The Empire Strikes Back - Irvin Kershner (1980)

This is a tough one to write - mostly since I have seen this movie a bunch of times, I already thought it was brilliant, and it has some of the best scenes (and lines) of ALL time. So how do I write something that doesn't sound all gushy. Not sure that's going to happen.

Let's start with my favourite thing about this movie:

Yoda. I could probably write pages about how awesome Yoda is. Why? I know not. I have always loved this character. The fact that one of the most revered and powerful Jedi masters is a small green wrinkly guy. Pretty brilliant. And he has one of the best philosphies ever: "Do. Or do not. There is no try."

Instead of me going on and on about how awesome this movie is.....

The question I had was - why is this one on the list? Why not the original or 'Return of the Jedi'. Short of me reviewing geeky bloggers who have probably debated this fact - I'm going to take a shot. Actually, maybe I can't. Any reference I find that says that it is the best of the three, doesn't exactly say why. Quite frankly, I have always viewed the three 'original' movies as one and I have never really tried to sort out which was better or why.

I do remember at the time, this movie was a big deal. The revelation (for those of you who have been living under a rock for 30 years and don't know...close your eyes) that Darth Vader is Luke's father was huge!! Now, it's just kind of taken for granted....then it was a big thing. I don't recall seeing this in the theatre back in the day - I think I was more of a geek in training back then. I do recall the hype and excitement surrounding it.

Bottom line - I have no arguments that this is on the list.

One word to describe 'The Empire Strikes Back': Yoda-riffic. (Okay...I made that word up.)