Monday, February 21, 2011

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












Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back




Release Date: 7th August 1980 – Australia


Production Companies
Lucasfilm Ltd.

Distribution
20th Century Fox Australia


Genre: Sci-Fi

Rating: PG

Runtime: 124 minutes
                 126 minutes
                 (Special
                 Edition)
                 127 minutes
                 (2004 Edition)


Budget: $30,500,000

Box Office Gross: $549,001,086 (Worldwide)


Plot Summary
The Rebels have suffered a devastating attack on the frozen planet of Hoth by the Empire, which causes them to retreat. Luke Skywalker goes to the swamp world of Dagobah to look for the mysterious Jedi Master Yoda to receive his training. Meanwhile, Han Solo and Princess Leia find themselves in hot pursuit by the Imperial fleet but manage to outrun them and head to the beautiful Cloud City of Bespin.

Wanting to convert Luke to the dark side, the evil Darth Vader captures his friends and sets a trap for him. Amidst a ferocious lightsaber battle with the Sith Lord, Luke faces a terrible family secret.


Cast
Mark Hamill – Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford – Han Solo
Carrie Fisher – Princess Leia Organa
David Prowse – Darth Vader
James Earl Jones – Darth Vader (Voice) (Uncredited)
Billy Dee Williams – Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels – C-3PO
Kenny Baker – R2-D2
Peter Mayhew – Chewbacca
Frank Oz – Yoda (Voice)
Alec Guinness – Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi
Marjorie Eaton – The Emperor (Uncredited)
Clive Revill – The Emperor (Voice)
Denis Lawson – Wedge Antilles
Ian McDiarmid – The Emperor (2004 Edition) (Uncredited)
Jeremy Bulloch – Boba Fett/Lt. Sheckil
Jason Wingreen – Boba Fett (Voice) (Uncredited)
Temuera Morrison – Boba Fett (Voice) (2004 Edition) (Uncredited)
John Hollis – Lobot, Lando's Aide
Jack Purvis – Chief Ugnaught
Des Webb – Snow Creature
Kenneth Colley – Admiral Piett
Julian Glover – General Veers
Michael Sheard – Admiral Ozzel
Michael Culver – Captain Needa
John Dicks – Imperial Officer
Milton Johns – Imperial Officer
Mark Jones – Imperial Officer
Oliver Maguire – Imperial Officer
Robin Scobey – Imperial Officer
Bruce Boa – Rebel Force
General Rieekan
Christopher Malcolm – Rebel Force Zev (Rogue 2)
Richard Oldfield – Rebel Force Hobbie (Rogue 4)
John Morton – Rebel Force Dak (Luke's Gunner)
Ian Liston – Rebel Force Janson (Wedge's Gunner)
John Ratzenberger – Rebel Force Major Derlin
Jack McKenzie – Rebel Force Deck Lieutenant
Jerry Harte – Rebel Force Head Controller
Norman Chancer – Other Rebel Officer
Norwich Duff – Other Rebel Officer
Ray Hassett – Other Rebel Officer
Brigitte Kahn – Other Rebel Officer
Burnell Tucker – Other Rebel Officer
Mark Capri – Officer M'Kae (Captain Needa's
Communications Officer) (Uncredited)
Maurice Bush – Dengar (Uncredited)
Alan Harris – Bossk/Bespin Security Guard
(Uncredited)
Chris Parsons – 4-LOM/K-3PO/
E-3PO/Stormtrooper/Snowtrooper (Uncredited)
Cathy Munroe – Zuckuss/Wiorkettle
(Uncredited)
Paul Klein – IG-88 (Bounty Hunter Droid)
(Uncredited)
Quentin Pierre – Edian – Bespin Guard
Arresting Stormtroopers (Uncredited)
C. Andrew Nelson – Darth Vader
(Special Edition) (Uncredited)
Harold Weed – Wampa (Special Edition)
(Uncredited)
Treat Williams – Echo Base Trooper
(Uncredited)
Mac MacDonald – Rebel Pilot (Uncredited)
Joe Johnston – Captain Shawn Valdez –
Hoth Rebel (Cameo) (Uncredited)
Harrison Ellenshaw – Hoth Rebel (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Michael Pangrazio – Rebel Pilot (Cameo)
(Uncredited)
Ralph McQuarrie – General McQuarrie
(Cameo) (Uncredited)
Jim Veilleux – Imperial Officer Canonhaus
(Cameo) (Uncredited)

