No. 10b - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

The Star Wars Saga Continues...

Rated: PG (Parental Guidance) for sci-fi violence

Director: Irvin Kershner; Screenplay: Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan

Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, David Prowse, James Earl Jones

Movie Introduction: Luke Skywalker (Hamill), Han Solo (Ford), Princess Leia (Fisher) face attack by the Imperial forces and their giant Walkers on the ice planet Hoth. While Han and Leia escape in the Millennium Falcon, Luke's new “force” powers draw him to the swampy planet Dagobah. There he encounters Yoda, an ancient Jedi master, who agrees to begin Luke's training. When the Empire captures this friends, Luke is drawn to leave Yoda to help them, even though his training is not complete. Yoda warns that if he leaves to help his friends, he may succumb to Dark Vader and the dark side of the force.

Defining Moment: "That is why you fail."

As Master Yoda works with young Luke, subjecting him to tough physical training, we see a boy growing. However Yoda also teaches Luke the ways of “the force”. Luke tries to accept this teachings, but his new faith proves too weak. He tries to rescue his X-Wing fighter from the engulfing swamp, but to no avail. Yoda, who is small and frail, uses the opportunity to teach Luke yet another important lesson (watch the scene on YouTube).

Something subtle you might have missed:  i've heard that voice before...

George Lucas wanted the great Jim Henson to voice Luke's alien mentor Yoda. Jim Henson recommended Frank Oz, a veteran puppeteer and voice actor. Oz worked on TV's Sesame Street, his characters being Bert, Grover, and Cookie monster among others. On TV's The Muppet Show, he voiced Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy and Animal

Oz would do both the voice and puppeteer work for Yoda in Empire and Return of the Jedi, and he would go on to voice Yoda in almost every major film and video game after that.

Memorable Quotes:

"If once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny." – Master Yoda

"No! Try not. Do... or do not. There is no try." – Master Yoda

Dad's Review:

When Star Wars hit theaters and became such a phenomenon, George Lucas quickly started on the sequel. Scripts were written and re-written. Unlink the original film, Lucas hired a director, Irvin Kershner, then devoted his focus toward the film's massive special effect requirements by starting a new company named Industrial Light and Magic (IDLM).

The film's making was full on problems: actor injuries, fires, cost over-runs. Still, thanks to a much bigger budget, this second entry is more polished, and the special effects are incredible.

In May of 1980, the film opened. It was a huge hit, and the highest grossing film that year.

This film centers on the Evil Empire's many attempts to squash the rebellion, which is gaining momentum. Our heroes are taken in two different directions:

Han, Leia and Chewbacca are on the run from the Empire aboard the Millennium Falcon.

Luke take an alternate course, as he feels mysteriously drawn to the swampy planet Degobah. There he and R2-D2 meet Yoda, an small, green and very ancient Jedi master. Thus begins Luke’s training. The Luke/Yoda moments are my favorite of the entire film series. Luke is eager to learn, but like a typical novice, the process frustrates him. Yoda masterfully shows him the ways of the force. We see a boy growing into a man.

Everything builds to Luke's showdown with the evil Jedi, Darth Vader.

By the film's end, Han is taken prisoner, Luke is badly injured and the audience is exhausted. The film concludes, we're holding a bagful of plot points left unresolved. For the middle film in a trilogy, this makes perfect sense. It also builds monumental expectations for the final act.

Critics were divided because of the film's darker tone. Well, boo hoo! I personally liked the change in tone. There is more at stake for the principal characters. They can incur injuries. There are consequences to actions. Evil is seductive and hard to resist. It was more mature, more engrossing, more real.

Empire has so many great moments: the Imperial snow walkers, Luke’s training, Obi-Wan's reappearance as a force ghost, Lando’s betrayal, Han and Leia’s goodbye. It was no small feat to cram it all into one movie, but Lucas and company pulled it off. The product is a wonderful science fiction adventure film. Critics have since re-evaluated the film, deeming it the best Star Wars film and, on many lists, one of the greatest films of all time!

I whole-heartedly agree.

Onto No. 11...The Reinstatement of the Lightsaber-Weilder