The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (1980), directed by Irvin Kershner

While watching Star Wars had been something of a dream for me back when I was seven years old, I did not know what to make of its sequel three years later. It was dark. Too dark, perhaps, for me. There was torture, strange revelations from the past, nightmarish visions, and an ending that was far from happy. I don't recall exactly, but I think I even cried for Han Solo's fate at the end of the movie. No, unlike Star Wars, this is no children's movie.

Today, however, it is my favorite of the three Star Wars films. It reflects a sort of feeling that Stephen Sondheim tried for in his musical Into the Woods: they all lived happily ever after...but sometime later.... Just because Luke the hero was able to destroy the Death Star doesn't mean that he has become a master warrior. There is much to learn, and his passions may yet destroy him. Just because Han Solo has cheated death a thousand times doesn't mean that he'll be safe the thousand-and-first. And just because he was shoved out of the way at the end of Star Wars does not mean that Darth Vader is so easily rid of. He usually wins, after all. The wonderful comic book of Star Wars has grown up.

After the evacuation from the ice planet at the beginning of the film, the narrative breaks in half, showing us what happens to Luke on one hand and Leia and Han on the other. The Luke story is, I think, preferred by most aficianados and critics. It is interesting enough, though I find the character of Jedi master Yoda rather irritating. His teachings of the Force sound like so many of the most banal Sunday School lessons you've ever heard. (It may also be that Frank Oz's voice is irritating to me as well).

The Han-Leia story is the more conventional of the two, but does not suffer for its conventionality. The two seem to fall in love because...well, characters always fall in love in situations like this. Haven't you seen any movies? The filmmakers were innovative in giving the male romantic lead to the secondary hero. In any case, it's handled well and humorously, with loads of banter.

As usual with good science fiction, this film is filled with unique visions: those strange beasts of burden that the good guys ride on the ice planet, the giant Imperial walkers. Yoda himself is an interesting creation. Best of all is the giant floating city, which starts off as a sort of haven, but ends up being a brightly-lit, beautiful, and airy deathtrap.

All three of the leads are very good in this film. Mark Hamill seems to have matured and left his petulance behind. Some of his line readings may be a bit wooden, but otherwise, he is very good in his role. Carrie Fisher is a battle-hardened princess who has moments of vulnerability, a welcome change from her stereotypically spunky performance in the first film. Harrison Ford gives the performance here that won dozens of movie roles in the future. Heroic, but willing on occasion to look slightly ridiculous. He works well, of course, as the romantic lead, as he would go on to do in the future. Among the actors who are heard but not seen, James Earl Jones does probably the best job. He truly lends gravity to his character. Of all the characters, Billy Dee Williams seems most out of place. Perhaps his character is simply extraneous.

Star Wars, as I have noted, is an ideal film for children. For them to appreciate The Empire Strikes Back, however, it is advisable for them to grow up a bit.

Four stars