The Empire Strikes Back: 40 Years Since The Definitive Star Wars Masterpiece

The Empire Strikes Back is a masterpiece of science-fiction and quite possibly the strongest Star Wars film of them all.

"WOAH!!!" I hear you say. "CAREFUL WITH THAT HOT TAKE!!!".

Me as overweight Captain America:

Two days ago, I had the absolute pleasure to watch this movie on the big screen and WHAT an experience it was. The movie is great on any platform of course but so many of the film's nuances and subtle brilliances stand out when viewed in the cinema. The way each major character: Luke, Han, R2-D2, C3P0 and Darth Vader; all are introduced by either removing a mask, coming round a corner or entering into frame; apart from Princess Leia, who turns away when the camera focuses on her looking towards Han, as she is the only hiding her feelings.

The brilliant structure of the battle of Hoth. The empire's victory in this film is now so culturally enshrined in our collective pop-culture memory, that it is easy to forgot how effectively this plays in giving each side a fair shake; while building the growing dominance of the empire. The sequel trilogy this is not, where heroes and/or villains seem to have overwhelming plot armour; regardless of resource cost, with singular extreme actions changing the course of the conflict. Instead, Luke leads the fighters against the AT-AT's, Leia commands with all the grace and wit that Holdo lacked and Han is just his loveable roguish self, doing his best to kick his old-ship into gear. Each character feels relevant and the battle escalates naturally; with several victories for each side, until the Empire's overwhelming force sends them on the run in a mad-dash for safety.

So much of this film lives and thrives in its superb direction and cast-chemistry. Han and Leia's romance has sparks flying from their very first scene and by the time of the iconic: "I know", you feel their connection, you root for them and you feel the awful pain Leia experiences as she watches Boba Fett escape with him. The writing layers Han with immensely likeability, at the start he talks several times about leaving; yet jumps at the chance to save Luke when in trouble, doesn't hesitate to fight for Princess Leia's safety and when she herself reminds him of his desire to leave when they're in Cloud City, he says nothing; yet the audience can read every thought in his face. For all the infamous reluctance and frustration Harrison Ford had with the role, he was immensely compelling as the character and captured the rough-around-the-edges nature of Han Solo brilliantly. There's not many characters who can say that their first instinct upon sighting Darth Vader was to blow him to hell and though he failed, that lightning fast reaction stood out as one of Han's finest moments of characterisation; in a movie where he truly shined.

Yoda's introduction is also brilliant: The ancient Jedi Master who goes against the standard image of a heroic warrior and teacher, his introduction was particularly entertaining for me as going in knowing the context of who he is, makes this scene especially funny. I grew up watching Revenge of the Sith, playing Battlefront II, watching the Clone Wars (2008) and seeing this wise but immensely powerful warrior of a flawed order, the being which terrified even the ultimate Sith (I know what I said EU fans, I don't care if other Sith can devour planets) Palpatine himself. You witness Yoda as this larger-than-life, incredible; captivating presence. The Gandalf, the Dumbledore, the chaos-stopper...

Then he's beating up R2-D2 with a stick.

That's just perfect.

While I have seen The Empire Strikes Back several times before, it has been quite some time since my last viewing and there was something immensely joyful about being able to watch in on the big-screen. Not least that if Coronavirus now kills me off, it won't be said that the last film I saw in the cinema was Birds of Prey. (Something I forever will be grateful for)

More then erasing the taste of that awful sludge from my brain however, The Empire Strikes Back stands as one of the great accomplishments of science-fiction. It is full of creative-boldness and character-charm, endless wit and scenes-for-the-ages. It is obviously a cliche opinion to say the Empire Strikes back is a masterpiece, yet 40 years on; having the honour to see it in the cinemas, an experience I will forever treasure...

Well yeah. It's just that.

- Marley Eleven Bury, professional freelance writer for film & television. He is the founder of White Raven Entertainment, Confused Autistic Ramblings and White Raven Opinions. Loving takeaway and the superhero genre far too much, his claims to fame are having listened to the entire 26-hour+ Fire and Blood audiobook multiple times and being able to sing the Periodic Table song from memory.