Revisiting ‘The Empire Strikes Back’
Luke v. Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back | Credit: Lucasfilm
After the defeat of the Rebel Alliance, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and his friends must go on daring adventures to escape the Empire and plan their next steps.
Simply put: The Empire Strikes Back rocks! This film came out nearly 45 years ago, and it is still utterly captivating. The dialogue, set pieces, and endearing characters make this film a blast to watch. It’s so well done that you can rewatch this film over and over again and still discover something new every time.
What impressed me the most upon this most recent rewatch is how incredibly well-paced this film is. Throughout the runtime, we visit a few different locations and follow three primary groups of people as they go on their various adventures. But you never feel overwhelmed or lost during these escapades. Instead, you know where everyone is and what they are all doing. And the film cuts from one group to the next, always at the right time. We are constantly checking in with our protagonists to see how they’re doing, and we always know where Darth Vader is and what he’s plotting. The quick pacing of these scenes helps us always feel as though we’re gaining momentum and always keeps the threat of the Empire at the top of our minds.
The Empire Strikes Back is also great at showing us what the characters are feeling, rather than telling us. In probably the most iconic example of this, when Luke is on Dagobah, training to be a Jedi, he makes his way into a cave where he is confronted with the image of Vader. When he finally bests the figure, the helmet opens to reveal Luke’s face. This is, of course, incredibly jarring to see and hints at some later reveals. But it also shows us some of the anxiety that Luke is likely feeling. In that moment, we realize how the lines between good and evil can be blurred. We see the toll that Luke's quest is taking on his mind, body, and emotions. He is haunted by the image of Vader, and the capacity to become like him is lurking within everyone, even our beloved protagonist.
It’s such a quick scene, but those images give us a ton to think about. It’s a powerful and pivotal moment in the film. Without any dialogue, the film communicates so much to us and plants the seeds of where the rest of the movie is going to go.
Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back | Credit: Lucasfilm
The Empire Strikes Back is also hilarious. Han Solo (Harrison Ford)’s sarcastic and dry sense of humor brings so much to this film. That combined with C-3PO’s constant nagging and not understanding humans, Chewy’s everything, Yoda’s shenanigans, and even R2-D2’s strategically timed beeps bring moments of humor throughout the film. We always have an opportunity for levity, even when our heroes are running for their lives and we’re not sure how they’ll make it out.
What I find most impressive about these humorous moments is that they don’t take away from the emotional or dramatic scenes. There’s so much depth to this film, and Empire doesn’t shy away from the emotional turmoil that our heroes are experiencing. We see their anguish, terror, and despair throughout the film. And even though there are such varied emotions and tones throughout, they don’t feel jarring, but each emotional moment comes at just the right time to help us experience what our characters are going through.
Beyond the great writing and performances, this film still looks incredible! It’s been 45 years, and the special effects still hold up. Whether it’s fighting the AT-ATs, flying through an asteroid field, training on Dagobah, or the lightsaber battle, these intense action scenes thrill. What a perfect example of the need to use practical effects as much as possible. While technology has come incredibly far, even today, there’s still no substitute for the real-world effects.
The other piece of The Empire Strikes Back that is still phenomenal is the score. John Williams has scored some of the most iconic films of all time, and this is one of his most recognizable works. And each musical theme perfectly matches what’s going on in the scene. There’s never a mismatch or an errant musical phrase. The music and the cinematography are so well integrated that they help immerse us in the scene. The score helps us feel what the characters are feeling, ushering us not just to watch the film as bystanders, but to feel as though we are in this battle with our heroes. What an incredible accomplishment!
Mark Hamill in The Empire Strikes Back | Credit: Lucasfilm
The Empire Strikes Back is ranked by many as their favorite Star Wars film, and for good reason. This movie absolutely rocks! It’s one that you want to revisit over and over again, with so many iconic moments and set pieces that you don’t want to look away. The story is perfectly paced, giving us humor, emotional depth, and exciting action set pieces at just the right time. It has some of the most memorable scenes in film history and some of the most iconic lines.
It’s one that you want to revisit over and over again, and because there’s so much depth, there’s always something new to discover.