Arguably the standard for sequels in Hollywood, The Empire Strikes Back has aged considerably well to come to be regarded as not only the finest entry in the franchise, but also one of the best pieces of pop-cinema ever made. Expanding on the dense mythology of the Star Wars universe with a rich, thrilling story, lived-in performances, and impeccable visual grandeur, it’s a masterpiece lacking any winking self-awareness or cynicism, bringing instead an emotional charge to the series that has rarely, if ever, been matched since.
Scripted by genre legend Lawrence Kasdan, the screenplay never misses a beat, blending humor with the gravity of the situation perfectly. One minute we’re witnessing Han and Leia argue around their growing flirtation, the next we’ll be seeing Darth Vader oversee a relentless assault on the Rebel Alliance’s base of operations that actually sees the good guys lose, and badly. If nothing else, the film is almost completely unique in that regard. For as thrilling and funny as it is, it’s a rather bleak affair. Vader and his soldiers are constantly one step ahead of our heroes, and seem to be able to back them into a corner at every engagement, only for Han to pull off an escape by the skin of his teeth every time. Instead of giving them a chance to take the fight to Vader, they’re constantly on the run, outmatched and outgunned.
Vader’s wrath isn’t limited to the heroes, either. By the end of the film, we lose count of the number of Imperial officers he’s force-choked to death just out of sheer impatience with their incompetence. “He is as clumsy as he is stupid.”, Vader snarls after being informed of his Admiral’s bone-headed decision, only to then suffocate the man from across the entire ship just by addressing him on video conference. It surely takes a braver, or perhaps dumber man than most to take a post under the lead of a man who can telepathically kill you just because he feels like it. It’s moments like this that remind us that things are going to get worse before they get better for anyone who stands in Vader’s way as he pursues our heroes across the galaxy.
But unlike so many modern blockbusters that try to ape the film’s “dark middle chapter” trademark, the film never once forgets to have fun and be funny. After all, this isn’t Macbeth. It’s Star Wars! There has to be a sense of adventure and wonder or it all gets lost in maudlin navel-gazing like so many modern action films do, including the Star Wars prequels.
From a death-defying chase through and asteroid field to Luke’s Jedi training in the swamps of Dagobah, there’s a palpable sense of humor throughout. After all, what better way to enjoy the asteroid chase than to have Han, Leia, and C-3PO banter about the sanity of the plan? The sense of wonder isn’t lost either. Star Wars introduced us to a universe so vast and bursting with imagination that a sequel has no choice but to expand upon that, and it does so beautifully.
Indeed, it’s not just the chase through space that has the film exploring the universe, but primarily Luke’s time with Yoda. After Obi-Wan’s death in the first film, Luke finds himself in need of a master to show him how to truly harness the power of the Force, and he finds it in the most unlikely place imaginable. Short in stature but a towering beacon of wisdom, Yoda may be the single greatest contribution to the series’ mythology outside of Darth Vader or the Force itself.
Waxing philosophical about the meaning of the Force and, by extension, the universe, Yoda has quite a few hard lessons in store for Luke, and for the audience as well, challenging what was thought of as possible. Few scenes can give goose bumps the way the moment Yoda calmly lectures Luke on the true meaning of the living Force, and then proceeds to lift and entire ship out of the swamp without so much as breaking a sweat. “It’s impossible!” Luke exclaims, hardly believing his eyes. “That, is why you fail”, Yoda calmly retorts.
One of many iconic scenes, it serves a sort of summation as to why the film remains as rich and rewarding as ever. Ever teetering on the brink of getting either too serious or too silly, the film always manages to strike that perfect balance and stay true to what came before and what it seeks to accomplish after. From John Williams’ score to Vader’s game-changing revelation, The Empire Strikes Back remains not only a definitive film of the 80s, but a true classic in every sense of the word. After all, if a film where “I love you!” is met with “I know” isn’t a classic, I don’t know what is.
