A Thrill Ride!

Rating: 10/10 (16 May 2005)

The darker version of the trilogy as three years has passed since the original box-office smash; it was in February of 1997 where I watched the movie in its new edition and suddenly I was like the people who saw the film in 1980 where the sequel was better than ever. Though George Lucas became in charge of the production, he is not directing this film or the other sequel (Return of the Jedi) as Irvin Krishern (Robocop 2) takes over Lucas's desire in a way fans have never dreamed of.
"Empire Strikes Back" starts off in the Ice Planet Hoth where Luke, Han and Leia have been stationed with the rebel troops as they try to hide from Darth Vader after the destruction of the Death Star. In the film's beginning, Luke and Solo have been separated during a snowstorm in which Luke gets attacked by a creature in the snow, and taking him where Luke will be lunch. Luke manages to defeat the creature, as he is now unstable to move where he sees the ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi, telling him to go to see the master Jedi, Yoda where he will finish his Jedi training.
After Han rescues Luke, the base camp is under attack by the Imperial as now everybody escapes from the camp, being separate from one another as Luke and R2-D2 take the X-Wing and go visit Yoda, while Han, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO take to Millennium Falcon to Cloud City to visit a pal of Han Solo's while escaping Darth Vader, who has hired bounty hunters to take Solo to Jabba the Hutt; and at the same time, Han has feelings for Princess Leia as he tries to put the moves on her.
Luke and R2-D2 arrived in a deserted swamp in another planet where they meet the creature Yoda, who is small, old and is much like a doll that people will want to buy from the stores. Yoda gets Luke into shape, as he wants him to confront his enemies in the future; also to see if Luke has what it takes to be a Jedi knight without having any fears or anger towards his journey. The apprentice and the droid leave Yoda as Obi-Wan tells the green creature that he is their only hope; while Yoda says that there's another one with the same gift as Luke.
Han Solo, Leia, Chewbacca and C-3PO arrived at Cloud City where they meet Lando Calrissen (Billy Dee Williams), a mercenary turned peace adviser of the planet and friend to Han, where they go inside to relax, until 3PO has been abducted and Darth Vader arrives in the waiting room, capturing Luke's friends and taking them hostage. Vader has a surprise for Luke Skywalker where he has a carbonate freezer ready to kill Luke, but first, he must give bounty hunter Boba Fett what he wants: Han Solo. Vader tests the machine on Luke where he is a block of ice with a monitor on the side. Boba's got the prize and must return Solo to Jabba the Hutt.
Luke arrives at the scene where Boba fires at him and than seeing the peril that his friends were in, R2-D2 goes to help the princess, chewy and 3PO as Luke finds Darth Vader in the carbonate room where they duel with a grand surprise in the end.
"The Empire Strikes Back" is the best of the series, a more mature film where we get to know everything about the main characters and their flaws, not to mention how Irvin pulled it off since he directed this film; plus the John Williams score is a phenomenal as we hear the famous Imperial March. This is a grand ride that we will never hear the end of.