What Made Independence Day So Special?

Many years ago, when INDEPENDENCE DAY (ID4) opened in American theatres on the Fourth of July 1996, moviegoers were optimistic about seeing an alien invasion threatening humanity's extinction. There's no denying that this great movie pays tribute to the classic B-grade sci-fi invasion films. Although cheesy, fun, patriotic, and lacking in story, ID4 was the definitive blockbuster that set the benchmark for summer blockbusters. It also relaunched the disaster movie trend, which had been dormant since the early 80s, even though Twister did it first in the same year as ID4.

Upon its release, it received widespread acclaim for its special effects, propelling Will Smith to bona fide stardom. However, it received criticism for its thin plot and undeveloped characterisation, which was branded as stereotypical and generally dense. It also established Roland Emmerich's directional credibility. He became synonymous with big-budget disaster movies and would direct a few more like The Day After Tomorrow and 2012. The revitalised subgenre would soon spawn other films, such as Dante's Peak, Volcano, Deep Impact, Armageddon, and San Andreas.

The timing of this movie analysis coincides with the DVD and Blu-ray release of the lacklustre sequel, Independence Day: Resurgence. Allow me to discuss what made ID4 so beloved, focusing on four of its ceremonial aspects/moments.

#4. Presidential Speech

The movie can be a little absurd, but it has its moments. In a motivational and uplifting presidential speech, President Whitmore addresses the nation, explaining that they are now facing a common enemy, obliteration, and will unite in a final desperate effort to fight for humanity's freedom. He inspires hope and faith in his fellow citizens by saying, "We will not go quietly into the night!" and "We will not vanish without a fight!" Along with the patriotic music in the background and Bill Pullman's performance, this scene of the speech makes you feel that there is hope left in humanity and that, as long as people work together, it can make a difference.

#3. Music

I have never been an avid listener of David Arnold's music in the entire film catalogue, except for this movie. It aligns with the movie's patriotic theme and intensifies the scene's mood. A soundtrack can complement a film, enhancing the emotions you experience while watching a scene. I am happy to say the score in this film was perfect. All moments evoke feelings and impact your mood. It aligns with the story's events and the character development.




#2. Special Effects

As you know, the special effects were an opportunity to bring the spectacle to life. ID4 did it with scenes including the dogfight sequences and the gigantic mothership destroying the White House. These were the very techniques that amplified the film's impact. The destruction of the White House is the main focus of the film's advertising campaigns, appearing on posters and in still images, and is one of the iconic money shots. It was one of the few movies to utilise physical effects with a modest amount of CGI.




#1. Will Smith

Last but not least, the top highlight of ID4 was Will Smith's acting. Sure, the film featured a top-notch cast of Jeff Goldblum, Bill Pullman, Randy Quaid, and Judd Hirsch. Will Smith takes a standout role. Without him, there would be no I Am Legend, Men in Black, I, Robot, Ali, and Suicide Squad. His performance was quite remarkable and sassy for an African-American actor. Not to mention, he gave us infectious laughs with his snappy one-liners like "Welcome to Earth" after punching the alien in the face and "And what the hell is that smell?!!", which he ad-libbed while suffering from the revolting stench of brine shrimp when this scene was shot in the Lake Salt flats.

Conclusion 

ID4 may not have been perfect for a science-fiction blockbuster, but that doesn't stop it from becoming a guilty pleasure. You can watch it in its original theatrical format or its special edition for the best experience. Like it or not, it proves that ID4 is better than the less iconic sequel. However, this concludes my analysis of the movie, which I consider one of my favourites.

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Top 20 Star Wars Moments (5-1)

Sorry, I've been so tardy. It's been three days since I counted down this list while watching the originals and the new film, but enough about that. It is the last part of the moments I have personally considered in the top twenty. Some moments that could have been on this list, such as the Battle of Endor, Luke entering the cave, and the chase and skirmish around the Death Star, are worth mentioning. Some endings could have come to this list, but it would get too long, so enjoy!

Be sure to give me feedback anytime. You'll read and watch the whole thing through and click on (20-16), (15-11), and (10-6) if you have yet to see these three parts. Also, remember to come back and check these reviews because a few are updated, and before you know it, you'll be able to see The Force Awakens on the big screen.

