Superlatively masterful

Rating: 9/10 (14 December 2002)

Darth Vader may indeed be the greatest "bad guy" in all movie history. This part of the story is his chapter, his finest hour. Everthing goes his way. If you're a betting man, lay your money on the Dark Lord of the Sith.
Anyway, this film has a darkness, a heaviness, a cloud over it. The Empire indeed does strike back, and in a big way. We begin to appreciate that the nice neat story in Star Wars ain't over by a long shot.

In that final showdown between Luke and Vader, the music and action is moving beyond words. Vader's voice, booming and ominous, tells Luke "You underestimate the power of the dark side."
The showdown between Luke and Darth Vader climaxes in what might be the most shocking one-liner of all time when Darth asks Luke "Obi-wan never told you what happened to your father," Luke replies "You killed him," and Vader says "no Luke, I...am your father. Search within yourself, you know it to be true. Join me, and together we can rule the galaxy as father and son."
My goodness! Has ANY movie EVER left you hanging on for the sequel you knew had to come?!
I'm also a little confused by reviewers who criticize the contributions of Yoda. 'The Force' is what this entire story is all about. When all the movies are finally produced, take a week and watch them all, one each night, with the last two shown back to back on a Saturday night or Sunday. From the first episode to the last, it's always been about the force, and the balance in the galaxy.