The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars (Episode V): The Empire Strikes Back.
1980 20th Century Fox & Lucasfilm Ltd.
Starring: Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, David Prowse, James Earl Jones (voice only), Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Frank Oz, Peter Mayhew, Jeremy Bulloch, Alec Guinness, John Ratzenberger, Treat Williams
Director: Irvin Kershner
Executive Producer: George Lucas
Available at Amazon.

After the massive success of the first Star Wars, George Lucas opted not to direct this one, handing the reins to director Irvin Kershner, who taught Lucas at the USC School of Cinema-Television. Kershner had to be talked into the job, while Lucas served as executive producer, in addition to serving as the head of Industrial Light & Magic, which also benefited greatly from the extraordinary success of the first movie.

The Rebel Alliance, despite handing the Galactic Empire a sound defeat by destroying the Death Star, have been driven out of their original base into a new camp on the ice planet Hoth. Darth Vader (Prowse & Jones) is now obsessed with finding Luke Skywalker (Hamill), who has risen to the ranks of commanding officer, and the man in black has sent out many probe droids, one of which coincidentally lands on Hoth. During a routine patrol one cold day, Luke is attacked by a Wampa, and is later found by Han Solo (Ford), who had initially stated that he was leaving the rebel cause to pay off his debt to Jabba the Hutt, but he sticks around long enough to find Luke. Skywalker, before nearly succumbing to the elements, has a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Guinness) instructing him to travel to the planet Dagobah to train under the Jedi Master Yoda (Oz).

The Imperials locate the rebel base on Hoth and quickly attack. The base is captured, but Han, Leia (Fisher), C-3PO (Edwards) and Chewbacca (Mayhew) escape via the Millenium Falcon, which is unable to switch to hyperspace. Darth Vader hires several bounty hunters, including Boba Fett (Bulloch), whose first appearance in Star Wars continuity took place in a certain holiday special that still irritates George Lucas. Luke leaves Hoth with R2-D2 (Baker) in tow, and meets Yoda on Dagobah, but leaves following intense training after a vision comes to him that Han and Leia are in danger.

Han and company arrive in Cloud City, which is run by Han's ol' pal Lando Calrissian (Williams). Lando has been pressured by Vader and Fett to capture them, using them as bait to lure Luke into the clutches of the dark side. Before Han is frozen in carbonite, he and Leia profess their love for each other, and Han's frozen body is given to Fett, who is intending to deliver him to Jabba. Lando quickly repents and helps Leia and the others escape, insisting that there's still a chance to save Han, who is taken by Fett before their departure. Luke arrives in Cloud City, and engages in a light saber duel with Darth Vader, who, as everyone knows, takes the opportunity to reveal that he is Luke's father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate, but they can still rule the galaxy together. Luke refuses, and is rescued by the Millennium Falcon. The movie ends with Lando and Chewbacca setting out to locate and find Han.

Again, I chose to watch the original theatrical cut of The Empire Strikes Back. The DVD transfer isn't pristine, but that's all right. Highly recommended. Return of the Jedi and its review come later tonight.