#5. Vader Redeems Himself (Return of the Jedi)

It's probably one of the good parts in RETURN OF THE JEDI before George mucked it up with a new piece of dialogue, which he added - where Darth Vader says "NOOOOOOOO!" before the character's eventual redemption and sacrifice. Vader wasn't always a good parent to Luke when, a few times, he tried to persuade his son to join the Empire. Then, the young Jedi finally defeated Vader in their second round. Luke then has to make a choice when the Emperor forces him to kill Vader, but he refuses to do so, which leads to his electrocution by the old Sith Lord. Vader has a change of heart and manages to save his son at the expense of his own life by pulling the Emperor away from Luke and dropping the Sith Lord to his doom. It leads to an emotionally poignant scene as Vader, now redeemed as Anakin Skywalker, lies dying while he begs Luke to remove his mask. It is so Luke can glimpse Vader's lost humanity before finally resting in peace with the Force.

#4. Han Shot First (A New Hope)

I know what you're thinking, but this scene wasn't forgotten by anyone else when George Lucas changed the sequence to Greedo shooting first before Han Solo hit second. The worst is yet to come when Lucas keeps tinkering with that scene in the latest editions. Not to mention that fans didn't like this unnecessary change and felt it just switched Han around, seriously! Long before George altered this scene, it shows Han being confronted by the Rodian bounty hunter as he prepares to use his blaster, which he hid underneath his table, resulting in a fiery blast that took Greedo down by just one shot. Perhaps Lucas is missing the point that Han meant to shoot first, and the fact remains that it was the only iconic moment sought after by those who only watch the classic trilogy for its original versions.

#3. Luke vs. Vader/No, I Am Your Father (The Empire Strikes Back)

Coincidentally, in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, the sequence where Luke faces his father for the first time remains one of the most iconic lightsaber battles before the duel with Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace. It wasn't the first time they had fought. They both were in orbit around the attack on the Death Star without seeing each other. When compared to Luke, Darth Vader is far more skilled and powerful. Vader can levitate many objects he throws at the young Jedi and has him "disarmed" of his lightsaber. This scene ends in a horrifying conclusion when Vader tells Luke he is Luke's father. This revelation causes the young Jedi to let out a big "NOOOOOOOO!" upon this shocking discovery. Like father, like son, now we know where Luke gets his genes from, and it was an iconic moment of revelation that no one ever expected. Behind the twist is the original line of the scene where Darth Vader says to Luke that Obi-Wan killed his father, which got improvised so that this line wouldn't get leaked to anyone before James Earl Jones dubbed it at the expense of using the actual line.

#2. Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon vs. Darth Maul (The Phantom Menace)

Nothing can beat this magnificent scene with its masterful duel choreography and tension. Aside from the exhilarating Podracing scene in the ambitious but flawed and unequally notorious prequel of THE PHANTOM MENACE, it is the only exciting moment. This climactic scene demonstrates the aptitude of a lightsaber duel as it starts with Darth Maul arriving to deal with both the unwanted Jedi in Obi-Wan and his soon-to-be-dead master Qui-Gon, aka Liam Neeson. They face a dangerous Sith Lord who has ignited his double-edged lightsaber and is in for the kill, as only one should gain the upper hand for victory. While not as biblical as the other lightsaber duels, it shows its components of action, camerawork, and the instrumental piece of "Duel of the Fates" by John Williams match this scene in extra detail. There's so much of this scene that stops it from being number one, which, unfortunately, goes to the Trench Run in the Death Star moment.

#1. Death Star Assault (A New Hope)

Since all the other moment entries are in the top twenty, I should mention this scene of the attack on the Death Star may well be the granddaddy of all space battles. It's the scene in which Luke and the Rebels are piloting their X-wing fighters to try and take out the Imperials in their TIE fighters (with Darth Vader leading them) on the original Death Star. Luckily, with the help of Han in the Millennium Falcon, they managed to be victorious in that battle. It's very epic in all its cinematic portions. It demonstrated the incredible action with innovative special effects combined to make this original space battle, proving that it's cemented as the best moment in the Star Wars series.

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Top 20 Star Wars Moments (10-6)

Two days from now, after the long-awaited episode of The Force Awakens is finally showing in theatres, I have yet to see the film until I go and see it on Monday night. This list of the top twenty Star Wars scenes is still counting down for the movie. Everyone should know that parts one and two are now in this blog. We'll look at numbers #10 to #6 in this section, as we are close to reaching the end of this list from #5 to #1. You'd better wait until tomorrow or later.

