Review of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) by Danny R — 12 Dec 2015
Irvin Kershner's brilliant epic continuation of the Star Wars saga is an engrossing entertainment of almost non-stop action, with magnificent and innovative eye-popping Academy Award winning visual effects by Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, and Bruce Nicholson.
Mark Hamill delivers his finest performance as Luke Skywalker which is intense and gripping, with exceptional supporting performances by Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher. After Luke Skywalker and the rebels have destroy the Emperor's Death Star, the rebels now have suffered serious setbacks, everyone who managed to survive the Battle of Yavin has moved to the ice world of Hoth, trying to hide from the evil Galactic Empire, which has sent its Imperial fleet to hunt them down and destroy them, under the ruthless command of the ominous Dark Lord of the Sith, Darth Vader himself, superbly played by Dave Prowse, and wonderfully voiced by James Earl Jones.
Han Solo and Princess Leia try to find shelter at a Cloud City that is owned by Han's old friend and ally Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams in a wonderfully charismatic performance, but then Han and Leia find themselves captured by Darth Vader.
Meanwhile Master Yoda, brilliantly played and voiced by puppet master Frank Oz, in an amazingly fascinating performance, continues to train young Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker, teaching him the ways of the Force on his home world of Dagobah, but during one of the lessons, Luke has a vision of the Cloud City where he sees Han and Leia in trouble.
Luke decided to rescue them and promises Master Yoda to come back and finish his training. During the attempted rescue, Luke will discover a shocking life-changing secret that will shake him to his very core.
The technical mastery in this motion picture is truly breathtaking, and the direction by the late Irvin Kershner is very impressive. This sci-fi classic masterpiece is without a doubt the finest and darkest sequel of the original Star Wars trilogy.
Unmissable! Highly Recommended.
This review of The Empire Strikes Back (1980) was written by Danny R on 12 Dec 2015.
The Empire Strikes Back has generally received very positive reviews.
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