There's a recurring problem in the film industry: Great movies are usually followed up with disappointing sequels. Think about it, how many legendary movies have entered into our media consciousness only to be followed up by mediocrity? Rarely does a sequel have the same success as the original creation, let alone match it. The big problem with sequels is they either try to play off the success of the original work and fail, or they differentiate so drastically from the first film they end up making some that is very unfaithful, and very bad. Sure, there are exceptions that prove this rule, such as Aliens, but for the most part...sequels aren't very good. So what happens when a great movie is followed up by an even greater one? It gets on people's radar in a big way. Here we are, for my most controversial review yet, I give you... Star wars Episode V!
Plot: It is a dark time for the Rebellion. Although the Death Star has been destroyed, Imperial troops have driven the Rebel forces from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Evading the dreaded Imperial Starfleet, a group of Freedom Fighters led by Luke Skywalker has established a new secret base on the remote ice world of Hoth. The evil lord Darth Vader, obsessed with finding young Skywalker, has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of space...
Cast: Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker
Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa
Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels as C-3PO
David Prowse as Darth Vader (Voice by James Earl Jones)
Kenny Baker as R2-D2
Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca
Frank Oz as Yoda
Jeremy Bulloch as Boba Fett
The Review: Well, let's get started. The opening sequences for this film are a departure from the series' previous entry. Where the first film started off with action, this film simply tries to make you uneasy. It works pretty well, and sets the tone and pacing for the movie.
Something sequels have over their predecessors is that they don't ahave to establish a universe. Episode V takes advantage of that, and goes a little deeper into the civilizations and lifestyles that have existed and now exist in the galaxy.
The romantic tension between Han and Leia is well executed and original. Sure, the good girl and rebel has been done before, but usually it's between the lead male role and the leade female. Han's a side character, so it's cool to see a side character have a greater focus.
The relationships between the characters in this movie show a maturity and depth that did not exist in the previous entry. Three years have passed since the events of A New Hope, and the banter and habits between the main three are proof of such. You can see they know how each other will react to certan things.
Luke's early exploration of the Force is a cool one. We saw only brief glimpses of its use in the first film, but early on we see Skywalker's undeveloped powers being tested. It gives us a look into a larger world, as well as hinting at Luke's own potential.
I mentioned n my last review that the acting was good. In this one it's even better, stellar really. I don't know how they did it.
Oh, and just on a fanboy note: That Super Star Destroyer is plain awesome.
The returning cast and characters feel more fleshed out than they did in the previous entry. The aura of mystery surrounding some of them begins to lift, in a way that does not disappoint the viewer.
Darth Vader gets far more focus in this film than in Episode IV, and I love it. Seriously, just add more Darth Vader to everything and you're pretty much good.
Another fanboy note, but also a technical one: The AT-AT's rock. One of the most iconic pieces of machinery in the film, right behind the X-Wing and the TIE Fighter.
I may get a little flack for this, but I believe this is John William's best score of the Star Wars saga. As I've grown up, I've come to realize that many a score used in this film would later go on to be used in much of the Star Wars entertainment media, such as video games and so on. I recognized more of his work in this film than I did any of the others.
Ah, the asteroid field chase scene. A high point of the film and special effects wise it still looks pretty good. Granted, not as good as the rest of the film, but I've come across an interesting fact in the time I've spent watching movies: asteroids almost never look good. The fact that this film kinda breaks the rule on that is astounding.
As the film progresses, we see some of Darth Vader's mystique start to unravel, as we learn that he is not a machine as some thought, but is no mere man as well...
Yoda is just plain hilarious. Brilliant awesomeness wrapped up in a green midget.
And what's Yoda's best trait? He's constantly calling out Luke's whiny bullcrap. About time someone did that for us. Thank you Yoda, for shutting him up.
Out of the main three, I found Han to be the most developed character. At the start of the film, he's somewhat similar to how he was in Episode IV, though with some heroic traits mixed in. Ad the movie goes on, however, we see him fall in love and change from a scoundrel and into a hero the galaxy needs.
Oh, and Boba Fett. Enough said.
Luke's struggles between good and evil are an interesting visual for our own battles between good and evil. His use of the Force creates an imbalance between right and wrong for him, clouding his judgement and pushing him further and further away from his days as a simple farmboy on Tatooine.
How often do the bad guys win? Not often. How often do they win decisively? Almost never. But this badly? Unheard of. The Empire crush the Rebellion underneath their boots right from the beginning and never stop once. It's a pretty grim Star Wars film all around.
The Empire Strikes Back also gives us another great scene in the form of our first real lightsaber batle. A great scene and a fantastic display of actual swordplay. Yeah, the Original Trilogy's lightsabe duels are based off real sword fighting techniques.
Darth Vaser's revelation about Luke's heritage. Holy crap, I cannot imagine what it must've been like to witness this in theaters.
The Bottom Line: This movie took risks, just like its predecessor. It stood on what the earlier work had already done, and took the next step. It pushed things farther, and tried to do what hadn't been done yet, and succeeded brilliantly. Rarely does a sequel turn out to be this good, and this film leaves viewers with a torturous cliffhanger. When this movie was released in 1980, I bet fans went into comas because of Darth Vader's reveal, and they would have to wait three more years to find out if it was actually true or not. IS Darth Vader Luke's father? Time would have to tell.
Well, that is it for this review. I will NOT be comng back this Monday, as I will be busy the 12th of next week with Pacific Rim and I will be out of town that evening. I don't want to start a week of reviews if I'm going to be able to finish, so just hold out till the 15th, and I shall return with another fantastic movie.
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