You can (click here for part one) and (here for part two) as they contain these previous entries through the beginning and the second, but there's no telling why or how you missed out.

#10. Destruction of Alderaan (A New Hope)

A nightmarish scene demonstrates how the Empire brings fear and destruction to the galaxy. The scene where a captive Princess Leia witnesses her home planet's demise by the Death Star after disclosing the hidden Rebel base shows how the battle station is fully operational when destroying peaceful planets like Alderaan. The worst-case scenario is that Grand Moff Tarkin is responsible for ordering its obliteration, as he knows Alderaan is a peaceful world with no weapons. It effectively killed millions that were on the planet. So powerful that it caused a disturbance in the Force.

#9. Battle Over Coruscant (Revenge of the Sith)

This opening in REVENGE OF THE SITH starts the prequel with a bang as Anakin and Obi-Wan are in a massive space battle attempting to board General Grievous' ship to rescue Palpatine. There, they wound up with spider droids as they were about to dismantle their fighters, and a lot of action occurs in this space battle while attacking the droid fighters. It's a sturdy action-oriented scene with a lot of brilliant cinematography and visuals involved, and it's thanks to a massive overload of CGI effects with some witty dialogue that takes you back to the original trilogy for lines that include "This is where the fun begins."

#8. The Asteroid Chase/This is No Cave (The Empire Strikes Back)

After the rip-roaring moments of the Battle of Hoth and the destruction of the Rebel base, the Millennium Falcon is attempting to outrun the Imperial fleet of Super Star Destroyers and TIE Fighters. Han Solo heads to an asteroid belt to evade capture, much to the discomfort of everyone on board. Even C3PO finds it impossible to survive the odds in an asteroid belt when Han says, "Never tell me the odds." The chase ensues with many TIE fighters blown to bits by oncoming asteroids, and Han and the others seek refuge in a cave below on a giant asteroid. Only to find themselves dealing with Mynocks and escaping the jaws of a gigantic space slug, which realises Han upon saying, "This is no cave." This scene put the special effects forward with the score by John Williams intact as a definitive moment of Star Wars.

#7. Opening with Star Destroyer (A New Hope)

The film starts with "A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away...," then STAR WARS lights up the screen, and John Williams' epic score announces the arrival of something special. This opening scene comes after the introduction crawl, demonstrating the size and power of the rebels compared to the Imperial fleet. The camera shows a tiny rebel ship bombarded by laser fire from a star destroyer that swallows the rebel spaceship whole. Then we are treated to invading Stormtroopers breaching the ship's interior, and Darth Vader makes his grand villainous entrance. He surveys the carnage and continues to hunt for Princess Leia and the stolen plans. Thirty-eight years ago, this introduced us to a new world of science fiction and embarked us on a scene no other moviegoer forgets.

#6. Battle of Hoth (The Empire Strikes Back)

Considering that the Star Wars series was a product of George Lucas's imagination, it was a plethora of large-scale action and innovative VFX (whether practical, CGI or both used in these films). The Hoth battle sequence remains at large as the second visually iconic moment of THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, and it shows that the Rebels are just more than capable of earning their victories in a war against the Empire. This scene proves that the Imperials have successfully invaded the Hoth system and taken down the Rebel base of its shield generators. Luckily for the Rebels, however, they managed to destroy only two Imperial Walkers and one Star Destroyer and bought some time to evacuate into orbit. This full-scale action scene came from the Star Wars visual effects house of ILM (known as Industrial Light and Magic) and has gone untouched because of the stop-motion and miniature effects achieved in this film.

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Top 20 Star Wars Moments (15-11)

It is only one day before The Force Awakens opens in theatres. I will continue the top twenty moments from the quintessential sci-fi franchise of Star Wars. Only this time, it includes the lightsaber duels deemed the best aspect of the film series, as they provide much of the action choreography.

For those of you who missed part one (click here), you know the first picks are good for you.

