An unmitigated masterpiece

Rating: 10/10 (25 July 2003)

CONTAINS SPOILERS
The general consensus among fans and critics says The Empire Strikes Back is the finest Star Wars film. I would have to agree. It's darker, funnier and more dramatic than the first film. Although not a sequel in the strictest sense of the word, it belongs to an elite club of `even-better-than-the-original' films along with The Godfather part II and Toy Story 2.
The Empire Strikes Back in the hands of studio bosses would probably have been a straight rehash of the original. Thankfully, George Lucas had complete financial and creative control, bringing in director Irvin Kershner and screenwriters Lawrence Kasdan and Leigh Brackett (who died before the film was finished) to help realise his vision. These collaborators deserve as much credit as Lucas himself for the unmitigated masterpiece that resulted.
The Empire Strikes Back picks up the story again as the Rebel Alliance are hiding from the evil Empire on snow planet Hoth. Here we are re-introduced to our heroes Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia and droids C3PO and R2 D2. Luke is attacked by a snow monster (a kind of abominable snowman called the `Hoth Wampa'). He defeats the creature but is lost in the icy night and begins to freeze to death. In his delirium, Luke sees a vision of his dead mentor Obi Wan Kenobi instructing him to find Jedi Master Yoda and train as a Jedi.
At the same time, romance is brewing between Han Solo and Princess Leia, although they both refuse to admit it. Han intends to leave Hoth with co-pilot Chewbacca and pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt before his bounty hunters catch up with him. However, Han's departure is delayed by rescuing Luke.
Unfortunately, It doesn't take long for the Empire, under the leadership of Darth Vader to find the Rebels. Vader has suddenly become obsessed with tracking down Luke Skywalker and turning him to the dark side of the Force. The Rebels are attacked (in a brilliant battle sequence with huge walking machines called AT ATs) and our heroes take separate paths for the remainder of the film. Han, Leia, Chewbacca and C3PO flee Imperial forces through space, and Luke seeks Jedi Master Yoda to be instructed in the Force and become a Jedi.
Several things about this film are superior to any other film in the Star Wars canon. For a start, the acting is never better than here (largely thanks to Kershner). Even Mark Hamill is good and the romantic banter between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher is brilliantly performed, recalling the classic Hollywood screwball comedies of the 1930s and 40s (`Would it help if I got out and pushed?') There are some great new characters, such as Yoda (Frank Oz), the best puppet character in film history with the possible exception of ET, and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), a double-dealing rogue from Han's past. Despite having very little screen time, bounty hunter Boba Fett (Jeremy Buloch), became a favourite among fans, and we even get our first glimpse of the evil Emperor (played here by Clive Revill, not Ian McDiarmid).
The planets visited are more interesting than in any of the other films. Cloud city is wonderful (especially the carbon freeze chamber), Dagobah is an appropriately gloomy swamp, and the Hoth wastelands are spectacular. The production design is absolutely first rate. Also, John Williams music is at its best here, with fantastic new themes including one for Yoda, a great love theme, and the stunning Imperial march (or Darth Vader theme).
Needless to say, the editing, cinematography, sound and special effects are all wonderful (particularly in the asteroid chase). The witty screenplay never wastes a second and is full understated emotion, particularly in the tearful climax to Han and Leia's romance. Is this really the end of Han Solo? In 1980 audiences had to wait three painful years to find out. Now thankfully, we can simply pull out our VHS of Return of the Jedi. By the way, this one also has the best lightsabre duel in the entire saga.
Which brings us to the ending. The greatest thing about The Empire Strikes Back is how the plot is propelled, by a brilliant and now legendary twist, to its downbeat conclusion. The dark ending is crucial because it creates a huge sense of uncertainty for the final film. Will good really triumph over evil? This story is great because it's more complex than just good versus bad. Luke not only has to overcome the evil Empire but the evil in himself. It's about resisting temptation, even to the potential cost of ones life.
Whatever George Lucas does with Episode III, nothing for me will ever top this truly magnificent film.