Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

It is difficult to make definitive statements about any genre of film, but it is possible that this is, in reality, the greatest science fiction movie ever made. In the second installment of the original Star Wars trilogy, we find the Rebels, lead by Luke Skywalker, Han Solo and Princess Leia once again on the run from the Empire. It all comes to a head when Han and Leia are confronted by Darth Vader in Cloud City, and Luke abandons his training on Degoba with Yoda in an attempt to rescue his friends. My only hesitation in not calling this, hands down, the greatest sci-fi film of all time is that the original Star Wars (A New Hope) was so creative and innovative that it is hard to top. That said, the plot of Empire Strikes Back, the twists and turns, the internal turmoil and the betrayal, the eventual acceptance of truth in the universe all make this film amazing. The acting in the movie is not amazing all around, Mark Hamill is not great, but the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher is amazing. I often forget how funny the original trilogy is, but the banter between Han and Leia is hilarious, and the sexual tension is all but palpable. Also, the addition of Billy Dee Williams adds an unexpected amount of depth to this film, without which, Empire would not have been nearly as good. Something that I do not feel the Star Wars trilogy, and in particular Episode V get enough credit for, is how well they integrated an amazingly unforeseen twist into a realistic story. Without Empire, movies like The Sixth Sense and The Usual Suspects might not exist. I recall when I first saw this movie, I knew that Darth Vader was Luke's father. I wish I'd had the opportunity to see the film in the theaters; I can only imagine how mind blowing a revelation like that would have been at the time. My wife is not a big fan of the genre, but I know that if she gave Empire a chance, she would like it. I openly admit to being a Star Wars geek in high school, so it should come as no shock when I say that I have certainly seen this film over 100 times and hope to see it 100 more. Another thing that this film series does not get enough credit for is creating the most iconic villian in cinematic history. Darth Vader is the Captain Hook of outer space; what would the world be like with Vader? I don't want to know. This may not be the greatest overall science fiction film of all time, but for me, it is either one or two. I have been going back and forth, but I feel that I have no choice but to give Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 5 stars.