Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Review

"Do… or do not. There is no try" – A review of Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back. 

"The sad thing is I had Star Wars Lego as a kid, and I didn't know who was who" is a sentence that has genuinely just been spoken to me. If you read my review on A New Hope, you'll know that one of my young work colleagues has never seen Star Wars and I am on a mission to convince her to give them a go – but learning that she literally had the Lego sets and had no idea that the little figures were some of the best sci fi heroes ever created?

You know what, maybe the Empire had a point.

Jokes aside, I really do still love the original Star Wars films just as much now as I did when I was a child. I can't pretend like I'm fully in love with everything that the franchise has to offer, but these films are iconic and there's plenty in the Star Wars universe that I still get excited to discover – for example, I was incredibly excited to try out Hyperspace Mountain at Disneyland on my last visit (this was a mistake, it was too much for me and I was in tears by the time the ride ended but hey, I tried and that counts for something, right?) My point is, I still adore the franchise, and A New Hope was absolutely incredible – did The Empire Strikes Back live up to it?

Released in 1980, Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back follows the Rebel Alliance, who had been forced to scatter after their base on the ice planet Hoth was destroyed by Imperial forces. Han, Leia, C-3PO and Chewbacca escaped in the Millennium Falcon, but were being chased by Darth Vader, whilst Luke and R2D2 had gone to the planet Dagobah to find and train with the Jedi Master, Yoda. What follows is a film full of epic lightsaber battles, captures and betrayals, and one of the greatest reveals in cinematic history.

I love this film. It takes what the first film started and builds on it, adding depth to the themes and performances. The Empire Strikes Back shows that good versus evil is seldom simple, and victory doesn't come quickly – you have to be willing to fight for what you believe in, and keep fighting even when the odds are stacked against you. Love and family are also explored, as well as the dangers of superficial judgement – Luke is quick to write off Yoda for silly, superficial reasons, yet Yoda is one of the most important characters in the entire franchise. This entire film has a darker feel to it, and I absolutely adore it.

The performances are still strong and the returning cast come across as more mature, with added depth and character development whilst retaining their core identities and mannerisms. Mark Hamill in particular shows growth as Luke goes from an eager, excitable youth to being a conflicted trainee Jedi with the weight of the galaxy on his shoulders. Harrison Ford is still charming and witty, but brings more emotional depth, mainly due to his feelings for Leia, and Carrie Fisher still comes across as strong willed and witty but has a slightly vulnerable side to show too. There are of course new characters to get to know – Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams, comes across as smooth and charming but conflicted, whilst Frank Oz, who voices and operates Yoda, perfects the wise yet deeply eccentric character in a way which makes him enjoyable to watch and avoids the character becoming a mere gimmick.

This is a brilliant film. Full of duels, chases, betrayals and a reveal so iconic that it has been parodied countless times, this is a space adventure which is sure to keep you on the edge of your seat. If you're new to the franchise, grab your lightsaber and get ready.

The empire may strike back, but trust in the force and light may yet win out over darkness.

Written by Tam Page

Posted by Mr. Tomney

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