Written by: Kevin Berge
The one time people thought "maybe Lucas can write a compelling romance", trying to forget Luke's role. (Image Courtesy of: baldmovie.com)
Quick Take: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back stands as one of the greatest science fiction movies of all time. Even with faults of its time in effect and action, the movie is a definitive classic that truly solidified the Star Wars franchise as a global phenomenon with strong writing, direction, and acting throughout.
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***This is a review celebrating and criticizing every element of Empire Strikes Back. It will contain spoilers and expects the reader has seen the film. If you have not, go watch it as it is one of the most important movies ever made.***
If A New Hope stands at the most important science fiction movie ever made, The Empire Strikes Back is the best ever made. While a somewhat imperfect film, no movie has ever captured a world with such imagination and depth while flying by from start to finish with a cast of engaging characters.
Continuing the journey of Luke Skywalker alongside his friends Han Solo and Leia Organa, this chapter takes the fight to the Rebels as the Empire dominates their rivals and sends them running. This is a dark chapter that does not provide much light. From start to finish, the heroes are on the run and just hope to find safety.
The movie is weakest at its beginning, slowly building up to the Battle at Hoth. Once the shot of multiple Star Destroyers funneling troops to the surface of Hoth comes into view, the film kicks off and never lets up. From Hoth to the Jedi training with Yoda to the final showdown on Bespin, every scene is necessary in its progression.
Two key character dynamics define this film: Luke's attempts to become a Jedi in his training with Yoda and the love story blossoming between Han and Leia. Each is excellently written particularly in the way they develop to a satisfying if bleak conclusion.
Lucas has never been known to write great love stories, and it may be because this is the only Star Wars film in the franchise that he didn't have a hand in the screenplay that Han and Leia are so excellent together. The famous "I know" scene as Han descends to his potential death is simple and affecting in establishing the true connection between the two that never needs to be explained.
Luke's training with Yoda may just be the greatest scene in all of Star Wars with the elegant exploration of the Force through spiritual focus. Never has the Force been more enticing from Yoda lifting the X-Wing with Luke in disbelief to Luke's cryptic vision of fighting Darth Vader.
***This is a review celebrating and criticizing every element of Empire Strikes Back. It will contain spoilers and expects the reader has seen the film. If you have not, go watch it as it is one of the most important movies ever made.***
If A New Hope stands at the most important science fiction movie ever made, The Empire Strikes Back is the best ever made. While a somewhat imperfect film, no movie has ever captured a world with such imagination and depth while flying by from start to finish with a cast of engaging characters.
Continuing the journey of Luke Skywalker alongside his friends Han Solo and Leia Organa, this chapter takes the fight to the Rebels as the Empire dominates their rivals and sends them running. This is a dark chapter that does not provide much light. From start to finish, the heroes are on the run and just hope to find safety.
The movie is weakest at its beginning, slowly building up to the Battle at Hoth. Once the shot of multiple Star Destroyers funneling troops to the surface of Hoth comes into view, the film kicks off and never lets up. From Hoth to the Jedi training with Yoda to the final showdown on Bespin, every scene is necessary in its progression.
Two key character dynamics define this film: Luke's attempts to become a Jedi in his training with Yoda and the love story blossoming between Han and Leia. Each is excellently written particularly in the way they develop to a satisfying if bleak conclusion.
Lucas has never been known to write great love stories, and it may be because this is the only Star Wars film in the franchise that he didn't have a hand in the screenplay that Han and Leia are so excellent together. The famous "I know" scene as Han descends to his potential death is simple and affecting in establishing the true connection between the two that never needs to be explained.
Luke's training with Yoda may just be the greatest scene in all of Star Wars with the elegant exploration of the Force through spiritual focus. Never has the Force been more enticing from Yoda lifting the X-Wing with Luke in disbelief to Luke's cryptic vision of fighting Darth Vader.
Forever misquoted, often forgiven for how horrendously acted it is. (Image Courtesy of: empireonline.com)
Harrison Ford dominates the screen in this second outing with his true breakout performance of his career. Despite being trapped in one way or another most of the movie, he is a force of charisma. He brings out a stronger performance from Carrie Fisher as well who has genuine chemistry with Ford.
Mark Hamill still struggles with making Luke likable in his whiny moments but nails the moments of pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the latest memory of Hamill's work in this film is his response to the reveal that Vader is his father with a whined melodramatic cry.
Director Irvin Kershner (RoboCop 2) brings the most out of the actors as well as framing the story well to capture the mood of the story. The way the scenes flow well from dialogue heavy to silent contemplation define the moments perfectly.
The story of Empire was written by Lucas, but the screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep) and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark). The two put together the most compelling dialogue in the franchise that says the most with the least words.
If there is one problem with this 1980 film, the choreography stands out in the wrong way, feeling too often like actors trying to work within their scenery than fighting for their lives. This is a product of a time that was still finding its stride in action scenes and may explain Lucas' drastic change to the action style in the prequels.
As a complete sci-fi experience, few films are better than Empire even if it is far more fantastical than cerebral. Each step in the journey showcases what hangs in the balance and how many ways the heroes can fail, setting up a final chapter that could reclaim the light from overwhelming darkness.
Mark Hamill still struggles with making Luke likable in his whiny moments but nails the moments of pain and suffering. Unfortunately, the latest memory of Hamill's work in this film is his response to the reveal that Vader is his father with a whined melodramatic cry.
Director Irvin Kershner (RoboCop 2) brings the most out of the actors as well as framing the story well to capture the mood of the story. The way the scenes flow well from dialogue heavy to silent contemplation define the moments perfectly.
The story of Empire was written by Lucas, but the screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett (The Big Sleep) and Lawrence Kasdan (Raiders of the Lost Ark). The two put together the most compelling dialogue in the franchise that says the most with the least words.
If there is one problem with this 1980 film, the choreography stands out in the wrong way, feeling too often like actors trying to work within their scenery than fighting for their lives. This is a product of a time that was still finding its stride in action scenes and may explain Lucas' drastic change to the action style in the prequels.
As a complete sci-fi experience, few films are better than Empire even if it is far more fantastical than cerebral. Each step in the journey showcases what hangs in the balance and how many ways the heroes can fail, setting up a final chapter that could reclaim the light from overwhelming darkness.
Final verdict:
Three Defining Success
Three Defining Success
- An engaging ride of a story that never lets up once it is set in motion, fully inhabiting the universe it is still creating.
- Direction that perfectly captures the growing story dynamics and brings out strong performances from a variety of actors still somewhat inexperienced.
- A musical score so iconic composers have strived to match it since without success.
- Choreographed action that can at times be comical in how it is constructed.
- Forget the prequels, these are just a few true abominations with the Star Wars tag: The Crystal Star (a book featuring Luke and Han meeting werewolves and centaurs), Ewoks 7: The Perilous Laughing Spell (a comic about Endor including a crying anthropomorphic mountain), and the Star Wars Holiday Special (two hours of Wookies celebrating the holidays that was so bad it has been repeatedly disavowed by Lucas himself).