Review of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by Aaron D — 09 Dec 2015

Empire Strikes back is not only one of the best sequels ever made, not only one of the best movies ever made, it is pretty much perfection. I really cannot find anything to complain about for this film. It is my favorite Star Wars film and in my Top 5 movies of all time!

The opening of the movie on the snow planet of Hoth is amazing. The huge battle between the rebels and the empire in a snowy wasteland is still epic even though I have seen it hundreds of times. The empire is still strong and vader is still menacing as ever. We also get our first look at the emperor who is even creepier and managing as Vader.

After the battle on Hoth, Luke travels to Dageba to find the mystical Jedi Master in hiding, Yoda. Yoda was awesome and after watching the super serious Yoda in the prequels ... he seems a lot goofier now but being alone in hiding on the planet for so long has probably caused him to lose his mind a little bit. After Luke sees visions of Han and Leia in trouble he heads to rescue them ...against Yoda's advice.

Han and Leia head to the Cloud City thinking it will be safe against from the rebels but Vader is waiting there tortures Han to draw Luke into a trap. Vader carbon freezes Han and gives him to the bounty hunter Bulba Fett.

When Luke arrive he faces off with Vader in a pretty awesome light saber battler. Its definitely not as elegant or as choreographed as the prequels but Luke hasn't had a whole lot of training so it forgivable.

My only gripe with this movie and its a small gripe is the whininess of Luke during his training with Yoda. It reminds me of Anakin's whininess that everyone gripes about but for some reason overlooks in Luke's case. Other than that everything is perfection. They way it ends with so many unanswered questions is a perfect cliffhanger. Its dark tone throughout and introduction to new characters like Yoda and Lando are great. The introduction of Vaders Emperial March song is epic. This movie is about as close as you can come to perfection and is the best Star Wars movie ever made!