The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Starring - Mark Hamill; Harrison Ford; Carrie Fisher; Billy Dee Williams & Anthony Daniels Director - Irvin Kershner MPAA - PG The Empire Strikes Back is the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy, and the darkest of the three, and easily the worst. Although worst is a relative term when it comes to Star Wars films, since I would still rank The Empire Strikes Back as one of the ten best films of all time. The film picks up shortly after Star Wars left off. The Death Star has been destroyed and the Empire is none too happy about it. In particular, Darth Vader wants to get his hands on Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), and will go to any lengths to do so. Vader and his men track Skywalker and company to the Rebel's new base on the ice world of Hoth. The ensuing battle is still one of the best in film history. The Rebels manage to escape (if they didn't it would be a real short film). Luke, along with R2-D2 goes off to find Yoda, the Jedi master, to learn how to become a Jedi like his late father. In the mean time, Vader's forces pursue Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewbacca and C-3PO. There is not much point saying more, since the movie has been out almost two decades everyone knows what happens from here. Let's just say it involves asteroid fields, swamps and a way cool cloud city. Even after this many years, the special effects still look good. Although that may be a moot point now that the Special Edition has been released; it's likely you may find it difficult to find a copy of the original. The Empire Strikes Back is almost depressing in places it's so dark. But it still finds time to inject some humor. No surprises when it comes to acting, directing or story. All are impressive. Harrison Ford continues his trend from the first movie by stealing pretty much every scene he is in with his roguish charm. And the scenes that Ford doesn't steal go to Frank Oz in his performance of Yoda, and Kenny Baker as R2-D2. As stated earlier, one of the ten best movies of all time, always worth checking out again and again. My guess is that you will probably have to settle for the newer digitally mastered Special Edition though. But on the up side, the differences are fairly insignificant, and some of the minor flaws of the original version have been corrected. 10/10 Reviewed January 26, 1998 by Joe Chamberlain