#15. Anakin vs Obi-Wan/Yoda vs. Palpatine (Revenge of the Sith)

Many will conclude that these two lightsaber battles have merged into one ultimate fight scene in Star Wars. Two duels are happening in two worlds that show Anakin facing his former master, Obi-Wan, on the fiery planet of Mustafar. Meanwhile, on Coruscant, Yoda duels with the ultimate Sith Lord, Darth Sidious, known as Palpatine. The two Jedi Masters now face off against two Sith Lords in an epic battle pitting good against evil. The outcome of these battles is that Palpatine defeated Yoda while Obi-Wan triumphed over Anakin. Many fans are immersed in the long, ongoing action between Obi-Wan and Anakin in the volcanic world, while this scene transitions to Yoda and Palpatine fighting in the Senate. If only a few lines of silly dialogue would get changed, for instance, "From my point of view, the Jedi were evil," which wouldn't have affected this climactic sequence.

#14. Order 66 (Revenge of the Sith)

REVENGE OF THE SITH is the only saving grace of the irredeemable prequel trilogy, not to mention the darkest among the Star Wars movies and way more tragic than The Empire Strikes Back. But this depressing moment of the film starts with Anakin marching to the steps of the Jedi Temple with his 501st Legion of clone troopers. Then, a clone receives contact from Palpatine, who orders him and his fellow clone troopers to wipe out their Jedi superiors as Palpatine's plans have come to fruition. It creates a montage where each Jedi throughout the galaxy is butchered by their clone troopers, resulting in their near-permanent extinction. Even those in Coruscant get killed as a result of that order. Luckily, both Obi-Wan and Yoda managed to survive their soon-to-be massacre, and this moment proves how Palpatine was willing to have the Jedi eradicated and sow the seeds in his new Galactic Empire to abolish the old Republic.

#13. Speeder Bike Chase (Return of the Jedi)

In another brilliant effects scene of the Star Wars franchise, the speeder bike pursuit is one of those highlights that were to die for in RETURN OF THE JEDI. Initially, I'd be thinking about adding the Battle of Endor to this rank, but I've decided for this particular moment instead. It features Luke and Leia chasing a scout trooper on a speeder bike. And this causes the other Imperials to follow them. It causes a tag-along in the immediate pursuit, and the action soon follows. This incredible scene had happened before all the cuteness of the Ewoks began to appear.

#12. Anakin and Palpatine at the Opera (Revenge of the Sith)

REVENGE OF THE SITH has some haunting moments, but the opera scene is no exception. It plays a crucial part in Anakin's transformation into Darth Vader. This scene shows when Anakin meets with Chancellor Palpatine in the opera house after reluctantly being sent by the Jedi Knights to spy on him. The latter describes the Jedi and the Sith from their viewpoints, including a Sith Lord who uses his power to save his loved ones from death. This temptation will lead Anakin to join the dark side to keep Padme from dying.

#11. Frozen in Carbonite (The Empire Strikes Back)

In the Star Wars movies, there are heartbreaking moments in each chapter. For this case on THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, I've included the one where our favourite hero, Han Solo, is about to face his doom in the Carbonite freezing chamber. Many people will cry a lot for this character to accept his fate, and if that isn't giving you tears enough, how about this small scene when Leia says to Han, "I love you," and then Han says to her back, "I know." See Lucas, that is how a beautiful line of dialogue gets written or improvised. Not to mention Harrison Ford, the actor you hired to portray Han, is responsible for this take of dialogue! I won't forget how Han Solo is essential to the movie because of this scene. Fortunately, the character did return three years later in Return of the Jedi.

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Top 20 Star Wars Moments (20-16)

In anticipation of the newest Star Wars episode, The Force Awakens, two days ahead of its release in Australia, we'll be looking at the first part of the top twenty best moments that have made Star Wars very special to all of us. Even some who liked the widely despised, CGI-overblown prequels will find some of its moments on this list. Unfortunately, I won't include any lightsaber duels, which will be in the next part. So until then, may the force be with you.

#20. Podracing (The Phantom Menace)

First, I'll start with the podrace sequence, one of the few redeeming moments worth watching in THE PHANTOM MENACE. Some may see it as redundant to the story, but I thought it was an important plot point in this film. We see how young Anakin Skywalker has gained his piloting skills and Jedi reflexes, which are put to the test when he enters the podracing tournament, pitting against Sebulba and the other racers through the desert lands of Tatooine. This particular action set piece has ingenious visual effects and dazzling camera angles. It is so fun to watch, but it would have gone much higher on the top spot if Jar Jar were deleted now (along with every other scene he is in in the entire film).

