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

Dark side rising...

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!

10/10

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Added by Alexander 1 year ago on 26 August 2008 04:28