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Plot:
Three years later Imperial forces continue to pursue the Rebels. After the Rebellion's defeat on the ice planet Hoth, Luke journeys to the planet Dagobah to train with Jedi Master Yoda, who has lived ...( read more
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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back Recent Reviews
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Recent Reviews
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MCT:October 10, 2006
Without this entry in the original trilogy, there would no such thing as a dark sequel.
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MCT:December 31, 2008It's generally agreed that The Empire Strikes Back is the best film of George Lucas' initial trilogy (despite a latter-day shift toward the original's storytelling purity). Not a sequel as such, but the next part of a continuing story, Empire marks enormous progression both in terms of the mythos of the series and in the filmmaking quality itself.
No longer tethered by the need to establish this fabulous universe wrapped in the arcane mysticism of the Force, this is a film far more sophisticated, awe-inspiring and daring (what do you mean Han Solo stays frozen in carbonite?). The actors too, reassured this was not some tinpot sci-fi quickie, have settled comfortably into their characters. Which is a good thing given the nightmare wrought for them by writers Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett. At once more graceful and melancholic than its predecessor, Kershner enhances the pensive mood of impending tragedy with an array of inhospitable worlds (we travel from the icescape of Hoth to the swamp of Dagobah to a sleek, sterile city in the clouds). Bespin, the Cloud City, the most awesome of any of the Star Wars arenas, is a beautiful exterior with a dark heart. The film culminates in a whirl of emotional intensity and the infernal machine of the carbon freezing chamber. With John Williams' breathtaking score and the dark red hellish lighting (the characters have arrived in Hell ? this being the "second day" of the trilogy), the whole feel is of a Wagnerian opera: dark and epic.
Then there is the devastating confrontation between Luke and Vader. Masterfully choreographed, their duel culminates on a thin gantry
protruding out over the vast depths that are the hollow core of the Cloud City. Magnificently visualised, the dizzying vertiginous terror of the moment encapsulating Luke's disorientation and horror at Vader's revelation of paternalism. Significantly, Luke chooses death over the outstretched hand of the dark side and is eventully born again as a Jedi.
But Act 2 is never consumed by darkness. There is comedy: C-3PO is still fussily camp as the Shakespearean chorus; Solo cracks wiser than ever before and new entry Yoda's knack of getting straight-to-the-point via the syntactical equivalent of Spaghetti Junction ("No! Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try.") is pure delight. And effectswise it offers unforgettable, if sometimes impractical, marvels: the awesome AT-ATs marching on the rebel base on Hoth, whose lurching gait was modelled on elephants, or Solo piloting the Milennium Falcon straight into an asteroid field.
It is on a psychological level, though, where Empire really reaches beyond its brethren. On Dagobah, where Luke is tutored in Jedi philosophy by the rubbery icon-to-be Yoda, the notion of the Force turns from the simple good/bad divide of Star Wars into a sea of moral ambiguity. Luke must fight the urges of anger and emotion to find the true path (a factor which left much of The Phantom Menace so limp ? the Jedi characters were by definition unexciting). In the film's (and probably the series') most complex sequence Luke descends into a metaphorical dream womb, a representation of his unacknowledged fears. Here, prophetically, he confronts Darth Vader and discovers his own face beneath the mask. This is dark stuff, way beyond funny robots and knights in space.
Empire slipped the insufficient Return Of The Jedi a hospital pass. There was too much to settle (the whole damn universe to be saved before tea), and we had been so exhilarated by Empire that teddy bears at war was inevitably trite. -
MCT:December 30, 2008
"You must unlearn what you have learned. "
The adventure continues in the best Star Wars movie. "The Empire Strikes Back" is darker and a much stronger effort than Episode 4. Luke Skywalker's complete Jedi training begins with the help of Yoda, the green mean fighting machine who talks in a funny way. Gotta love him.
Some of the most shocking truths are told; "Luke, I am your father". Tell me, who wasn't shocked? I assume that everyone has seen it, so no need for spoiler warnings...
The love between Princess Leia and Han Solo starts but is interrupted by the fat bastard, Jabba. The alliance gets a new member, Lando, in their fight against the Empire. Everything is set for the next installment in the franchise...
