Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Directed by: Irvin Kershner | 124 minutes | action, adventure, fantasy, science fiction | Actors: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, David Prowse, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Jeremy Bulloch, John Hollis, Jack Purvis, Des Webb, Clive Revill

Those who thought that the revolutionary first Star Wars film ‘A New Hope’ could not be surpassed was positively surprised by ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ in 1980. One of those rare sequels that outdoes its predecessor in just about everything. Of course, the film has the advantage of being the middle part of a trilogy. Characters don’t all have to be introduced, but can be put on edge right away. And the drama only needs to be built up – after all, the denouement follows a part later. The way in which, however, is little less than magnificent. The Star Wars world owes a big thank you to director Irvin Kershner (but also producer Gary Kurtz), who delivered an exceptionally strong production that still stands as a star after a few decades.

What works astonishingly well in this film (and where the prequels – all directed by creator and writer George Lucas himself – fall hopelessly short) is the chemistry between the characters. The feisty relationship between Han Solo (a Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) is played out perfectly from the get-go. The witty altercations are not without the air and many a deadly glance passes in review. So real love, for the connoisseur. A relationship that is nicely put on edge by the famous kiss that Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) gets early in the film from Leia as a provocation. Aside from the threat of the Empire, something very vital is at stake: believable love.

By focusing on that, the film retains its humanity. It doesn’t matter how many insanely designed spaceships fly around your ears or how many bizarre creatures are depicted. As long as the core is right. The fact that there is also enough to enjoy only makes the film complete. Luke’s Jedi training, for example, which is full of mystical wisdom. Yoda, the greatest Jedi master ever, who turns out to be a little green man who at first pretends to be a total madman. A chase by an asteroid swarm. A city in the clouds. The surprising denouement in the showdown between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ is full of classic images and sayings.

Of the films in the Original Trilogy, “The Empire Strikes Back” has come out the most merciful in terms of the adjustments George Lucas has felt he must make over time. The most significant changes were introduced in the 1997 Special Edition. Some of them, like the view through the windows in Cloud City, are quite nice. Others, like the elaborate scene in Wampa Cave, still don’t make the best impression. In addition to a number of corrections, the DVD version from 2004 also brought the pleasant consistency of Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor. Compared to that performance, the Blu-ray version of the 2011 film has only a few minor adjustments that none but the most inveterate fans will notice.

What is extra striking on Blu-ray is the beautiful color palette. Certainly the scenes in the Millennium Falcon and Cloud City (especially the fight between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader) look incredibly hot. And the phenomenal film score by John Williams (with the ‘Imperial March’ of course) sounds unparalleled. Of course, it’s not entirely fair that the film can make use of what has already been built in ‘A New Hope’ and what is yet to come in ‘Return of the Jedi’. It is difficult to watch as a separate film, let alone to judge. But viewed as the middle part of a trilogy and in relation to the other films, ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ is quite simply the best Star Wars film ever made. Because everything that has to be right is right. And more.