The
Empire Strikes Back was the second film in the original Star Wars trilogy. Widely regarded to have been the best film of the cycle, its plot concerned itself with Luke Skywalkers attempts to become a
Jedi and Darth Vader´s plot to destroy the rebels and capture Skywalker.
Great scenes include the
Millenum Falcon´s flight through an asteroid field, Vader´s meeting with a group of bounty hunters aboard his huge flagship
The Executor ("No Disintegrations"), and a climactic
lightsaber duel beteween Skywalker and Vader.
The film begins on the ice planet
Hoth, and features the swamp world
Dagobah and the
Cloud City of
Bespin.
New characters included the
Jedi Master Yoda, the Emperor,
Lando Calrisian and
Boba Fett.
All in all I would have to admit as far as cinematic tension goes and shocking cliffhangers
ESB is the best
SW film to date (I´m praying
Attack of the Clones will top it). The direction is much better than that of Lucas´
Star Wars and
Richard Marquand´s
comic book like
Return of the Jedi. The film does set up Jedi very well and takes the SW universe beyond the
Death Star.
I don´t want to repeat what has been said above about the psychology of the DV/LS relationship. However the film shed a lot of light on the
Force and the
Jedi´s relation to it. It is clear that Lucas is refering to a
dao like energy field. The spiritual side of SW comes to the forefront here.
Genre:
Fantasy/ Sci-Fi / Action / Adventure
Directed by
Irvin Kershner
Written by:
George Lucas (story)
Leigh Brackett
Lawrence Kasdan
Produced by´:
Gary Kurtz
George Lucas .... executive producer
Rick McCallum .... producer: special edition
Original music by
John Williams
Cast:
Mark Hamill .... Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford .... Han Solo
Carrie Fisher .... Princess Leia
Billy Dee Williams .... Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels .... C-3PO
David Prowse .... Darth Vader
Peter Mayhew .... Chewbacca
Kenny Baker .... R2-D2
Frank Oz .... Performing Yoda (voice)
Alec Guinness .... Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
Jeremy Bulloch .... Boba Fett
John Hollis .... Lobot
Jack Purvis .... Chief Ugnaught
Des Webb .... Wampa
Clive Revill .... Voice of the Emperor
Kenneth Colley .... Admiral Piett
Julian Glover .... General Veers
Michael Sheard .... Admiral Ozzel
Michael Culver .... Captain Needa
Bruce Boa .... General Rieekan
Christopher Malcolm .... Zev (Rogue 2)
Denis Lawson .... Wedge (Rogue 3)
Richard Oldfield .... Hobbie (Rogue 4)
John Morton .... Dak (Luke's Gunner)
Ian Liston .... Janson (Wedge's Gunner)
John Ratzenberger (CLIFF!) .... Major Derlin
Jack McKenzie .... Deck Lieutenant
Morris Bush .... Dengar (uncredited)
James Earl Jones .... Darth Vader (voice) (uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie .... General McQuarrie (uncredited)
Cathy Munro .... Zuckuss/E-3PO (uncredited)
Chris Parsons .... 4-LOM/Various Droids (uncredited)
Harold Weed .... Wampa (special edition) (uncredited)
Treat Williams .... Cloud City Trooper/Echo Base Trooper (uncredited)
Jason Wingreen .... Boba Fett´s voice (uncredited)