Gets better with age (spoilers)

Rating: Null/10 (15 April 2000)

20 years after its release, "The Empire Strikes Back" continues to improve with the passage of time. This film has substance and I personally, catch something new everytime I see it. My favorite thing about this movie is that it never lets up. The suspense and tension builds throughout the full 2 hours.
The main antagonist of the story is the evil Empire, led by Darth Vader, who is unrelenting in his pursuit of the Rebel Alliance. Vader simply never lets up, focusing his efforts on capturing Han Solo & Princess Leia, and using them to get to his main prize: Luke Skywalker. I thought it was brilliant how the story was told, because you can't tell what's going to happen next. Every scene has a surprise and a cliffhanger.

My favorite scenes involved the Star Destroyer, led by Vader, pursuing the Milennium Falcon with Han & Leia. The part where Han flies into an asteroid field is breathtaking. The music during this scene is perfect and adds to the suspense. I also liked when Han decides to 'turn around and attack' the Star Destroyer and then hides on back of the ship. Finally, the most memorable scene of the film is the "carbonation" scene where Han is frozen. This is a sad scene and Harrison Ford's acting is flawless.

As a bonus you get Luke, Yoda and the unforgettable light saber duel between Vader & Luke. I think "Empire" is what makes movie viewing great. The great story, the adventure, the surprises & the pure escapist thrill of it all. And the best thing about this movie is that it holds up so well after all these years. So much attention to detail and dialogue really helps this movie remain a classic with very few "cringe scenes." You know, scenes where you wish they would of just left that out.
In final, this movie is not as fast paced or grounded in fantasy as the other three Star Wars movies. But I believe its the best. Sit back and be patient with this one. Surviving the suspense is worth it.