The Empire Strikes Back Movie Review - Starring Mark Hamill - Carrie Fisher - and Harrison Ford

By David Terr

"Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back", or more simply known as "The Empire Strikes Back", is the sequel to "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope" (more simply known as "Star Wars"), the original episode. "The Empire Strikes Back" is my second favorite episode, my favorite being "Star Wars". Most of the original characters are in this movie, including Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3P0, and of course Darth Vader, the evil master of the galaxy.

"The Empire Strikes Back" begins three years after "Star Wars". The evil Empire, led by Darth Vader, has been in pursuit of the rebel alliance, chasing them across the galaxy to Hoth, a freezing planet covered with ice. Luke stays out too late one day and nearly dies of cold, but Han comes and revives him. Luke also gets a message from Obi-Wan Kenobi's spirit telling him that he will go to the planet of Dagobah.

After battling off some nasty Imperial Walkers, the Princess, Han, Chewie, and C-3P0 escape in the Millenium Falcon. Meanwhile, Luke pilots a X-wing fighter along with R2 and heads for Dagobah. There he meets the Jedi master Yoda, a small fellow with long, pointed ears. Luke begs Yoda to begin his Jedi training, to which he eventually agrees, following some persuasion from Obi-Wan's spirit.

Han and the Princess try running away from the imperial forces who are pursuing them. They try to jump into hyperspace, but the Falcon's hyperdrive is broken. They end up defeating several fighters by flying into an asteroid belt. They hide in the cave of a large asteroid, only to find it inhabited by a giant slug, which swallows them. They manage to escape.

Han and the gang make their way to Cloud City, a planet covered with clouds. There Han meets his friend Landowe. But they are soon captured by Darth Vader and his forces, who'd arrived there before them. Vader ends up freezing Han inside a black slab, which keeps him alive but unconscious, and sends him off to the Emperor.

Meanwhile, during his training, Luke has a vision of his friends in trouble on Cloud City. Luke realizes that they will die unless he rescues them, so he leaves Dagobah to save them, promising to return to complete his training. Yoda and Obi-Wan fear that he will be captured by Darth Vader.

Once Luke arrives, Darth challenges him to a light saber battle. Luke proves no match for Darth, who cuts off his hand. Darth then tells Luke that he's his father, though Luke doesn't believe him. Darth urges Luke to join forces with him, but he refuses. He leaves Luke hanging from an antenna with his one good hand. Luke begs Obi-Wan to save him, to no avail. Then he calls out to Leia, who hears him by means of The Force. She tells Han to fly back to Cloud City to save him, which he does. R2 manages to fix the hyperdrive and the crew escapes from the Empire. A medical robot gives Luke an artificial hand.

The Empire Strikes Back - Dave's Top Movies

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