#19. Battle at Geonosis (Attack of the Clones)

ATTACK OF THE CLONES may not be as bad as The Phantom Menace, maybe not as good as it could be, but the film reaches one of its climaxes on Geonosis, where Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Padme are trying to avoid their execution. Then suddenly, Mace shows up and ignites his purple lightsaber before starting a battle in the arena with his fellow Jedi comrades. He immediately says to Count Dooku, "This party's over." This sequence contains many Jedi fighting against monsters and droids in a skirmish. It nearly held the record as the ultimate Star Wars battle with a long duration that any fan has to envision. In case you're wondering why this moment didn't make it into the top 10, it's because of the unnecessary comic scenes courtesy of C-3PO.

#18. The Birth of Darth Vader (Revenge of the Sith)

Say what you want about this scene. I know that it ended with Darth Vader saying, "NOOOOOOOO!" which remains one of the cheesiest lines of Star Wars. It shows how Anakin Skywalker, aka Darth Vader, becomes more machine than man when outfitted with mechanical prosthetics and special armour that keeps him alive after the damage he had sustained on the lava planet Mustafar. He's now turned into a black-clad warrior that we all love to hate, and begins that recognisable breathing through his mask. No one cares how it closes with that cheesy line. It helps that James Earl Jones is reprising Vader's voice at the end of the character's dramatic transformation.

#17. Fight at the Great Pit of Carkoon (Return of the Jedi)

In this scene of RETURN OF THE JEDI, Luke, Han, and Chewie have to walk over the sail barge to enter the Great Pit of Carkoon and are to be fed in the Sarlacc's belly as part of their execution by Jabba the Hutt. Fortunately, Luke receives a new lightsaber from R2-D2 as he catches it, and this is where the action begins. We see a whole skirmish of Luke and the other heroes fending off Jabba's minions and bounty hunters while Leia, in her slave bikini costume, gives Jabba a dose of his medicine by choking with the chains. So much action was delivered and choreographed for this scene, and it came with a spectacular display of acrobatics, laser-firing, and explosions.

#16. Chase at Coruscant (Attack of the Clones)

It's one of the better moments in ATTACK OF THE CLONES, aside from the non-stop action in the arena battle at Geonosis, considering how big Coruscant is in its splendour and beauty. It is the perfect setting for a chase scene as Anakin and Obi-Wan are in a flying speeder while in hot pursuit of a bounty hunter named Zam Wessell. It is after they foiled her attempt to assassinate Padme Amidala. Though it was incredible enough for this scene to be in AOTC, it was not enough to land the film in my favourites since it got hindered by the awkwardly acted and poorly written romantic subplot of Anakin and Padme.

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Film Guru Lad's Top 6 Movie Dads

Hello, this is your favourite blogger RadDingo here and those who were born or lived in Australia would know that today is Father's Day (Sunday 6th). In theme with our celebration of our fathers, here's a list of the top movie dads that helped establish the dynamic onscreen relationships between father/son and father/daughter. This list will include films such as 'Star Wars' and 'The Lion King'. My selection criteria included whether they were worthy of being a role model, or if they had interesting characteristic flaws like being estranged, absent, comically inept or overly serious.

#6. Jor-El (Superman)

Our first candidate is Jor-El, (no, not the
one in 'Man of Steel'). The
original interpretation of this
character serves as a sort of
a spiritual guide to his
son Kal-El (famously known as
Superman or as his 

human alter ego Clark Kent);

after Jor-El sacrificed himself 

to save the infant 

from the destruction of 

Planet Krypton. It helps 

that even within death,
Jor-El can be seen teaching his son through holograms of his wisdom. The character was portrayed by Marlon Brando who also played another famous dad as Don Vito Corleone in 'The Godfather'.

#5. Darryl Kerrigan (The Castle)

It's no surprise that when 

you meet average people 

in Australia like Darryl 

Kerrigan. He is not only 

a loving husband and a 

tow truck driver, but is a 

kind-hearted patriarch to 

his children. This good-

natured, optimistic father 

may not be as comical 

as Clark Griswold in the 

'National Lampoon' series but is able to get along well with his children and prevent them, his wife, neighbours and himself from being forced off their homes by the Aussie government. 

#4. Cooper (Interstellar)

While not the best of the
cinematic dads, Cooper does
what is best for his own
children even drifting in
outer space to save the 

world's population from
extinction. Before this
distant relationship had
happened to Cooper, in 
the movie's first half he was 
able to maintain a decent 
fatherly bond to his children, 
yes, even his own daughter whom he calls her Murph is affectionate towards her. It would take years after his time in space that he would then reunite with his daughter when after communication through the black hole that they would see each other again.

