Film Review
The almost unprecedented commercial success of
Star
Wars in 1977 meant that a rematch between the Rebels and the
Evil Empire was inevitable, although it would take three years before
audiences could enjoy that eagerly anticipated follow up.
When
The Empire Strikes Back
finally did explode onto cinema screens in 1980 it received a mix
reception. Although it performed remarkably well at the box
office, this long-awaited sequel was generally considered inferior to
the first film, mainly because, being the middle film in a trilogy, it
lacked both a beginning and an ending, and so many spectatators felt
(understandably) short-changed. Today, a different view
prevails.
The Empire Strikes
Back is not only regarded as the best of the
Star Wars films, it is also widely
acknowledged to be one of the best science-fiction films ever made, a
benchmark against which subsequent films in the genre are often
compared.
After the pressure he experienced on the first
Star Wars film, George Lucas was
reluctant to direct the sequel, so he hired his former teacher at the
USC School of Cinema-Television, Irvin Kershner (then in his fifties)
to take on this burden.
Likewise, he handed over the scripting
duties to Leigh Brackett, an experienced screenwriter who had worked on
such classics as
The Big Sleep (1946) and
Rio Bravo (1959). When
Brackett died from cancer in 1979, the novice screenwriter Lawrence
Kasdan took over and completed the screenplay. Lucas was thus
able to focus on those areas of the production where he could deliver
most value, which included the management of the visual effects.
A series of unforeseen production problems (including a studio fire at
Elstree Studios) caused the film to run seriously over budget and it
ended up costing around 33 million dollars, three times what the
original
Star Wars film had
cost to make. Fortunately, despite some negative reviews, the
film proved to be another runaway hit at the box office, grossing over
five hundred million dollars.
Star Wars may have broken the
mould in 1977, creating a mass audience appetite for blockbuster action
adventure films and setting new standards in design and effects, but
The Empire Strikes Back is
unquestionably a better film (although it is probably less suitable for
young children). Better directed, better scripted and with much
better performances from the leads, this is a far more sophisticated
and adult piece of cinema, one that explores more complex themes and
portrays characters more convincingly. There is even a marked
improvement in the quality of the special effects, many of which still
rival (and even surpass) what can be achievd with today's CGI
technology.
Most surprising is how much darker
The
Empire Strikes Back is compared with its predecessor.
Whereas
Star Wars was a jolly
adventure film in the tradition of the old
Flash Gordon serials, its immediate
sequel is relentlessly grim, relieved only by some moments of black
comedy. The pace of the film is equally extraordinary. It
may be a cliché to say it, but
The
Empire Strikes Back genuinely is a roller coaster. From
the spectacular opening, right up until the heart-thumping climax, the
pace barely slackens for a moment, making this one of the most exciting
and thrilling cinematic adventures of all time. And what a cliff
hanger! We (the first generation
Star Wars addicts) had to wait
three long years to discover whether the evil Darth was telling the
truth about his relationship to Luke. Three years!
Mercifully, all was revealed in the
Return of the Jedi...
© James Travers 2009
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Film Synopsis
The destruction of the Death Star by the Rebel Alliance is followed by
a swift retaliation from the Galactic Empire, with Darth Vader leading
the offensive. Luke Skywalker and his rebel friends are driven
from their base and forced to take refuge on the inhospitable ice
world, Hoth. But even here they are not safe. Vader has
located the rebels and sends a force of imperial troops to attack
them. Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO escape in the
Millennium Falcon and, having been chased through an asteroid belt,
head for Cloud City to make essential repairs to their ship.
Meanwhile, guided by his former mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, Luke
arrives on the planet Dagobah, where he is to be trained in the use of
the Force by the Jedi Master Yoda. Before his instruction is
complete, Luke has a premonition that his friends are in danger and
insists on leaving Yoda so that he can rescue them. Luke's
intuition is correct. Solo and Leia have walked into a carefully
laid trap and are to be the bait that will lure Luke Skywalker to a
fateful meeting with Darth Vader...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.