By far the best Star Wars movie

Rating: 10/10 (21 August 2000)

"Empire Strikes Back" is a wonderful example of how much better a movie can be when it's not directed by George Lucas. Lucas, as witnessed by most of his movies, including the latest "Phantom Menace," is a genius at creating astonishing imageries and forming a spectacular visual setting for the storyline to work through. However, as far as storytelling goes, Irwin Kershner does so much better.
There are two reasons why this should be considered the best of all three; oh no wait, four, if you count "The Phantom Mess," which I'm still bitter about for the fact that it will forever remain as a part of the Star Wars saga -- one drop of ink will make the entire vat of water black, and that's what happened. Anyway, the first reason: The storytelling is amazing. It was appropriately paced and appropriately lengthy. It does much better development of later plot lines than any of the other movies. The romance between Solo and Leia, for example, is done ever so gently and craftily. Luke is finally acting like a decent actor, as his character goes through major transformation from a reckless, brash jedi wannabe to a man whose identity was completely turned upside down. And what about Darth Vader, the greatest villain in cinematic history? You see him here more as a guile, manipulative, tactical, and extremely intelligent character than Episode IV, where he was much more machinelike and brute.
And to me, the ending of this movie had so much more drama than the other two; oh, I mean three, I guess (grr...). One of the most captivating, significant, and shocking lines in movie history, "Luke, I am your father!" still sends shivers and jolt through my body. This is where everything is revealed, and all of the questions presented implicitly in the first Star Wars are answered.
Second, this was simply the most difficult one to make, and you have to give due credit to writers, directors, and produces for that (yes, that includes Lucas). This transition is done ever so perfectly, and that is why I consider this movie a notch better than all others. Well, that is, if you don't by the fact that it is flat-out the best movie anyway.
If you have not seen any Star Wars movies yet. Start watching from Episode IV, NOT I! It will make more sense to do so. Oh, by the way, here's how I rank the Star Wars movies.
Star Wars: ***1/2; Empire Strikes Back: ****; Return of the Jedi: ***; (and yeah yeah, The Phantom Menace: **)
I'm just praying Episode II is better than the previous!