Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Empire Strikes Back

Rating:★★★★★
Category:Movies
Genre: Science Fiction & Fantasy
This is by far one of the best movies ever made - even better than Star Wars- and certainly better than the new prequels. It had great pace, plot, dialogue, action sequences, brilliant soundtrack, solid performances by the actors and a killer twist that even Hitchcock would kill for.

Its worth noting that Lucas handed over the bulk of the directing and script writing to industry veterans. The person who wrote much of the script was Leigh Brackett (who wrote the classic film - The Big Sleep - 1946 starring Bogart and Bacall). The main director, Irwin Kershner, was Lucas' teacher at film school.

Some of the famous lines and actions were also improvised on the set: namely the deliciously hilarious scene where Solo hits the cockpit wall when his ship system fails- and succeeds to restart it. And that line- where he says the simple but poignant reply- "I know" - when Leia confesses her love for him. In the original script, Lucas wanted Harrison Ford to reply- "Yes, omg I love you2, your skin is softer than sand (or something to that effect :) "- but Ford ad-libbed the shorter and more elegant reply on set.

Three things that make this film truly great.

3. The best chase scene in sci-fic - the Millenium Falcon outrunning the pursuing Imperial fighters by flying into an asteroid field. Watch it here: The Chase. Together with that incredible soundtrack which even Wagner would take a bow - its pure movie classic. Even after a period of over twenty years- the special effects still look great.

C3PO: "But sir, the possibility of successfully navigating an asteroid field is approximately 3,720 to 1.
Han Solo: Never tell me the odds.

Princess Leia: You don't have to do this to impress me.
Solo: Well, you wanted to be around when I made a mistake.

2. The best love chemistry. Sci-Fic films, filled with face eating monsters, psycho robots, freaks from outer space and plain sicko scripts, is hardly the place to find true romance. But check it out- Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford really had it going. The heated exchanges
between the two
, the looks they gave each other, acknowledgment of love, and the final kiss - show it all.

Leia: "I love you"
Solo: "I know." (Its the way he says it - just perfect)

It which speaks volumes on their relationship. It explains why he - a pirate, drug smuggler - stuck around the Alliance all this while- fighting for an apparently doomed and unprofitable cause. It also explains his frustration and hostility toward Leia who kept on cloaking her feelings for him.

You can watch it here: I know

Lastly... big spoiler here...


1. The best mind-blowing twist when Vader reveals to Luke that he's his daddy.

"No, I am your father."

Apparently, in the early version (serious) Vader was suppose to say- "Obi-wan killed your father". But Irvin Kershner, the director, advised Lucas to write it differently to improve the plot and character development. Thankfully, Lucas agreed and thus we get Jedi and the other three prequels.

Pity Lucas did not follow thru and let him (or other directors like Kershner) handle the rest of the sequels and prequels.

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