Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back Movie Review

Released: May 21st 1980

Length: 124 Minutes

Certificate: U

Director: Irvin Kershner

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, James Earl Jones, David Prouse, Frank Oz, and Billy Dee Williams

Star Wars was a smashing success, even though some didn’t have the most faith in the project to begin with. Everyone was talking about the film and soon afterwards a sequel was announced and the excitement began to build. With a different director at the helm, The Empire Strikes Back was able to exceed the original, while also immersing fans even more into the saga.

Beginning three years after the Rebel’s victory over the death star, Episode V wastes no time in living up to its namesake. The Empire really is coming down on the rebellion like a ton of bricks, having forced them out of their base on Yavin IV and pushing them to a final planetary base on Hoth. After a devastating armoured assault that puts the rebels on the run, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) head off in opposite directions. Luke, with R2-D2 (Kenny Baker) in tow plots a course to Dagobah to enter the more intensive aspects of his Jedi training, while Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) evade the Empire’s grasp, all the while contending with a faulty Millennium Falcon. By dividing the film into these plot threads, Episode V gives and seamlessly shifts between two distinctive tones; Luke’s story builds further intrigue in the nature of the force, whilst Han, Leia and company is like an endless chase sequence, one which never loses its fast-paced intensity. The way in which the Empire relentlessly pursues our heroes gets us emotionally invested in their struggle and serves another reminder that the villains are more determined than ever to crush the rebels. The two stories eventually meet up, building to what is easily the most shocking twist in film history; suddenly the entire mythos of the Star Wars universe is flipped on its head, leaving the audience blown away and begging for more. With its leaner and darker plot, Episode V does what any great sequel should, continue the story and continue to surprise and thrill film-goers at every turn.

Episode V expands massively on the already memorable characters of the trilogy while also introducing a few new ones. Yoda (Frank Oz) is a puppet made to perform in front of the camera, and yet he’s such a fascinating and likeable character. Despite his humorous yet senile outward appearance, what lies on the inside is a massive wealth of knowledge and heart that draws you in to Luke’s training in the force. On the opposite end of the film, we have Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) a terrifically suave character who plays off Han Solo really well before eventually jumping into the action. The three main characters from A New Hope are split up for most of the film, and this allows the narrative to home in on each of their personal stories. Luke undergoes a change which is more psychological than physical in this movie; he desires to learn and train in the use of the force, but his insecurity, anxiety and somewhat overconfident attitude raises doubts about the path he is taking. There are moments where you wonder if the protagonist has made the right choices and this makes him that much more relatable. Han and Leia undergo a very believable and well realised emotional journey that builds over the course of the film; by the time the more sinister events begin to befall our heroes, it creates a strong emotional punch that again highlights how powerful the Empire really is. Whilst the heroes have gone deeper in their relationships with each other, the villains have grown more menacing. Vader (James Earl Jones) has become twice as ruthless as he was in the first film; he will not tolerate failure and this is clearly shown as he severely punishes his lieutenants for their errors. He commands every scene whenever he is present, the Imperial officers watching with their nervous faces and body language wondering who will be next to feel his wrath. Empire Strikes Back also introduces us to the Emperor (Ian Mcdiarmid) and even though it’s very brief, you’re left wondering what role he will play and how deep his evil reaches. The characters of Episode V are ultimately more memorable and investing, their personal stories becoming far more prevalent than they were before.

Staying true to what worked in the original, the special effects in The Empire Strikes Back are more progressive than innovative in their execution. That’s not to say that the effects have taken a step back from the original film. Far from it in fact as the practical models convey an increased scale. The lumbering behemoth AT-AT walkers feel both powerful and imposing in the way they easily best the rebels in the film’s first action sequence. Space battles have also received an upgrade with the asteroid field serving a brilliant source of tension, upping the stakes and making us fear for the character’s survival. While most of the filming was done using practical sets and effects, the highlights of which being the hallways of Cloud City and the swamps of Dagobah, the on-set shooting in Norway goes far towards getting across the chilling and icy surface of Hoth. The greatest leap forward though comes from the music; John Williams really outdid himself here. The Hoth and Imperial March themes add an even higher degree of power to the Empire’s presence this time around, whilst Yoda’s theme is more simplistic, highlighting the Jedi Master’s subtle and deceiving identity.

The Empire Strikes Back is an excellent sequel to Star Wars in every way, but to leave it there would be doing it a great disservice. This is a film that stands head and shoulders above every other main entry in the saga, bringing its plot and characters to the forefront. Of all the films, games and numerous other contributions to George Lucas’s epic space opera, there is nothing I can recommend more than this film.

Rating: 5/5 Stars