Crew
Director – Irvin Kershner
Story/Executive Producer – George Lucas
Writers – Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan
Associate Producers – Robert Watts
and Jim Bloom
Producer/Assistant Director (Uncredited)/
Director: Studio Second Unit (Uncredited) –
Gary Kurtz
Producers – Howard G. Kazanjian (Uncredited)
and Rick McCallum (Special Edition)
Casting Directors – Bob Edmiston,
Irene Lamb and Terry Liebling
Production Designer – Norman Reynolds
Design Consultant and Conceptual Artist/
Matte Artist: Miniature and Optical Effects Unit –
Ralph McQuarrie
Art Directors – Leslie Dilley,
Harry Lange and Alan Tomkins
Assistant Art Directors – Fred Hole and
Michael Lamont
Sketch Artist – Ivor Beddoes
Draftsmen – Ted Ambrose, Michael Boone,
Reg Bream, Steve Cooper and Richard Dawking
Set Decorator – Michael Ford
Costume Designer – John Mollo
Makeup and Special Creature Design –
Stuart Freeborn
Chief Makeup Artist – Graham Freeborn
Makeup Artists – Kay Freeborn,
Nick Maley and Rick Baker (Uncredited)
Chief Hairdresser – Barbara Ritchie
Director of Photography – Peter Suschitzky
Director of Photography: Location Second Unit –
Geoff Glover
Director of Photography: Studio Second Unit –
Chris Menges
Operating Cameramen – Kelvin Pike and
David Garfath
Assistant Cameramen: Location Second Unit –
Mike Brewster and John Campbell
Second Assistant Cameramen – Kate Robinson
and Madelyn Most
Production Supervisor – Bruce Sharman
Assistant Production Manager – Patricia Carr
First Assistant Director – David Tomblin
Second Assistant Directors – Roy Button and
Steve Lanning
Assistant Directors: Location Second Unit –
Ola Solum and Bill Westley
Location Manager – Philip Kohler
Director: Location Second Unit – Peter MacDonald
Directors: Studio Second Unit – John Barry
and Harley Cokeliss
Stunt Coordinator – Peter Diamond
Helicopter Pilot – Marc Wolff
Mechanical Effects Supervisor: Production
and Mechanical Effects Unit – Nick Allder
Robot Fabrication and Supervision: Production
and Mechanical Effects Unit – Ron Hone and
Andrew Kelly
Senior Effects Technicians: Production and
Mechanical Effects Unit – Neil Swan
and David H. Watkins
Chief Creature Maker: ILM (Special Edition) –
Harold Weed
R2-D2 Builder – Tony Dyson (Uncredited)
Fabricator: Yoda – Wendy Midener
Performing Assistant: Yoda – Kathryn Mullen
Special Visual Effects – Brian Johnson
and Richard Edlund
Visual Effects Producer: ILM (Special Edition) –
Tom Kennedy
Art Director: Visual Effects, Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Joe Johnston
Visual Effects Art Director: ILM (Special Edition) –
George Hull
Assistant Art Director: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Nilos Rodis-Jamero
Assistant Visual Effects Art Director: ILM
(Special Edition) – Alexander Laurant
Effects Director of Photography: Miniature and
Optical Effects Unit – Dennis Muren
Effects Cameramen: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Ken Ralston and Jim Veilleux
Camera Operators: Miniature and Optical Effects
Unit – Don Dow and Bill Neil
Assistant Cameramen: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Selwyn Eddy, Jody Westheimer,
Rick Fichter, Clint Palmer, Michael J. McAlister,
Richard Fish and Chris Anderson
Assistant Cameraman/Model Maker: Miniature
and Optical Effects Unit – Paul Huston
Chief Model Maker: Miniature and Optical Effects
Unit – Lorne Peterson
Model Maker: Miniature and Optical Effects Unit/
Visual Effects Supervisor: ILM (Special Edition) –
Dave Carson
Miniature Pyrotechnics: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Joe Viskocil, David Pier and
Thaine Morris
Matte Painting Supervisor: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Harrison Ellenshaw
Matte Artist: Miniature and Optical Effects Unit
Michael Pangrazio
Matte Photography: Miniature and Optical Effects
Unit – Neil Krepela
Matte Photography Assistants: Miniature and
Optical Effects Unit – Craig Barron and
Robert Elswit
Animation and Rotoscope Supervisor: Miniature
and Optical Effects Unit – Peter Kuran
Stop Motion Animation: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Phil Tippett and Jon Berg
Stop Motion Technicians: Miniature and Optical
Effects Unit – Doug Beswick and Tom St. Amand
Supervising Stage Technician: Miniature and
Optical Effects Unit – Ted Moehnke
Stage Technicians: Miniature and Optical Effects
Unit – William Beck, Ed Breed, Dick Dova,
Bob Finley III, Edward Hirsh and Leo Loverro
Special Project Coordinator: Miniature and
Optical Effects Unit – Stuart Ziff
Optical Photography Supervisor: Miniature
and Optical Effects Unit – Bruce Nicholson
Optical Supervisors (Special Edition) –
Chris Bushman and Philip Feiner
Computer Graphics Supervisor: ILM (Special
Edition) – Tom L. Hutchinson
Visual Effects Editorial Supervisor: Miniature and
Optical Effects Unit – Conrad Buff IV
Effects Editor: Miniature and Optical Effects
Unit – Michael Kelly
Editors – Paul Hirsch, Marcia Lucas (Uncredited)
and T.M. Christopher (Special Edition)
Assistant Editors – Duwayne Dunham,
Barbara Ellis, Phil Sanderson, Steve Starkey
and Paul Tomlinson
Sound Design and Supervising Sound Effects
Editor/Sound Designer (Special & 2004
Editions) – Ben Burtt
Supervising Sound Editor (2004 Edition) –
Matthew Wood (Uncredited)
Supervising Assistant (2004 Edition) –
David Acord (Uncredited)
Sound Editors – Richard Burrow and
Bonnie Koehler
Sound Editor (1980, 1997 & 2004 Editions) –
Teresa Eckton
Production Sound – Peter Sutton
Re-Recording – Bill Varney, Steve Maslow
and Gregg Landaker
Re-Recording Mixer (2004 Edition) –
Tom Myers (Uncredited)
Dialogue Editors – Curt Schulkey,
Leslie Shatz and Joanne D'Antonio
Foley Editors – Scott Hecker and
Robert R. Rutledge
Foley Assistants – John Roesch and
Edward M. Steidele
Sound Effects Recording – Gary Thom
Recording Technician/Re-Recording Mixer
(Special Edition) – Gary Summers
Recording Technicians – Kevin O'Connell
and Howie Hammerman
Digital Mix Technician (Special Edition) –
Gary A. Rizzo
Film Restoration Supervisor (Special Edition) –
Pete Comandini
Film Restoration Consultant (Special Edition) –
Leon Briggs
Music – John Williams
Music Supervisor – Lionel Newman (Uncredited)
Supervising Music Editor – Kenneth Wannberg