#3. Henry Jones (Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade)

Judging from where Indy
gets his obsession with

artefacts from Henry
Jones is a work-detached
father who is never around
with his son because of
his time spending his

research with the Holy Grail
and the two would then
reunite as the former sets out
to rescue him from the Nazis.
Besides all the differences
that both of them had in
their previous lives, they wonderfully provide their impeccable father/son chemistry and this is because director Steven Spielberg has cast old James Bond actor Sean Connery to get on good terms with the supporting role.

#2. Mufasa (The Lion King) 

This list of the top six
characters couldn't be
completed without Mufasa
who is Simba's kingly
powerful father and is 

teaching him the ways in 

the circle of life. Though 

normally Simba does very 

little to follow in his father's 

paws until his evil

treacherous uncle Scar kills
him in the middle of the
stampede and places the guilt into Simba's head to forget this responsibility of ruling the pride lands and leave. However, this couldn't have happened when after Simba was being raised by two companions and then got older, as his ghost suddenly appears and tells him that he must take his place as king and defeat Scar in battle. The true fact within this character is that he is voiced by James Earl Jones who also does a voice of the galaxy's notorious father Darth Vader.

#1. Darth Vader (Star Wars)

And finally, our last dad to be
on this category is Darth 

Vader. Though not the 

greatest dad in the universe, 

especially when he chops off 

his son's hand to have him 

disarmed in a lightsaber duel 

or he is unaware that he 

tortured his daughter when 

he intends to find the
location of the Rebel
Alliance. Furthermore, he is 
a compelling character that 
is downright responsible for 
the main plot twist in 'The Empire Strikes Back' when he reveals himself to Luke as his own father. To his shocking discovery, Luke was then able to get away from Vader's clutches to have him at his side if not for the horrifying truth. Fortunately, Vader redeems himself in Return of the Jedi when he gives his own life to save his son from being killed by the Emperor.

Honourable Mentions

Bob Parr/Mr. Incredible (The Incredibles)

Mr. Miyago (The Karate Kid)

Homer Simpson (The Simpsons Movie)

What Made The Empire Strikes Back So Special?

Beware! There are some spoilers in this review!

(UPDATE: 17/10/21 - I had to change this article from having seven factors that made EMPIRE great to just nine.)

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. There came a time when THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK didn't yet exist before George Lucas began pre-production after the original Star Wars movie came out on May 25, 1977. He had his sights on creating the next chapter of the series, which continues the space adventures of Luke, Han, Leia, C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca in their struggle against the tyranny of the Galactic Empire. During its May 1980 theatrical run, EMPIRE, while a smash hit, elicited mixed critical responses, with some dismissing it and others applauding it. It then changed when THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK proved to be the best science-fiction film and the best not only in the original Star Wars trilogy but out of all the movies.

It is an analysis of my all-time favourite movie. I am coinciding with Star Wars Day. It's an appreciation day for Star Wars fans, including celebrations featuring cosplay, movie screenings, social media, and other events. We'll examine nine factors that made EMPIRE so innovative and appealing to the present generation of fresh moviegoers. Forget what Lucas did to the original trilogy in these updated versions, not by changing the scenes like when Greedo shoots first instead of Han, and adding new ones like the "Jedi Rocks" number. Since Lucas is no longer in control of his ultimate movie franchise, perhaps there is hope that the original versions will be released on Blu-ray before Disney can release Episode VII.

Believe me, what you've just heard, I used to think EMPIRE was the weakest of the bunch. Because it was a dark movie with a bleak ending, I preferred Return of the Jedi as a lighthearted addition because I was too young to appreciate it. I didn't realise until now that I first learned that many fans considered it the best of the series. I've grown to watch EMPIRE through the years and now have a different opinion than when I first watched it. I also realised that EMPIRE was the first Star Wars movie I ever saw. It brought me to a universe with Jedi, Sith, Ewoks, Wookiees, droids, stormtroopers, and lightsabers. Now I know that the movie is what got me into the series.

A few characters like Yoda or the interplanetary worlds, such as Hoth's winter landscapes, Dagobah's swamps, and even the floating Cloud City of Bespin, would not have existed without EMPIRE. Then, Darth Vader certainly wouldn't be Luke's father if it weren't for this scene that surprised audiences with this shocking plot twist.

