lando springs into action to help save the day. He's the type of ally that can be a great help to you, but that doesn't mean I'd follow him blindly any time soon.
This also marks the film debut of fan favorite Boba Fett, played by Jeremy Bulloch and voiced by Jason Wingreen. Even if I'm a diehard Star Wars fan, to this day I have never been able to figure out why Boba Fett gets so much love. He shows up in a handful of scenes, says very little, soaks up the background, and in the next film he gets taken out in one of the most ridiculous ways possible. I just don't get it. Still, he's introduced here, and Vader holds him close to his side while on Cloud City, so I guess I can accept that he's popular by association.
I put the minor *SPOILER* warning in the beginning to talk about one of the most memorable twist endings in film history. I'm of course talking about the conclusion of Vader's lightsaber battle with Luke Skywalker. It is there that he unloads a HUGE bombshell and tells Luke that he is his father. Words can't describe how crazy it must have been in the theaters when this movie first came out. There was probably panic all over the world. Even worse was the idea that you had to wait 3 years to see what would happen next. And if you take the prequels out of the equation, this ending changes EVERYTHING we thought we knew about Star Wars. It leaves you asking questions. It leaves you wanting more. THIS is how you properly end a phenomenal movie.And to think, I haven't even talked about the battle of Hoth, Luke's training with Yoda, the chase through the asteroid field, and so much more. There's a lot to talk about when it comes to Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, but the biggest mark it leaves in cinema is being a continuation of a story that is just as good, if not better than the first one. It's a short list of films that can boast that claim to fame, and it is well worth the praise it has received over the decades.
Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
With as many iconic scenes and moments as the previous film, Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back is an amazing sequel that lives up to the hype created by the original. With arguably the greatest twist ending in film history, this film is another must see for all movie buffs out there.
Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and movie images are copyrighted by 20th Century Fox
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