The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

 

The Empire Strikes Back (now known as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, a ludicrously long title) is a darker, more intense sequel to Star Wars (1977). It’s that rare sequel to improve and expand upon its predecessor; if anything, this second film enriched the mythology of the entire saga and provided a greater sense of danger as we are witness once again to a series of battles between the Rebel Alliance and the Empire. The opening sequence takes place on the ice planet of Hoth and involves those lumbering, elephantine Imperial Walkers, the toy version of which was very popular in the Christmas season of 1980. (It is strange how many kids back then wanted a toy that represented the “evil” side in the battle.) What follows is a harrowing escape attempt by the crew of the Millennium Falcon into an asteroid field, lessons on the power of The Force, a series of hide-and-seek moments on a far-flung mining colony, and a climactic light saber battle between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill)—and a revelation about Luke’s parentage that still stands as one of the greatest plot twists in film history. However, rather than keep its primary focus upon Skywalker as Star Wars did, this film gives all three principal characters—Luke, Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford)—a more equal focus, and the characters (and the actors’ portrayals of them) deepen as we get to know more about them. The central portion of the film intercuts between Luke’s training in the ways of the Jedi on Dagobah, Han and Leia’s attempts to hide out in Cloud City under the protection of Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and Darth Vader’s varied attempts to find the three rebel leaders. Such an interweaving of locations and plot threads keeps The Empire Strikes Back a compelling watch. A couple of new characters are introduced in this episode, most notably Yoda, the diminutive Jedi master who trains Luke in the ways of the Force, and fanboy favorite Boba Fett, the bounty hunter out to capture Han Solo. Yoda is a true boost of adrenaline to the plot with his witty aphorisms and enigmatic, even confusing explanations of the Force and its Dark Side. When it comes to comic relief, only R2D2, who is quite “verbal” in this film, comes close to stealing the focus from Yoda. By the way, despite having “died” in the first film, Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi (Alec Guiness) is also still here although he is more of a spectral presence this time around. The ending of The Empire Strikes Back provides no true sense of closure, but it does set up the final part of the initial trilogy, Return of the Jedi, with a sufficient amount of intrigue without making the audience feel cheated.

Oscar Wins: Best Sound and Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects

Other Oscar Nominations: Best Art Direction and Best Original Score