#9. Han + Leia

Let us now examine the first element of the feature, the romance between Han and Leia. Yes, this would be a better love story in EMPIRE. It beats the misguided attempt in the Attack of the Clones prequel, which has far less chemistry. Even the line Anakin said to Padme, "I don't like sand," will not stop it from being unmoving.

This love-hate relationship works without the mediocre dialogue from George Lucas; it flows terrifically, and both characters are a perfect match. Even in their moments, they argue up to the scene where they profess their love. It is there that Han and Leia share their final moments, during which Leia says, "I love you," and Han replies, "I know," before they are separated. That line wasn't in the original script, but Harrison Ford suggested it to the director, believing his character, Han, should be the one to say it. I was about to mention that Luke should have been the one to fall in love with Leia if she weren't related to him.

#8. The Action

For moments of the film, we've seen the Battle of Hoth, the chase on the asteroid belt, and the first-ever lightsaber duel between Luke and Vader. These are all part of the action that keeps EMPIRE loaded with thrills, giving us the edge of our seats. The Hoth battle scene is one of the most memorable pieces ever brought to the screen. It shows that, instead of an outer-space battle like the original, which took place on the Death Star, the ILM visual effects team has created a large-scale assault with hovering snowspeeders and giant AT-AT walkers.

#7. Yoda

In THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, we have characters that prove essential to the story, like Lando Calrissian and Boba Fett. Who can remember the little fellow who gives us wisdom and says the more important things, like Yoda? Although CGI-created characters in a live-action backdrop were not introduced until 1985, Yoda was created through extensive puppetry. He serves as a seemingly odd but wise mentor figure to Luke. He often imparts his profound sentences to the protagonist when he teaches him his skills as a Jedi, for example, "Do or do not. There is no try."

Yoda remains one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars saga, and even in EMPIRE, he served as a plot device for Luke in his quest to learn the ways of the Force. Frank Oz did an outstanding job bringing the character to life through puppeteering and voice acting. It impressed George Lucas that, at one point, he campaigned to get Oz an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor through an advertising campaign he spent thousands of dollars on, which was unsuccessful. The character's popularity ensured that Frank Oz would reprise his role in the later Star Wars movies.

#6. Boba Fett

One character I've already mentioned in the previous factor is also featured in EMPIRE: the Mandalorian bounty hunter Boba Fett. After being introduced in an animated segment of The Star Wars Holiday Special, the character would not make his screen debut until 1980. Despite being in a supporting role, Boba is a mercenary who remains a mysterious figure in EMPIRE. Besides working for a notorious crime lord like Jabba the Hutt, part of his job description was that the Empire had hired him to track down the Millennium Falcon, which led to the Cloud City of Bespin.

Like Yoda, Boba proved a fan favourite in the Star Wars series. The character also appeared in Return of the Jedi, where he met his unwitting defeat at the hands of Han Solo before being brought back into the expanded universe. Fett even appeared in the Droids cartoon, comics, books, the prequel Attack of the Clones (which explains his origins), The Clone Wars series, and a few episodes of The Mandalorian, which diminished the character's mystery.

#5. The Music

For every composition, John Williams is always a viable asset and is a necessity in Star Wars. Nobody will forget his memorable musical pieces on the official soundtrack, which became a standard-setting, sensational score, featuring standouts such as the iconic "Imperial March" theme. The former was a brooding anthem to the Imperials. It represented their oppressive dictatorship and served as a character theme for Darth Vader. The rest of the instrumentals, like "The Asteroid Field," "Yoda's Theme," "The Clash of the Lightsabers," and "Han Solo and the Princess," were enough to create a fantasy sci-fi tempo. The pace and action-packed atmosphere are similar to those in the previous movie.

This one is in debate for the best of the Star Wars soundtracks. It depends on how you listen to the instrumentals of EMPIRE, A New Hope, or The Phantom Menace. It doesn't matter if you listen to all six of them; they're brilliant.

