Top 5 Empire Strikes Back Moments!
For many Star Wars fans, the Empire Strikes Back is not only their favorite film in the saga, but is also the best film in the saga, which is weird, because when the movie first came out in 1980, the reviews were actually pretty mixed. Regardless, while it's not my personal favorite film, I can certainly say that it is the best overall film in the saga, in terms of storytelling and quality. Naturally, choosing five of my favorite moments won't be easy, but let's get started anyway.
5. Asteroid Chase
While many people remember the film as being the darkest film in the saga, there is still a lot of entertaining action scenes throughout the film. One of them being the creative asteroid chase involving the Millennium Falcon. The music is catchy and there is a great sense of tension as you wonder how Han is going to get the Rebels through this mess. However, through it all, it's a simple, entertaining chase, and that's what it is all about in the end.
4. Escape from Cloud City
Take that same mentality about the asteroid chase, but add more drama to it, that's what this sequence is about. We just previously saw Han get taken away by Boba Fett. All hope seems to be lost. Not to mention, Luke is about to die, Lando, Leia, and Chewie are being chased by stormtroopers, and Vader is about to catch them. However, as he always tends to do, when all hope seems lost, who comes in to save the day than good ol' R2. I remember seeing this whole sequence for the first time growing up being on the edge of my seat and having a huge sigh of relief when the Falcon goes into hyperdrive escaping.
3. The Battle of Hoth
While the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope was a technical achievement, the Battle of Hoth was a technical masterpiece. Everything about how this battle came together is amazing. The music, classic, the effects, mind-blowing that still hold up well today, the atmosphere, about as dark and depressing as the rest of the movie. Yes, as the movie's title suggests, despite the Rebels' best efforts, they are no match for the Empire in this film. It's kind of surreal seeing the Rebels lose like this in the film but that's what makes it so powerful.
2. Luke vs Vader
This is it, what two films have been building up to. Luke versus the man that he thinks killed his father. As far as the actual duel itself, it's easily the best choreographed fight in the original trilogy. However, it's the emotion behind the duel that makes it more memorable. Their are so many memorable moments from this duel that can make its own list, though one special moment had to be saved for the number one spot...
Honorable Mentions
Before that though, I have four honorable mentions. The first is Yoda lifting the X-Wing. Yoda was a special character introduced in the film. He taught Luke, and thus the audience, the mysteries surrounding the force and never to underestimate anything. No where is this better shown when he lifts the X-Wing from the swamp, showing us that anything can be possible, "Do or do not, there is no try." The next moment takes place on Dagobah where Luke fights what he thinks is Darth Vader in the cave. It was a very powerful message that required no words. It was a message to avoid the dark path at all costs.
The next is Han being froze in carbonite. Like I said, this film is dark. The heroes are at their lowest point. It was heartbreaking to see Han being frozen just after Leia admits her love for him. Finally, and this is stupid, but my final honorable mention is when Yoda fights R2 with his cane over a light. I know, but when I first saw that moment I laughed my ass off, and it still makes me laugh to this day.
1. "NO, I AM YOUR FATHER!"
With that one line, not only was the saga changed forever, but the film industry was changed forever too. To this day, it is still one of, if not the biggest plot twist in movie history. This evil man, this Sith Lord that has feared over the galaxy for years is somehow Luke's father? What the hell?! Granted, most people, even if they aren't Star Wars fans, knows about this line and moment in the franchise, but it still doesn't take away from its impact on the story as the final film in the trilogy, Return of the Jedi, focuses greatly on this new father-son dynamic.
Overall, while I still don't believe its 100 percent perfect, the Empire Strikes Back is as close to perfection as Star Wars is going to get. The acting, much better, the action, much better, the emotion and drama, tenfold. There's a reason why this is not only considered the best Star Wars movie, but one of the greatest movies and sequels ever made.
