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Actors: Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about The Empire Strikes Back |
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This film is almost equal to Star Wars. The special effects and music are brilliant. Even 20 years later, these things still haven't dated. In this film you get a better idea of just how difficult it can be to fight. The angst between Han Solo and Leia is finally solved with their romance. Luke finds out that his battle with the Empire and Darth Vader has become a lot more complicated.
--trotsky, Resident Scholar
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Four years after the events in the original "Star Wars," the rebels have set up their base on the ice planet of Hoth. Luke nearly dies in the cold, and the rebels decamp after the Empire locates them and attacks with walkers (that are so spindly and vulnerable that no military strategist would build, let alone deploy, them). Han takes most of the crew to the Cloud City on the planet Bespin, where hopes his old gambling buddy Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams, in one of the best supporting performances in the series), while Luke follows the advice of Obi-Wan's shade and seeks out Yoda on the jungle planet Dagobah for further Jedi training. In many ways, the second "Star Wars" film to hit the screen (in 1980) is the best: directed by veteran Irvin Kershner and co-written by scifi great Leigh Brackett (she died after completing the first draft) and up-and-comer Lawrence Kasdan (shortly to do "Body Heat" and "The Big Chill"), the rest of the crew rose to the occasion. The viewer is treated to a variety of locales and terrains but (unlike more recent efforts) with comparably strong acting and script. There are some big plot twists, and no more vivid emotional moment than when Han goes into carbon freezing and Leia confesses her love to him.
--David Loftus, Resident Scholar
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My personal favorite of the original Star Wars Trilogy. Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca and the droids are back, but this time Darth Vader and the Empire, still pissed off about their blown-up Death Star, do most of the butt kicking. The Rebels have set up camp on the ice world Hoth where an ice creature rips Luke a new one. Luke has a vision where Obi-wan Kenobie tells him to go visit his old jedi master, Yoda, then Han comes along and saves him. Then the Empire invades the Rebels' base and sends them fleeing for their lives. Luke decides to go find Yoda and Han and Leia, the hyperdrive on their ship being unoperational, have a tough time of it trying to escape the Empire fleet, though they manage to evade them for a while by flying into an asteroid field. Meanwhile Luke goes to Degoba and meets Yoda and starts learning the ways of the force. Yhe bounty hunter Boba Fett follows Han and Leia to Cloud City where Han hopes to obtain refuge with an old friend named Lando. Lando betrays them in a deal to keep the Empire from interfering with his mining business and Han gets frozen in carbonite and turned over to Boba Fett, who wants to collect from Jabba the Hutt. Darth Vader hangs around and waits for Luke to show up so he can take him to the Emperor and turn him to the dark side of the force. A lightsaber battle ensues between Luke and Darth Vader- you can almost see Darth yawning as he easily fends off everything Luke's can dish out. Darth chops off Luke hand and reveals that he's his father, which doesn't exactly make Luke's day. Lando frees Leia and Chewbacca and helps them escape and save Luke. The movie ends as Luke gets fitted with prostethic hand nad Lando and Chewbacca setting off to rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt. The most realistic Star wars movie, has something for everyone, great acting, bad acting ("No! That't not true! That's impossible!"), violence, romance, spiritual philosophy, etc.
--sayruh, Resident Scholar
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The Rebellion crumbles under a renewed Imperial assault led by Darth Vader. Han Solo and Princess Leia try to evade capture, while Luke Skywalker seeks out the last Jedi Master. An exciting but dark continuation of the Star Wars story.
--Artemis, Resident Scholar
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Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia return in this sequel to Star Wars in which they continue their battle against the evil of Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire.
--Steph Swanger, Resident Scholar
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Darth Vader hunts down Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, freezing one and lopping off the hand of the other. Look for Boba Fett's cameo.
--steve, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Star Wars Movies |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Composition of Movie
Actual chase scenes or violence - 30%
Planning/preparing, gather info, debate puzzle - 40%
Feelings, relationships, character bio/development - 30%
**Fantasy or Science Fiction?**
- science fiction story
Coming of age
Yes
he'll/she'll become:
- guardian of justice
Mental/Magical powers focus
Yes
kind of powers:
- clash between people with mental powers
War and Invasion
Yes
Major kinds of combat:
- sword fights
- laser battles
Part of a series?
- Star Wars
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- military pilot
Age:
- 20's-30's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main character:
- telekinesis
- can see into the future
Hair color?
- blonde
Hair type
- (man) short/medium straight
Body type
- average (man)
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- average build (man)
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- Male
Age:
- 40's-50's
Has special powers?
Yes
Magical/mental powers of main antagonist:
- telekinesis
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 60%
Body type
- muscular (man)
Intelligence
- Average Intelligence
Physical condition
- average physique
How sensitive is this character?
- mean, arrogant
Setting
Spaceship setting:
- futuristic human freighter/transport
- one or two man fighter/scoutship
- futuristic human warship
A substantial portion of this movie takes place on a non-Earth planetary body:
- humans in a futuristic society
- empty, or nearly empty world
Planet outside our solar system?
Yes
Takes place in spaceship?
Yes
Ice world?
Yes
In Space?
- asteroid
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Kinds of F/X
- exploding bombs
- exploding spaceships
- exotic spaceships
- exotic aliens
- exotic big cities
- exotic alien landscape
If Soundtrack VERY NOTICEABLE...
- Orchestra/classical
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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