#4. Dark Tone

One of the factors that made EMPIRE intriguing was its moody atmosphere. It evokes a sense of danger and suspense that was not there in its predecessor. You'll be surprised to see the film's dark scenes, like when Darth Vader cuts off Luke's right hand when he bests him in the lightsaber duel before the unsettling plot twist, which we'll get to number one later. Or when a hideous-looking snow bear called a Wampa attacks Luke and drags him back to its cave in the opening act. Or when Luke enters a mysterious cave and confronts a hallucination of Vader, which, in the aftermath, he sees himself behind the mask. These moments may be traumatic for younger viewers who have not seen THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. However, no exception applies to the scene in which Han suffers a fate far worse than death when he is frozen in Carbonite and becomes a wall decoration for a crime boss to whom he owes money.

No wonder this film popularised a trend of darker sequels. While it's the first Star Wars film to embrace a darker tone, it now feels tame compared to other dark, mature Star Wars films, including Revenge of the Sith, The Force Awakens, Rogue One, and The Last Jedi.

#3. The Ending

Instead of ending happily, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ends so differently from the rest of the Star Wars films that it concludes on a tragic note. It's one of the reasons I never liked it as a child. It doesn't help that the protagonists are left broken and defeated by the Empire, and that the film ends on a cliffhanger, leaving viewers to question whether there will be a next instalment to resolve the conflict on both sides.

Some die-hard fans, like writer/director Joss Whedon, may not want to watch it again if they couldn't find the perseverance to recover from this depressing conclusion. I disagreed with Joss's opinion about the ending ruining the film. It's a very emotional and thought-provoking conclusion to a stunning movie.

#2. Direction & Writing

One of the reasons EMPIRE

is the greatest of all the Star Wars movies is the direction by the late Irvin Kershner. And also the writing by the late Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. Kershner agreed to direct the sequel when it became clear that George Lucas, overwhelmed by the production problems of the first film, didn't want to. He is not known for many of his movies, even later ones like Never Say Never Again and Robocop 2. Whereas Lucas was more of a technological whiz and was not exactly an actor's director, Kershner did an exceptional job of enhancing the Star Wars film series from a pulp science-fiction adventure into a character-driven story. He even improved the actors' performances by making them more comfortable and letting them deliver most of their lines straight from the script or improvise.

While George was the executive producer and heavily involved in the film's conceptual stage, he did write the story for the sequel (albeit uncredited for the scriptwriting). Leigh Brackett wrote the screenplay (until her death after completing the first draft). Lucas took over from her in rewriting the original script until he hired Lawrence Kasdan to revise it. Kasdan is more accomplished at making the narrative more character-driven and improving the character dialogue, which better suits the film by balancing humanity with a sense of humour in scenes like these.

#1. "No, I Am Your Father"

Kicking off this top spot in the EMPIRE tribute is the father of all plot twists. This line, said by the film's main antagonist, Darth Vader, was often misquoted as "Luke, I am your father" when it was actually "No, I am your father." Two years before the release of EMPIRE, rumours began to circulate that Darth Vader was Luke's supposedly deceased father. Eventually, the audience didn't see it until the next two years, when they started watching EMPIRE and were unexpectedly shocked by this horrifying revelation. Nobody knew at the start that Luke was the offspring of the most feared Sith Lord in the universe. Some people who first watched the movie thought Darth Vader was lying to Luke in an attempt to convert him to the dark side, but the following chapter proves he was telling the truth.

This rumour came from Dave Prowse, who was then playing the body of Vader, who thought it was a lucky guess in 1978 when they had barely written the screenplay for EMPIRE. It was during shooting that Prowse didn't use the scripted line. Instead, the script had a different line spoken by Vader to Luke, revealing that Obi-Wan had killed his father to keep the big reveal a secret from everyone by the time they were filming the scene. It was changed in post-production when James Earl Jones (the then-voice of Darth Vader) dubbed over that scene, performing the actual line that was added to the film. Only three people knew about it, including Lucas, Kershner, and Mark Hamill. This trivial fact has ended.

I can relate to this plot twist. It's one of these pivotal moments that catapulted EMPIRE to iconic status. It left a significant impact on the Star Wars franchise. Since then, other films and TV shows have parodied, referenced, and paid homage to this twist, including Spaceballs, Toy Story 2, Austin Powers, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and others.

Conclusion

We may get this belief that THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is the crown jewel of the enthralling, action-packed science fiction saga that we grew up watching. It doesn't matter which version of EMPIRE I'm watching. I have the altered version on DVD and Blu-ray, and watched the original online. Anyway, this concludes my tribute to the fifth Star Wars chapter, and I hope to be back soon to post my review for you all. Stay tuned for further updates.

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