Main Cast: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, David Prowse, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Frank Oz, Alec Guinness, Kenny Baker
Release Year: 1980
Country: US
Run Time: 124 minutes
MPAA Rating: PG
Plot
The second entry in George Lucas' Star Wars trilogy finds Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), the green-as-grass hero from the first film, now a seasoned space warrior. Luke's Star Wars cohorts Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) are likewise more experienced in the ways and means of battling the insidious Empire, as represented by the brooding Darth Vader (body of David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones). And, of course, "The Force," personified by the ghost of Luke's mentor Ben Kenobi (Alec Guinness), is with them all. Retreating from Vader's minions, Luke ends up, at first, on the Ice Planet Hoth, and then the tropical Dagobah. Here he makes the acquaintance of the gnomish Yoda (voice of Frank Oz), whose all-encompassing wisdom comes in handy during the serial-like perils of the rest of the film. Before the film's open-ended climax, we are introduced to the apparently duplicitous Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and are let in on a secret that profoundly affects both Luke and his arch-enemy, Vader. Many viewers consider this award-winning film the best of the Star Wars movies, and its special-effects bonanza was pure gold at the box office. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Proof that a sequel can be as good as (or better than) its predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back is frequently considered the best of the original Star Wars trilogy. The 1980 film, which picks up a few years after the original movie, contains perhaps the most substantial plot developments of the three films, interweaving spiritual and romantic development and serving up a genuinely shocking cliffhanger. It also features more of the special effects that endeared Star Wars to many an audience member, further catering to its audience's growing appetite for bigger, better effects. Dark and downbeat, Empire is at its core the most human of the trilogy, allowing its characters -- generally two-dimensional in Star Wars -- to flesh out to more convincing proportions. Part of this change may be due to Irvin Kershner's directing the film; where George Lucas was a master with technology, he was not really an actor's director, and the actors here seem noticeably more at ease. The film's enormous success was proof that audiences were more than eager to see the Star Wars storyline continued in the years to come, something that still held true when the special edition of The Empire Strikes Back was released 17 years after the original version. Exhilarating and timeless, it remains one of the most compelling adventures ever brought to the screen. ~ Rebecca Flint Marx, All Movie Guide
Jeremy Bulloch - Boba Fett; John Hollis - Lobot, Lando's Aide; Jack Purvis - Chief Ugnaught; Des Webb - Wampa Snow Creature; Kathryn Mullen - Performing Asst. for Yoda; Clive Revill - The Emperor; Kenneth Colley - Admiral Piett; Julian Glover - Gen. Veers; Michael Sheard - Admiral Ozzel; Michael Culver - Capt. Needa; John Dicks - Other Imperial Officer; Milton Johns - Other Imperial Officer; Mark Jones - Other Imperial Officer; Oliver Maguire - Other Imperial Officer; Bruce Boa - Gen. Rieekan; Christopher Malcolm - Zev; Denis Lawson - Wedge (Rogue 3); Richard Oldfield - Hobbie, Rogue 4; John Morton - Dak, Luke's Gunner; Ian Liston - Janson, Wedge's Gunner; John Ratzenberger - Maj. Derlin; Jack McKenzie - Deck Lieutenant; Jerry Harte - Head Controller; Norman Chancer - Other Rebel Officer; Norwich Duff - Other Rebel Officer; Ray Hassett - Other Rebel Officer; Brigitte Kahn - Other Rebel Officer; Burnell Tucker - Revel Officer; Irene Lamb
Credit
Leslie Dilley - Art Director, Joe Johnston - Art Director, Alan Tomkins - Art Director, Harry Lange - Art Director, Chris Casady - Animator, Peter Kuran - Animator, Nina Saxon - Animator, Robert Watts - Associate Producer, Irene Lamb - Casting, Terry Liebling - Casting, John Mollo - Costume Designer, Ola Solum - First Assistant Director, David Tomblin - First Assistant Director, Bill Westley - First Assistant Director, Dominic Fulford - First Assistant Director, Irvin Kershner - Director, Paul Hirsch - Editor, George Lucas - Executive Producer, John Williams - Composer (Music Score), Stuart Freeborn - Makeup, Nick Maley - Makeup, Kay Freeborn - Makeup, Norman Reynolds - Production Designer, Peter Suschitzky - Cinematographer, Jim Bloom - Producer, Gary Kurtz - Producer, Michael Ford - Set Designer, Richard Edlund - Special Effects, Joe Johnston - Special Effects, Dennis Muren - Special Effects, Bruce Nicholson - Special Effects, Brian Johnson - Special Effects, Ben Burtt - Sound/Sound Designer, Steve Maslow - Sound/Sound Designer, Peter Sutton - Sound/Sound Designer, George Lucas - Screen Story, Leigh Brackett - Screenwriter, Lawrence Kasdan - Screenwriter, Harley Cokliss - Second Unit Camera, Chris Menges - Second Unit Camera
