Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back took George Lucas’s brilliant blend of technology and mysticism initiated by Star Wars (1977) to new heights while improving it with more restrained direction and writing.Lucas’s special effects company, Industrial Light and Magic, set another benchmark for special effects; with spectacular land and space battles as the rebel forces are pursued by Darth Vader and the Empire. Luke Skywalker continues his training under Jedi Master whilst Yoda, a 5-foot puppet was portrayed by Frank Oz far more impressively than the CGI-version that would follow in the prequels.

Empire is often cited the best of the Star Wars films and is memorable for the confrontation between Luke and Darth Vader where Luke learns the seemingly-impossible truth. Like the rest of the original trilogy, Empire was later re-released with new visual and audio effects, and some minor (not necessarily applauded) story and dialogue edits for continuity with the prequel trilogy.

 

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