Awards

1981 Academy Awards
Best Sound – Bill Varney, Steve Maslow,
Gregg Landaker and Peter Sutton (Won)
Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects –
Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren
and Bruce Nicholson (Won)
----------------
Best Art Direction – Norman Reynolds,
Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, Alan Tomkins
and Michael Ford (Nominated)
Best Original Score – John Williams (Nominated)


Review
The fans of the Star Wars franchise were right. THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK was the best of the original trilogy and the whole series. This cinematic masterpiece has left its mark on the film industry and pop culture. It has everything the first movie didn't have, such as a brilliant story, a dark tone and more character development.

I loved the film's characters, such as Yoda, Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett, who (excluding the latter, who already debuted in the infamous Star Wars Holiday Special) were all introduced to the series. The action sequences in this movie are as spellbinding as ever. Most of the visuals have stood the test of time, and the performances from actors like Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher were more astonishing than they were in the original Star Wars movieAlso, Billy Dee Williams was terrific as Lando. Composer John Williams never ceases to amaze me by delivering one of the most famous movie scores with the recognisable "Imperial March" theme music.

The notable scenes include the Battle of Hoth between the Imperial AT-AT walkers and the Rebel snow-speeders, Han in the Millennium Falcon getting chased by the Imperial fleet in the asteroid belt and the cliffhanger ending. Not to mention the lightsaber duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker, which has the shocking and iconic reveal where Vader says in his infamous quote to Luke, "No, I am your father."

EMPIRE has been considered a classic sci-fi film and is now one of my all-time favourites. It is simply one of the best movie sequels ever made. I highly recommend this film to Star Wars fans and non-fans alike, some of whom haven't seen it yet.

Star rating: (5/5) Best Movie Ever

Back to Home

6 comments:

  1. It's been a while since I have seen this movie but your review has brought back a number of good memories. I agree that it is better than some of the other Star Wars movies and I liked how you put information about the movie's rerelease. Keep blogging!

    ReplyDelete
  2. it brings back the best of the old movies.
    nice work keep blogging

    ReplyDelete
  3. What a great movie, a lot of excitement and a riveting plot. I am a huge Star Wars fan and this is my second favourite movie in the series the first being Return of the Jedi. I love reading your reviews keep blogging.

    ReplyDelete
  4. this was a great review i will have to go and find my old star wars movies and watch them all again

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love this movie!! It is my all time favorite number ONE Favorite! I doubt that I will ever see a better movie. I am glad that you agree.

    -James

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you very much for your review, I'm glad you shared your opinions of these great movies and it sounds like we share in common an appreciation for sci-fi movies. Any more feedback you have would be greatly welcomed.

      Delete