As we approach the seventh installment of the Star Wars films, I’ve been having a marathon, re-watching the original trilogy. Today, we’re taking a look at what is considered by most people to be the best film of them all. This is without a doubt one of the greatest sequels of all time, and in every way it exceeds its predecessor. “The Empire Strikes Back” is directed by Irvin Kershner and stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Anthony Daniels, and Billy Dee Williams.
After the destruction of the Death Star, the Empire hunts down the Rebel forces, driving them to the far reaches of the galaxy. The Rebels make their new base on the star system of Hoth, an icy and desolate planet. There hiding place is soon discovered, when the infamous Darth Vader (James Earl Jones), sends Imperial probes across the systems. Locating the Rebels, the Imperial star ships send down their fleet, setting down walkers and causing the Rebellion to flee once more. Han (Ford), Leia (Fisher), Chewbacca, and C3-PO make their escape, while Luke (Hamill) and his trusty droid R2-D2 set out to find Jedi master Yoda.
There’s no question that Empire Strikes Back is the best and most quintessential sequel ever made. On every level, it excels as a film and as a sequel to the first film. In part, if not completely, this is due to the characters and their story arcs. Luke–wonderfully played by Hamill–is no longer the wide eyed farm boy dreaming of adventure. He truly grows as a character in this movie. He learns to use the Force, master his feelings, and discovers what it means to be a Jedi. Meanwhile, Han and the rest go on their own quest. They’re chased down by star destroyers, and pursed by tie fighters and bounty hunters. They too grow as characters. I really like how the friendship between Han and Luke evolves. At first they were sort of at each others throats, but now, they really become close friends. Leia and Han become closer too; literally. While their relationship is a bit cheesy, and the dialogue is pretty mushy, you buy that they’re into each other. All of the performances are great overall, and the story arcs and characters are expanded in the perfect way.
One of the highlights of the first film was the introduction of the infamous villain, Darth Vader. While he’s good in the first movie, his presence isn’t very strong in it. In this film however, he is incredible. Vader is quite easily the best villain in any film I’ve ever seen. Why? He’s just so menacing. With John Williams iconic piece written just for him, accompanied with the intimidating voice of James Earl Jones, Vader is a dark, evil, and memorable villain.
Not only is the story and plot better than the first film, the action is as well. Once again, the special effects still hold up to this day. The Imperial walkers making their way across Hoth is one of the best action sequences in the trilogy. I enjoy this action scene more than anything you’d get in some Michael Bay CGI fest. Everything just looks so well for its time. Remember, this was a time before CGI was invented. They used miniatures and stop motion for this film, and look how well it turned out. The Hoth battle, star destroyer chase, and asteroid sequences are so well done and exciting to watch. Something else that stands out is how gritty and grimey everything looks. Unlike the prequels, the original trilogy feels grounded in reality. Every ship has dirt and grime, and every set piece is tangible and made with care. The locations are stunning in this film as well. We get to visit a few different planets, each with their own style and feel.
As a film, Empire Strikes Back is much different than it’s predecessor. Star Wars was much more light hearted and fun, while this film is dark and gritty. This is part of what makes it so good. It takes the world, story, and characters to a whole nother level. There is more emotion than before, and more tension than before. The stakes are much higher. Allot of this has to be given credit to writer, Lawrence Kasdan. Kasdan has worked on a few classic and iconic films. The most notable are, Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the upcoming, Star Wars: The Force Awakens. The characters are so well written, as is their dialogue. Kasdan is an incredible screenwriter, and he is a large part of what made this film so incredible.
“The Empire Strikes Back” is without a doubt the best film in the entire Star Wars Saga. On every level it is a masterful film. It takes the characters of the original film and pushes them further. It pushes the story further. The special effects are mesmerizing, the cinematography is nice to look at, and John Williams, once again, creates an iconic score. It is easily one of the best action films ever made, and arguably one of the best films ever made. It is a movie that exceeds your expectations, and excels on nearly every level of filmmaking.
alasdaircboswell.blog 