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| The Empire Strikes Back 30th Anniversary Thread http://www.millenniumfalcon.com/phpbb/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8502 |
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| Author: | ETandElliott [ August 9th 2009 7:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | The Empire Strikes Back 30th Anniversary Thread |
What is it about Empire? First of all, am I way off base to consider The Empire Strikes Back to be the greatest movie of all time? I've seen many of the all-time classics and more. Yeah, Casablanca was great, blah blah blah. But what is it that keeps me coming back to ESB and thinking, "Damn." It can't be a symptom of Star Wars geek-dom, right? A belief that our own little science-fiction/fantasy space movie is a masterpiece. Could its powers truly extend beyond the genre? I'll be back with more. |
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| Author: | darthpsychotic [ August 10th 2009 9:09 pm ] |
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starwars.com news20090810.html QUOTE: The Making of the Empire Strikes Back will be available in 2010 and is being published by Del Rey Books. Stay tuned to starwars.com for further reports of this highly-anticipated book to be released for Empire's 30th anniversary 
New book upcoming for the 30th Anniversary of Empire. |
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| Author: | DoubleSith [ August 10th 2009 11:06 pm ] |
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I loved the "Making of Star Wars" book, and I'm really looking forward to this one. That reminds me, I never got around to reading the Indiana Jones one. Is that one any good? |
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| Author: | royalguard96 [ August 11th 2009 8:05 am ] |
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DoubleSith wrote: I loved the "Making of Star Wars" book, and I'm really looking forward to this one. That reminds me, I never got around to reading the Indiana Jones one. Is that one any good?
The Indiana Jones book was very good. A little more than half of it is dedicated to Raiders of the Lost Ark. The rest of the book is split between the other three films. It's very much in the style of the Making of Star Wars book. If you liked that one, you will like the Indiana Jones book. I absolutely cannot wait for this new ESB book! I know I will love every page of it, but I really hope the book can address the Gary Kurtz situation. He was Lucas's partner from American Graffiti through ESB, but I hope this book gives the definitive word on why Kurtz was booted from LFL after ESB was completed. I've always wondered if it was because of the budget, or differing visions for the story aspect of the saga. I hope Kurtz's outsting from LFL isn't just glossed over, but fleshed out once and for all. Why does ESB resonate with me? Several reasons: In looking at it from a filmmaking standpoint, it is the Star Wars movie that to me, looks least like it was filmed on Earth. The production staff did an amazing job at creating the environment of Dagobah. Cloud City had the appropriate futuristic look for the saga. I can't imagine how tough it must have been for cast and crew to film the Hoth scenes, but those scenes were absolutely believable in terms of being shot someplace other than Earth. Kershner brought out some terrific acting performances out of the cast. He took the extra time that Lucas is not fond of taking on the set, to make sure the actors brought out the proper emotions in the scenes. Harrison Ford was at the top of his game. Mark Hammil played off the character of Yoda beautifully. Carrie Fisher gave Princess Leia more depth and character. Frank Oz's work with Yoda was nothing short of genius. As pure a form of genius as has ever been captured on film. John Williams was also at the absolute top of his game. His music belnds in with the scenes and characters so seamlessly, it's hard to imagine one existing without the other. To this day, for me, the ESB soundtrack is one I will listen to from the first note to the last. No track is skippable. The editing and pacing of the movie are brilliant. I have watched ESB trying to poke holes in the story, performances, and other things, I just can't find them. I've had other friends of mine declare to me "Empire Srtikes Back is the greatest movie ever made." I can't disagree. |
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| Author: | TroyObliX [ August 11th 2009 6:58 pm ] |
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There aren't many films I'd put up against it. Once Upon a Time in America, maybe. ESB is the only one I actually still watch the entire way through. The rest all have scenes I haven't watched in years. But I could lose the remote while watching Empire and not notice until it's over. I think I'm going to go watch it now. Thanks for the idea. |
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| Author: | Topeka [ August 11th 2009 7:02 pm ] |
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I'm watching it on Spike right now. 
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| Author: | ETandElliott [ August 12th 2009 10:09 am ] |
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Here's Siskel and Ebert's review of the movie from 1997. It's pretty spot-on. [spoil] [flash width=425 height=350]http://www.youtube.com/v/tgU5m2T0YUo[/flash] [/spoil] I know that nowadays Mark Hamill claims that after his car crash he only got a nose job, but he really looks different. I don't think it's a coincidence that the opening scenes of the movie have Luke getting mauled by the ice monster and receiving medical treatment. Regardless, Luke looked best in this movie. He looks less boyish and more rugged. He's fit, he has a better haircut and better costumes. I hate to undermine the other movies as I love them so, but it's almost comical to see Luke's physical transformation from ESB to ROTJ. He seems to shrink between movies. One thing Empire has going for it that the others really don't (that I can think of, aside from Vader) is three-dimensional villains. The Imperials aren't all cold, ruthless British guys here. Vader is portrayed as a mad man who rules through fear, murdering his officers when they fail him. There's a focus on the character of Piett and I'm not sure whether we're supposed to like this guy or what. He doesn't come off necessarily like an evil person. he's just trying to do his job and make it to the end of the day with his life. They are, after all, simply pursuing a bunch of rebel terrorists in this one. His character is just discarded in ROTJ, so I'm probably looking a bit too much into him. Vader is promoted from 'tool' to the leader of the fleet. It's perfect to introduce the Imperial March in this one. I recently got into a discussion about whether or not John Williams should have ever featured the Imperial March in the prequels. I found myself agreeing that it should simply NOT have been there to represent this young tool, especially since it isn't even in the original Star Wars. Anyway, ESB gives Vader more human characteristics. We do find, after all, that there's something humanoid beneath that suit. Lando, the shady baron trying to protect his city and ideals. He's not really a bad guy, he's just been backed into a corner and forced to give up our heroes. We can't really fault him in the end. There's a great thing about Empire. There seems to be a heart beating within these supposed villains. More later. |
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| Author: | darthpsychotic [ August 14th 2009 11:34 pm ] |
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Starwars.com has the 1979 trailer for Empire when it was attached to the second run of Star Wars. Also a downloadable copy (made by myself) is now available. 
DOWNLOAD: The Empire Strikes Back Trailer 1979.mpg VIEW: [spoil] [flash width=626 height=384]http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/starwars_e/embedflv/swf/fop_embed.swf?pm=4&id=5201708&autoStart=1[/flash] [/spoil] 
QUOTE Narrated by Harrison Ford, the trailer contains a few noteworthy gems, such as the famously cut "Threepio ripping the sign off the door" shot. Originally, the invading Imperials were to enter the door, sans warning sign, to be subsequently attacked by a pack of angry wampas. The sequence was ultimately cut from the film, but not before this small hint of its existence was forever immortalized by the trailer. |
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