"The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet." -
MCT:December 25, 2008
"The Star Wars saga continues"
The second entry in George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy finds Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the green-as-grass hero from the first film, now a seasoned space warrior. Luke's Star Wars cohorts Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) are likewise more experienced in the ways and means of battling the insidious Empire, as represented by the brooding Darth Vader (body of David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones). And, of course, "The Force," personified by the ghost of Luke's mentor Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), is with them all. Retreating from Vader's minions, Luke ends up, at first, on the Ice Planet Hoth, and then the tropical Dagobah. Here he makes the acquaintance of the gnomish Yoda (voice of Frank Oz), whose all-encompassing wisdom comes in handy during the serial-like perils of the rest of the film. Before the film's open-ended climax, we are introduced to the apparently duplicitous Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and are let in on a secret that profoundly affects both Luke and his arch-enemy, Vader.
Review
Empire Strikes Back is not only a great sequel to one of the best science Fiction movies ever made but its probably one of the best sequels ever made. A movie that not only blows away the first film in terms of scoop and magnitude but in story telling as well. This is the second of the entire Star Wars series of movies and in no doubt, the best. Not even the movies that come after were able to capture the landscape of this great cinematic achievement. -
MCT:November 28, 2008
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...
Yoda: Ready are you? What know you of ready? For eight hundred years have I trained Jedi. My own counsel will I keep on who is to be trained. A Jedi must have the deepest commitment, the most serious mind. This
one a long time have I watched. All his life has he looked away... to the future, to the horizon. Never his mind on where he was. Hmm? What he was doing. Hmph. Adventure. Heh. Excitement. Heh. A Jedi craves not these things. You are reckless.
While Luke takes advanced Jedi training from Yoda, his friends are relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke.
Mark Hamill: Luke Skywalker. Mark fully embraces his role and warms to it, the whole movie sees him transition into a hero yet not quite a ready one.
Harrison Ford: Han Solo. He's funny and charismatic again emulating that magic formula. ''Nerf Herder!'' or ''Scruffy looking'', lines and script that cracks me up. He gets the best ones.
Carrie Fisher: Princess Leia. Carrie does well. Solo and Leia's relationship evolving is heart-felt.
Leia: ''I love you'' Solo: ''I know''
Magic.
Billy Dee Williams: Lando Calrissian. He's a fine addition, remember seeing him in Batman also later as Harvey Dent. His character is very similar to the roguish Han Solo.
Anthony Daniels: C-3PO. The camp droid back with his chum R2.
David Prowse: Darth Vader. Brilliant gestures. Plus the guy that does the swordplay amazing. The final revelation is still chilling. Dampened by the new prequels but still quite an impact.
Peter Mayhew: Chewbacca. Like the part where he's got 3PO on his back. Odd!
Kenny Baker: R2-D2. Beep beep!
Frank Oz: Yoda (voice). Yoda is the best thing since sliced bread in SW. In Empire he's got a quality that's human and fun yet wise and subtle. Much ore emotionally charged and realistic than the cold depiction in the new Prequels although Sith was on an up side.
Alec Guinness: Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi. Brilliant to have him back in his apparent force carnation.
Jeremy Bulloch: Boba Fett. Iconic yet he only has 2 or 3 lines. The whole look is a fan favourite.
The darkest of the Trilogy and the most emotional. Really ups the pace and goes all out after A New Hope. Irvin Kershner, a director who skillfully pulled off Luca's vision with bold strokes.
My fave scenes include Yoda's teaching, the fancy asteroid chase, Vader speaking with the Emperor(On the New Special Ed one) & the Darth Vader/Luke Showdown resulting in that haunting revelation of family ancestry.
The empire tune is legendary and again John Williams has surpassed himself with an orchestral masterpiece.
The ending is clever yet so cruel making everyone wait. Was lucky i was born when i was so i didn't have too. Makes you hungry for Jedi as the credits roll.
A stunning benchmark,classic in every sense, the Darkest Star Wars (until Sith), The Empire really does Strike Back! -
MCT:January 6, 2009
The Star Wars saga is by far my favourite movies of all time. From "Episode I" to "Episode VI" there is no movie release before or after that comes close to the greatness that is "Star Wars".
Comments
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yona71posted 48 days ago -
I hate it when people claim it to be "Too geeky". It is nothing of the sort! Just because geeks started to like it, many taking it to far (eg Star Wars conventions), doesn't mean it is geeky.
posted 189 days ago -
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this film is one of the best ones , i recall watching it growing up.. I still love it very much.
posted 315 days ago -
hmmm i liked the last one better. this is the one where luke becomes ugly because he gets attacked by a yeti. well, really the actor got in a car crash and his face got all screwed up.
i was so sad :[posted 370 days ago -
