Reviews of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back review

Posted : 1 month ago on 8 December 2009 07:28 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

I have always loved The Empire Strikes Back since I was a kid. It was my favourite childhood film from when I was under 10 years old. It was my favourite film of all time too before I saw The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King. The Empire Strikes Back is a film that I have always appreciated for being a film that isn't just any film but a film with such great effects of how well it was filmed, great story and its powerful twist. The Empire Strikes Back is a film that I loved in its own way because it is obviously a sci fi story but is one out of a man's head. The Empire Strikes Back is a film that sent chills inside me throughout every second of it especially the carbonite scene. Having "I love you" "I know" as my all-time favourite quote is something that a lot of people have questioned me about because it isn't the most common Star Wars quote. The reason why it is my favourite quote is mostly because instead of saying "I love you too" which is something that I think everybody would probably respond by. When Han says "I know" it was really brilliant because of the powerful way that moment was filmed and also of the situation Han Solo was in. The music added brilliance to that moment as well which is something that is probably the best quality that the Star Wars franchise has. The space visual effects were a lot like the effects in 2001: A Space Odyssey but the way the planets were was very different. We see three different kinds of planets in this film as well as space: an ice planet called Hoth, an ugly planet with swamps called Dagobah and a city in the clouds called Bespin. All of these planets and the whole film was obviously filmed on Earth like all films are but when you see them it feels like a world beyond ours that we never knew of. To me, The Empire Strikes Back is the perfect science fiction film because it is based on imagination, children's ways of having points of view on space, planets etc. It is a masterpiece that I think children would love as well as adults just like the prequel trilogy.


I find Mark Hamill's performance a lot like Elijah Wood's in Lord Of The Rings because they both show their ups and downs of the way they approach the characters and the way they are played. Mark Hamill is good as Luke but has a few flawed moments but nothing majorly serious obviously. Harrison Ford is just too cool for Han Solo just like he is for Indiana Jones. I love Star Wars more than Indiana Jones but I think I prefer Ford as Indy than Han because Indy's character is more interesting. Carrie Fisher's performance as Princess Leia Organa was brilliant as well which doesn't make me surprised about how good she really was.


I am ever so glad George Lucas didn't direct this one because I don't think it would have been as good. It's weird because the two best Star Wars films weren't directed by the actual creator George Lucas. Kershner did a fantastic job at Empire Strikes Back and would have been brilliant at Return Of The Jedi as well even though that was still brilliantly directed by Richard Marquand.


The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the franchise and the best of all science fiction films. The Empire Strikes Back is the best film of the 1980s with A Fish Called Wanda and Raging Bull trailing only just behind it. The Empire Strikes Back is the most inspiring one of the franchise and most powerful one as well. It was my favourite film as a child from when I was 10 years old and under. The Empire Strikes Back is an eternal masterpiece that I have watched countless times and will watch quite a lot because it is just too amazing to not love. Masterpiece!!

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The Pinnacle Of The Force

Posted : 1 month, 4 weeks ago on 11 November 2009 04:02 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

Sure, there are sci-fi films better written, or with, now much more grander & updated special effects. But other than Star Trek, none have the expansive imagination or have been able to touch the heart of an entire generation of nerds, particularly with such a long lasting impact, as the original Star Wars trilogy.
And while I know that Star Trek has affected more numbers of sci-fi geeks, but, for me, as "big" as their stories & concepts were, they never seemed to go all out with their depictions of aliens races as much as Wars. And as integalactic as they tried to make their stories, I never felt that they were as epic.
For the movie of Empire itself, I agree with the rest of the world that this is the pinnacle of the entire Star Wars franchise, with it's darker tone & cliff-hanger ending within it's still fairytale-like structure. The saga of the intergalactic war between the Empire & the Jedi-led Rebellion hits it stride as Luke Skywalker, Hans Solo, Princess Leia & the rest of the crew find themselves pursued & cornered by Darth Vader & the forces of the Dark Side.



The Empire Strikes Back came out at a time back when movies would stay in wide release, not for weeks at a time, but for months, and a few of 'em, like this one, for almost a full year.
From my own point of view, I think that, on the majority, audiences today have been so desensitized from so-so blockbusters being released every other week-end or so, that they will never get to fully understand or experience the feeling a big movie-event like Star Wars. The year of Empire was one of my fave summers ever as a kid. It was really cool knowing that I could hop on the city bus at any point during the season & go watch TESB. And every time that I did, the other audience members were just as excited to be seeing this film at the end of the summer as they were at the beginning. Every year that one of the 3 original films was released, you could feel the power of the "Force" within the air, and not just until the next "big" movie came out. You could actually feel it in the air for almost the entire year long. And then some.



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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back review

Posted : 1 year ago on 17 December 2008 02:41 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

Great story telling, it's just all so fluently done and should be the basis for all sequels.
Everything moves forward and you actually care for these likeable characters.
The new characters are just as epic too, with the muppet built Yoda adding so much depth to the mythos. You just love watching Skywalkers heros journey unfold. A must watch.

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The Empire Strikes Back

Posted : 1 year, 3 months ago on 13 September 2008 09:41 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

Next to the original "Star Wars", "The Empire Strikes Back" is the most Mythic, and imaginative of the six "Star Wars" films.

"The Empire Strikes Back" balances comedy, ingenious characters, locations, and action/adventure. But what truly sets "Empire" apart from the other five films is the strength and depth of the relationships between it's characters while together or apart. This film is basic but deep universal storytelling.



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Dark side rising...

Posted : 1 year, 4 months ago on 26 August 2008 04:28 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

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!

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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back review

Posted : 1 year, 11 months ago on 31 January 2008 10:49 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

The three movies in the original Star Wars trilogy captivated my imagination with galactic politics, massive space battles, and epic duels. I believe stories from "a galaxy far, far away" teach us more about ourselves than many people realize.

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Empire Strikes Back

Posted : 2 years, 5 months ago on 23 July 2007 02:24 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

Empire is definitely the best of the series, largely because of the remarkable storytelling. Yoda is perhaps the most finely drawn character, and the training sequences with Luke are deeply life-affirming. A Yoda line I love, and sometimes quote "Do or do not. There is no try."

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Evil Wins

Posted : 2 years, 11 months ago on 11 February 2007 10:38 (A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back)

The Empire Strikes Back is seen as the bridge between two gaps and the most powerful of the trilogy. It is one of the few films in history where evil triumphs over good. Every fight the rebels take part in, they lose. Since everyone was expecting another episode, this gave Lucas the perfect chance to flex the Imperial muscle and show that they were a threat to hope and good everywhere, AND THEY DIDN’T EVEN HAVE A DEATH STAR THIS TIME!!!! This was also the first time I felt the Imperial March Theme was introduced and actually fit the scene perfectly. Where the Super Star Destroyer rolls in and shadows over the whole fleet, truly inspiring.

This addition to the saga introduces and gives more background on the characters which I feel is part of the appeal. We get to see Han Solo using his smuggler tricks more than once to get out of sticky situations and Luke finally beginning to learn what it is to be a Jedi. The introduction of Yoda (one of the most iconic figures of Star Wars) and the ol’ pirate Lando Calrissian, gives the story more depth and that there are more heroes out there, they just need a chance to prove themselves.

I'm quite the fan of the Han Solo and Leia courting scenes too. Plus, with the ad-libbed 'I Know' line before Solo gets frozen is magnificent. It truly captures the character and Harrison Ford is to thank!

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