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The Star Wars Empire Has Striked More Than Ever.

Posted : 13 years, 4 months ago on 23 November 2010 11:54

After the first Star Wars film was such a huge success, a sequel was a bit of a gamble seeing as sequels aren't usually better than their predecessors. In this case, I found The Empire Strikes Back a lot better than A New Hope. I guess this one opened up Star Wars as a saga not an individual film like A New Hope did especially learning more about the Force, the history of the Jedi Knights and the Sith Lords and a shocking twist that becomes the purpose of the prequel trilogy. It is quite hard to explain what I mean by this but The Empire Strikes Back is almost like a road-space film seeing as most of the characters involved are fugitives for the Empire.


This didn't earn as much glory regarding awards like A New Hope did but The Empire Strikes Back is perhaps even more famous than that one seeing as it, as I said, changed the entire series around completely which led to more films and more success hence why it is my favourite Star Wars film. The pace of it was pretty intense the whole way through because the Rebel Alliance are on the brink of capture at the hands of the Empire but they have plans of their own to get away and fight back against them. This was perhaps more adult than A New Hope too seeing as it was a lot darker and there was more of a stronger two-sided story to it than just a group who go onto this sphere-shaped space station.


Fleeing the evil Galactic Empire, the rebels abandon their new base on Hoth. Princess Leia, Han Solo and the droids R2-D2 and C-3P0 escape in the damaged Millenium Falcon, but are later captured by Lord Darth Vader on Bespin. Skywalker, meanwhile, follows Ben Kenobi's posthumous command and receives Jedi training by Yoda on Dagobah. Will Skywalker manage to rescue his friends from the Sith Lord?


Mark Hamill's performance as Luke improved a lot and his character and what he goes through in this film makes it seem a bit like an underdog story seeing as Yoda is old now, Obi-Wan has died and he is now their only hope to defeat Darth Vader (and the Emperor in Return Of The Jedi). However, his determination to do that or not is rocked by a shocking revelation that would leave you thinking 'What?!' (Most of you probably know anyway). Harrison Ford has always been a favourite actor of mine but he shows especially in this one that he is the true hero in the original trilogy. Han and Leia are at each other's throats at the start of this film but the love between them begins to build during their time on the Falcon while fugitives from the Empire. Carrie Fisher was amazing and gorgeous once again as Princess Leia and I really liked Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian although his role wasn't as involved as it was in Return Of The Jedi seeing as he first appears just over half way through the film.


Back then, George Lucas not being director was perhaps a bad idea seeing as A New Hope was such a huge success but Irvin Kershner surprised us all with a brilliant sci-fi action thrill-ride that lived up to its predecessor and, in my opinion, far surpassed it. George may not have directed, produced (executive producer though) or written it but obviously was his story. I guess that shows that George is not a good director or writer (except Episode III and IV) but he is a genius at creating stories and expanding on the audience's imagination. Despite it not being their story, Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan wrote it amazingly and, to be perfectly honest, it couldn't have been written any better than this.


Overall, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back is a masterpiece of the fantasy/science-fiction genre and has proved itself to be one of the most famous and successful sequels ever made. In fact, for me it is the best sequel of all time. It is also my favourite Star Wars film and my favourite science-fiction film as well. This should have earned all the Oscar nominations over A New Hope despite that film deserved them too. Unforgettable classic.


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The Pinnacle Of The Force

Posted : 14 years, 4 months ago on 11 November 2009 10:02

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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The Empire Strikes Back

Posted : 15 years, 6 months ago on 14 September 2008 02:41

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 humor with interesting characters and locations along with action, drama and adventure. But what sets Empire apart from the other five films is the depth of the story and relationships between the characters while together and apart. This film is Sci-Fi storytelling at it's finest.



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The force is with you but you are not a Jedi yet..

Posted : 15 years, 7 months ago on 26 August 2008 09:28

''The force is with you, young Skywalker, but you are not a Jedi yet.''

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

After the success regarding the original Star Wars now titled A New Hope, one would have assumed a regression in quality thanks to the whip lash that George Lucas appears to have in making films.
Thankfully veteran Director Irvin Kershner expertly assists by directing and gracing George's storytelling with skilful poise regarding film making. Mix this with screenplay that sizzles and succeeds from Leigh Brackett and
Lawrence Kasdan, and you have a sequel victory assured.



The Empire Strikes Back brings back the incredible original heroes, coats them and grants them depth and story, still finding time to bring in new timeless characters that become legends in their own assurity.
With the new director leading proceedings, Irvin Kershner, brings even more life and vitality to the story and the world that made the first Star Wars so incredible.
The only problem really with the first Star Wars is it felt like only a beginning, in the regard that it was, and also a film which could stand alone but audiences are left wanting more. Like there were layers of detail that we didn't get and The Empire Strikes Back burst into those layers and put us deep into the world and the story never to turn back. On top of that the film delivers the first and most infamous twist in film history...family connections so to speak. I won't give it away if you have existed under a rock for the last three decades. The fights are epic, the new characters are amazing, and even Hamill as Skywalker starts to really shine and receive some real depth to his character.

Mark Hamill's performance matures and really comes full circle in relation to Luke Skywalker, whom he embodies this time round. His naivety and boyish charm changes for the better as he trains to become a Jedi and an adult.
Harrison Ford's Han Solo is probably the character that changes the least and probably just a case of "don't change a good thing." Solo is still a kick arse hero and his story is a focal point for the sequel.
Carrie Fisher slips back into her role as the feisty Princess flawlessly. This time the banter and romantic tension between Fisher and Ford heats up and really gives the story a timeless romance. Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Peter Mayhew return in full form as C3P0, R2D2 and Chewbacca and they are better than ever. David Prowse with James Earl Jones providing the voice continues to make Darth Vader the most evil, intensely bad villain in the history of films. Vader's character really turns up the heat and gives a terrifying turn as the leader of the Empire. Billy Dee Williams is a newcomer to the cast and a welcome addition. He plays gambler, scoundrel Lando Calrissian. He doesn't get a lot of background or depth to his character and yet he is a great addition to the cast. And saving the best for last...the master of the Star Wars Universe. Frank Oz brings Master Yoda to life. The entire sequence with Luke and Yoda meeting for the first time and training is brilliant. Yoda is a timeless character, a pop culture idol and yet his part in this is touching, funny, and brilliant. This is one character whom becomes much more than merely a puppet, he becomes a being we can relate to and listen to.

The Empire Strikes Back is simply the adventurous and funniest sci-fi sequels to grace us ever. The film picks up where the first left off and takes the viewer on a thrill roller-coaster ride that never slows down. This is ultimately all about the evil Empire and Vader getting his revenge, essentially succeeding. Starting from the opening moment, the brilliantly crafted ice world called Hoth, and continuing on to a show down between Skywalker and Vader himself and the revealing of the infamous secret, this film is pure brilliance. The direction, the creation, the writing, the characters and the special effects are jaw droppingly amazing. There is simply no way you can watch just one Star Wars movie because the story is so important but after watching the first one and thinking... this is fun and additively entrancing, The Empire Strikes Back will take it up a notch, up into the heavenly stars and realms of a perfect film.
Simply among the greatest sequels of all time.

''Life creates it, makes it grow. Its energy surrounds us and binds us. Luminous beings are we, not this crude matter. You must feel the Force around you; here, between you, me, the tree, the rock, everywhere, yes. Even between the land and the ship.''


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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back review

Posted : 16 years, 2 months ago on 31 January 2008 04:49

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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Evil Wins

Posted : 17 years, 1 month ago on 11 February 2007 04:38

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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