Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back [Blu-ray]

With the phenomenal success of Star Wars in 1977, George Lucas realized he could continue the planned trilogy he had been outlining since the early 1970s. His original outline contained the raw material for Episodes IV, V and VI as well as the nebulous backstory that would become the foundation for the current prequels. So in 1978, with Star Wars (which would be rechristened Episode IV: A New Hope) earning hundreds of millions in box office receipts, Lucas, producer Gary Kurtz and the Lucasfilm production team began work on The Empire Strikes Back, the film most Star Wars fans believe is the best in the entire saga.Lucas gave his story to Leigh Brackett, an acclaimed science fiction writer, and hired her to write the screenplay. She passed away soon after finishing the first draft, so Lucas (who would serve as executive producer) handed the project over to up-and-coming writer-director Lawrence Kasdan (Body Heat, Continental Divide, and Raiders of the Lost Ark). Furthermore, he handed the directing reins to Irvin Kershner (The Eyes of Laura Mars); the Star Wars shoot had drained Lucas emotionally and physically, so the series creator focused on the behind-the-scenes aspects of Empire's production.The Empire Strikes Back picks up the narrative some three years after the events of Episode IV: A New Hope. Despite their impressive victory at Yavin, the Rebels' destruction of the Empire's Death Star marked only the true start of the Galactic Civil War. Darth Vader (Dave Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones), last seen heading into deep space in his damaged TIE fighter, made his way to Imperial territory and was given the assignment of eradicating the main resistance cell of the Rebellion. Somewhere along the line (and the movies never explained this), Vader discovered the identity of the X-Wing pilot who destroyed the Death Star. Some time after the Battle of Yavin, the Empire forced the Rebels to flee from their hidden base and pursued them across the galaxy. Now, as the title crawl narrates, Vader, "obsessed with finding young Skywalker, dispatches thousands of remote probes into the deep reaches of space."One of these probes crashes on Hoth, an icy world in the backwaters of the galaxy and so inhospitable that even smugglers avoid it. Its fiery descent is seen by Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), now a commander of Rogue Squadron, as he rides on his trusty tauntaun. However, before he can check it out, he's attacked by a Wampa ice creature and dragged off to its cave for future consumption.Meanwhile, unaware of his friend's plight, Han Solo (Harrison Ford) returns to the Rebel base and tells the commanding officer (Bruce Boa) that he's leaving the Alliance to pay the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt the money he still owes from an incident predating his involvement with the Rebellion. When Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) reacts angrily to his decision to leave, he tells her he knows she wants him to stay not because he's "a natural leader" for the Rebel pilots but "because of the way you feel about me." But their sparring is interrupted when Luke (now hanging by his ankles on an ice cave's ceiling) is reported overdue and Han recklessly rides out into the bitter cold of a Hoth night to find him.Skywalker, aided by his untrained Jedi abilities, manages to escape from the Wampa before he becomes its dinner, and runs out into the teeth of a Hoth night storm. Before collapsing in exhaustion, the spirit of his slain mentor Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (Alec Guinness) appears before him and tells Luke he must "go to the Dagobah system. There you will learn from Yoda, the Jedi Master who instructed me." Ben disappears and Luke falls unconscious to the snow, but Han reaches him in the nick of time.Although Han's tauntaun dies and the two friends must themselves be rescued by Alliance pilots, Luke survives and everyone is briefly reunited. But the Imperial probe that Luke failed to investigate discovers the Rebel base and reports to the Imperial fleet. Soon, Vader and his hordes of Imperial forces, supported by a fleet of Star Destroyers and lumbering armored transports, descend on Hoth, and the band of Star Warriors scatters. Luke and his astromech droid R2-D2 fly off to Dagobah to find Yoda, while Han, Leia, Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) are pursued relentlessly by Imperial ships and the bounty hunter Boba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch).The Empire Strikes Back took very big risks, such as surprising fans with its Episode V subtitle, having its big battle take place during the first half of the movie, giving the director's chair to Kershner, and making the ending a big cliffhanger with so many story threads left dangling. Would Luke complete his training with Yoda (Frank Oz)? Could Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) be trusted? Who did Leia really love, Luke or Han? Most importantly, was Vader really Luke's father, as he claims at the end of the de rigeur lightsaber duel on Cloud City? For three years, fans theorized and conjectured many different scenarios and grumbled about the unfinished feel of the ending, but Empire was a resounding critical and popular success. The script and directing gave Episode V depth and more personality shadings to the characters, the effects were even better than the first film's, and John Williams' brilliant score built on A New Hope's established musical themes and added new and more interesting leitmotivs that gave the Star Wars saga its operatic sweep. Empire is one of those rare sequels that in some ways surpasses its predecessor film, and almost 25 years after its release it still thrills and chills its many fans.

In 1977, on a cold, rainy night in Inverness, Scotland a wee farm-girl saw a film called Star Wars. After that night everything was different. The original Star Wars literally changed my life. At that point I was living on a dirt, poor farm and my whole life consisted of that little farm. After Star Wars my interest blossomed over night and I can say with out any doubt, this film was directly responsible for me going to University and thus my success in life.I remember to this day, sitting on the sofa watching telly and the preview for Empire Strikes Back came on and I literally screamed for joy. I had no idea that there was going to be a sequel. Empire was the first film I saw more than once in the theatre. I remember sitting in the cinema being so frustrated on how they ended the film! The wait till Jedi came out was the longest three years of my life!I think Empire was a perfect sequel for Star Wars. It was with out doubt, the yin to Star Wars yang. I was still a young child when it came out it was the first type of fantasy film I ever saw that didn't have a happy ending. It had never even occurred to me that that was possible.I ended up seeing Empire at least 20 times in the cinema. Yes, yes I was a geek.So basically The Empire and Darth Vader in particular were pretty cheesed off at The Rebellion for blowing up the Empire's massive, Death Star. Can you imagine the financial and manpower loss!So Vader proceeds in chasing down The Rebellion and capturing a bunch of the good guys in an attempt to bring Luke Skywalker out of hiding. Little does Vader know, Luke has been training in the ways of the force under the tutelage of a master jedi in hiding called Yoda.Eventually Luke does come out of hiding to rescue his mates. Though he puts up a valiant fight, Vader easily overpowers Luke and tries to convince him to join the bad guys. Luke, a staunch idealist refuses to budge. However, at that point Vader reveals a deep, lost secret to Luke that almost sways Luke's allegiance. In the end Luke escapes Vader's clutches but at a great personal loss. His best friend has been kidnapped by an evil crime lord and his new discovered secret wears heavily on his psyche.The film ends with everything mostly unresolved and The Rebellion on its heels.I bought the DVD of this film with both versions. I admit I really like the new, cgi-enhanced version but my heart and soul always prefers the original theatrical release. It always brings back those days of wonder when I sat in the cool, dark cinema transported to a galaxy far, far away. And as an grown, middle aged adult, these days there are not many things more satisfying than reliving those days of wonder!Most people say this is the best of the Star Wars films but I disagree. You can't look at Star Wars with out taking them all into consideration. They are a package deal, all with strengths and weaknesses. Instead of debating which one is better, sit back and enjoy.

I really enjoyed watching this movie!

Great movie. I am your father.

The best!

Star Wars is always a favorite thanks prime

This was one of my favorite movies of all time and now 4k. Cool. but not as cool as I remember. Could it be I'm older now. Way older or is it because the aspect ratio isn't right. 😐 It's too vertical. Why is that. Everything is a little long like it's not stretched enough. 🤨