An even more fluid and fun ride than the first one.

Rating: 9/10 (15 May 2002)

Tomorrow night at Midnight I will see the next chapter in the saga that is Star Wars. Tonight I watched them all again to refresh my memory of what it is all about to give a better viewing of Episode II: Attack of the Clones tomorrow night at 12 am.	I initially saw Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back on its opening weekend in a small theater in Crescent City, CA as a touch more than a neophyte movie aficionado. Hitchcock flicks were my favorite at that time. Hitch is still one of my favorite past filmmaker with Hawks and Capra close seconds. These days my tastes lean to Scorsese, Aronofsky and the Coen Brothers. Coppola, Speilburg and Lucas are very good, but to me are more great craftsman than great artists. All have had artistic successes (The Godfather, Schindler's List and THX 1138), but I think they are better craftsman than artists over all.	Lucas is by far one of the greatest producers and craftsman of all time and has done more for true independent film than possibly any director/producer since Chaplin. I also feel strongly that Empire is a far better film than Star Wars with tighter pacing, dialog and performances all around. The was a fluidity that the first one lacked and feel that was built in was not only what was "tight about it".	The "weaknesses" of Star Wars as a piece of "art", or even craft is dwarfed by its emotional impact and timing of release. I was ten when I saw it the first time (several weeks after it was released) and I had to share a seat in the front row with my younger brother who didn't like me much at the time. Once the music started and the words rolled up the screen we didn't care and loved every single second! All we told our dad when he met us out front afterwards was "can we see it again dad, can we see it again dad...". I saw it eleven time in the theater that summer including three time in a row on a great day. This is amazing since my town had only one theatre/screen and it was exceptional that it stayed around long enough for me see it as often as I did. The Trilogy was the first VHS I ever owned (my mother paid $70 each in 85).	My point is that emotional attachment, or detachment to a film is equally important to what a person may think of it critically as a piece of art, or entertainment. I have loved all the Star Wars films and have seen them all except for the first one on its opening day and even the first show of that day with the last two! All that said however, I wouldn't call any of them "great films". Important and amazing films, "Hell Ya!". Some of the best rides I have ever had, "Hell Ya!". Worth watching all in a row every now and again, you bet.	Episode V is more of a love story and character developing episode IV which is why it tends to be many folks favorite thus far. Knowing it will be a blast and finding out that Vader is really Luke's dads only bolsters it. I think Jedi is the best still and part of that may be the fact that I knew that Blue Harvest was really Star Wars III (episode VI) when they shot all the wonderful "forest" scenes. I didn't watch them do it, but knowing it was happening and that the speeder chases were truly impossible (since I lived and played Star Wars in those woods), yet there they were right in front of my eyes. This may be why it still has the strongest hold on my heart! I don't think that the story of Jedi significantly better than Empire, but I am more into temptation, redemption and what is and is not destiny which is more deeply explored and acted out in Jedi.	Love one, love them all it is tough to chose.