Viewed Despecialized Edition

The Empire Strikes Back takes the incredible foundation of the original classic and digs into its problems, insecurities, and emotional dilemmas that were left in the shadows previously. It's the equivalent of peering into an open wound, with every beloved character dealing with issues and trials that are both fascinating and startlingly introspective. It only helps that every scene is perfectly composed, wonderfully acted, amazingly scored, eerily shot, and mindbogglingly awesome. I get chills just thinking about Darth Vader waiting for Luke up on that platform, enshrouded in mystique and menace, ready to smother the light from Luke's soul.

The Empire Strikes Back is my favorite STAR WARS film and one of the finest works ever made. Fucking Shakespearean in its themes and scope, this mystical masterpiece enthralls again and again. It'll never age.

My all time favorite film. It doesn't get any better than this.

What I really paid attention to this time around was the pacing. It is astonishing how perfect The Empire Strikes Back flows, every single scene is exciting and memorable. I never really thought about it, but the Rebellion doesn't even leave Hoth until roughly 40 minutes into the film, which clocks in with a total running time of just over two hours. Think about how much iconic greatness is jammed into those remaining 80 minutes, yet it never feels rushed, nothing is glossed over.

I can't imagine ever been more entertained than I am during Episode V. It was the greatest achievement in the world when I was a child, and over 20 years later nothing has changed.

only angels have X-wings

100

Cities in clouds, spiritual guides, snow monsters, and giant walking battleships. A romance among the stars, and a tragedy rooted in the desperate escape of defeat. To watch The Empire Strikes Back is to experience joy and love and pain in all their multitudes, and such emotional/visual/conceptual breadth (somehow) shares the screen with a subplot involving a shiny gold droid and his disassembled body. A whole lotta' movie, but one of the best too.

This all just holds up so well, even if the acting is ehh

Better than the original? I have long thought so (in somewhat of a default way), but after this decade's viewing, I'm not so sure.

It does has the same great cast, and yet more great design work. The mostly serious tone suits it -- but the actual drama feels more dated than I was expecting. All the logistical problems and dodgy tactics are a bit of a distraction, and the interesting points (like torture as psychic-bait) aren't really given space. Fair or not, it relies more on twists that don't have the weight they once did. (Still, following Luke's through-line from here to Last Jedi does seem to make sense.)

It could have done with more crazy aliens as well (the luminous Yoda notwithstanding). Let's just call it a draw.

As for Return of the Jedi, maybe I'll wait till next decade to try that again.

I never realised Yoda was such a joker.

Perfect!!!!

location: aeroplane
i was expecting that iconic "luke, i am your father" scene but was met with something slightly different... one wrong noun but nonetheless, it was a fun movie, so i'm starting to question why i never started the franchise earlier.

What I loved about A New Hope is that it never feels rushed in any way, and I'm glad that The Empire Strikes Back has this feature as well. Never too slow, never too fast, the timing is perfect. I think episode V has more twists than episode IV, for instance Lando's shifting from one side to the other, or the big revelation about Luke Skywalker's father. I enjoyed the scenes on Dagobah, I'll probably re-watch them every once in a while. I appreciated the dynamic among the various characters, I'll grow fond of this team. 'The imperial march' is the definition of 'iconic' and suits Darth Vader's drama queen attitude quite well.

A fantastic epic that one-ups a masterpiece like A New Hope in almost every way. Just some fantastic shit right here.

best sci fi

I don’t believe it.
That is why you fail.