Review of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by Rob R — 11 Apr 2016
Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back is far superior than its predecessor, A New Hope. With an intriguing, even addicting storyline, Episode V is never boring. It backs up the box office records with an actual groundbreaking, strong film that Episode IV failed to do.
A lot of this success had to spawn from the fact that George Lucas stayed away from directing. The screenplay is strong, and provides the film with more credibility. Even the performances carry more substance and character development, especially Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.
However, it's Darth Vader who steals the show. With more on-screen time than the first film, his presence is known and demanded. Carrie Fisher even uses the force to make her performance tolerable as Princess Leia.
Episode V is an all-around improvement that puts the trilogy on the map. The special effects are still dazzling for its time, but it's the sound of the film that really stands out. John Williams musical score is fascinating, and the sound mixing and effects are top-notch.
As the best film of the trilogy, even non fans of Star Wars will be entertained and impressed. A-.
This review of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) was written by Rob R on 11 Apr 2016.
The Empire Strikes Back has generally received very positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
