BY: Kodi Robertson
Just fair warning- this is my favorite movie therefore: Spoilers alert!
From the very beginning, The Empire Strikes Back takes audiences through a dark journey in a galaxy far, far, away. Back then in Hollywood movie scripts were passed around according to Mark Hamill in an interview with ABC in 1983, but this script was special. Up until the most climactic scene of the movie, the famous “No, I am your father…” scene, most of the actors like Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher didn’t even have the real final copy of the script. It took George Lucas entrusting Mark Hamill with an important secret of the true relationship between Vader and Luke. This reveal and many other incredible dialogues between Han and Lando are just some of the many elements that make Empire Strikes Back the best in the Star Wars franchise.
The acting and directing in this scene is flawlessly executed. Mark Hamill’s use of substitution (when actors use their own experiences to enhance their performances and become more like their characters) creates a raw sense of emotion. Hamill and James Earl Jones help vocally keep the audience engaged and it wouldn’t be too far of a stretch to say that this is a collaborative effort between actors willing to listen and a director willing to give direction while taking in considerations. The fight choreography shows how much passion spurned from the actors and the director involved.
What you see in the movie is plenty of dark images. The coldness of the frozen planet Hoth serves as a beautiful contrast to the planet colorful skies of Bespin. Even the costumes contrast beautifully with each other, comparing Vader’s new and improved jet black suit with Luke’s near white and tan piloting outfit paints an obvious but relatable image of good versus evil.
Shot for shot, the cinematography is absolutely breathtaking. The wide-angle shots of starships entering atmospheres of other planets help establish the scenes as well as establish a sense of awe and wonder. The close-ups are specifically chosen to keep the upper body within the shot. This is done in contrast to extreme close-ups that are predominantly popular in film standards to create a unique perspective on the characters’ reaction to their world around them. One of the more intense close-ups is near the conclusion of Vader and Luke’s battle in Bespin. The close up creates a sense of struggle and awareness of the character knowing he is in trouble (Luke in this case).
If lightsabers aren’t the selling point of seeing a Star Wars film, then the score by John Williams is definitely a sure-fire draw. Williams is able to capture the essence of each scene, no, each moment with poise and laser focus. In the case of the “Bespin Duel” Williams strategically chooses to have the underscore remain quiet enough during the fight to keep the audience on the edge of their seat. Much like a friend telling a secret not above a whisper, Williams does this to make the audience listen in even closer than normal in scenes of high tension and near climax to make sure the audience never misses a beat.
The editing teams behind Empire Strikes Back deserve all the praise in the world. Beginning with sound, the way they capture James Earl Jones’s voice just shows the dedication and discipline behind the sound engineers. If you were to look up a YouTube video on how lightsaber sounds are made, you would easily be thoroughly impressed with the amount of time and patience it takes to time each strike perfectly. Visually the special effects artists have much to be praised for; in the re-mastered version of the film George Lucas successfully changes (since the other design changes he made in the other movies were sadly catastrophic) the scenery of inside Lando’s space station to compliment the beauty of the clouds hovering outside the city. Each shot carries a pace that is precise in keeping the audience engaged without being lost. Most fight scenes can disorient the audience, but the “Bespin Duel” successfully keeps everyone engaged and caught up in the storytelling. All these truths provide compelling enough reasons as to why Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back is by far one of the greatest space operas of all time.
Overall: The Empire Strikes back is one of my favorite films! I get chills every time I watch Luke meet Yoda or when Vader reveals himself to his son. I cannot help but be excited any chance I get to watch this masterpiece! Now if you’re a true Star Wars fan, I totally would understand if another movie in the franchise was you’re favorite. What matters is how much joy any movie brings you. The Empire Strikes Back is the movie that inspired me to go on imaginary adventures, and I hope this critique among all my other ones inspire you to continue to express yourself and follow your dreams as I continue to follow mine!