A Great Sequel (Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (DVD))

Member Name: Grindhouse87

Product:	Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (DVD)
Date:	22/05/09 (1 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great battle sequences. A great ending that leaves you wanting more. Boba Fett!

Disadvantages: Some scenes particularly the Yoda ones may slow the pace too much for really young viewers.

Arriving in 1980, three years after the release of Star Wars (or Episode 4 as it is now known), The Empire Strikes Back (TESB) has the luxury of having a lot of it's background story already set up by the first film. Therefore it does not have to spend large amounts of time introducing characters before the action begins.

From its opening battle on the ice planet of Hoth to its climatic cliffhanger ending in the skies of Cloud City the action is handled impressively by director Irvin Kershner.

That said the action never gets in the way of the character development which is at its best in the scenes between Carrie Fisher's Leia and Han Solo played by Harrison Ford. Their developing relationship is summed up perfectly in one scene towards the end by a simply written line of dialogue that sums up Solo perfectly. The scenes between Luke Skywalker and the newly introduced character 'Yoda' may slow scenes down for younger viewers but are also nicely done.

In summary, being bookended by two other films helps this movie to be as good as it is. Allowing the action to begin straight away and also allowing for a cliffhanger ending. Least watching it now you won't have to wait three years to see Return Of The Jedi like people did back in the early 1980's.

A really good blockbuster film and a contender for on eof the best sequels of all time.

Summary: Not high art but entertainment wise it has everything. Better than the original.