The best film in the series

Rating: 9/10 (26 March 2009)

With "The Empire Strikes Back" George Lucas & company delivered the next chapter in the hugely popular "Star Wars" saga. Picking up where the first film left off, the rebels are on the run from the Empire, who've stepped up their efforts to stamp out the uprising once and for all. Meanwhile, Luke seeks to learn the ways of the Force in preparation for his showdown with Darth Vader.
The cast is mostly unchanged from the first film. The most notable new faces are Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and Yoda (voiced by puppeteer Frank Oz). I'd venture to say that the acting is a little better than the first film, though that may be because the characters are a little more refined.
The film contains the same sense of excitement as the first but there's also a darker side as Luke discovers the truth about his father's supposed demise. Then, of course, there's the cliff-hanger ending that leaves the viewer itching to move on to the final chapter.
The direction, taken over by Irvin Kershner, is (in my opinion) a step up from the first film. No doubt the film's improved look was also bolstered by a more generous budget. The special effects were spectacular once again and landed a special achievement award at Oscar time. Of course, the effects aren't as polished as today's best efforts but they remain impressive.
The score by John Williams is excellent; as good as (if not better than) his score for the first film. Also, the sound is top notch once again, resulting in the film's only Oscar win.
All in all, the middle film in the original "Star Wars" trilogy makes a strong case as the single best film in the series. While I feel that the trilogy works best as a whole since each of the films contain elements that are best appreciated by looking at the big picture, "The Empire Strikes Back" contains the best combination of action, humour & drama.
By the way, forget about the 1997 'Special Edition' release and go with the original. If I recall correctly, this film didn't have any particularly irritating 'improvements' like the other two films but I may be forgetting something.