Hello, all!
So, yesterday’s installment in this “series” hit a somewhat perfunctory note with THE GODFATHER PART II, and, following suit, so will today’s… but there’s good reason for a film like STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK [hereinafter, “TESB”] to be on a list like this one.
While yesterday’s film could have been the last in the saga, TESB necessitates another film. It expands on the previously established universe, not only with new worlds but also with some great new characters [some of whom have gotten extended play in the various STAR WARS spinoff series], and absolutely ups the ante with its final act. Honestly, that’s the rub for many people, as they went from the “Yay, Darth is spinning and the Death Star went kablooey!” elation of the first film’s ending to a rather dark, downer ending in the original trilogy’s bridge film.
Just in case you didn’t think there was a debate about which of the OT films was best, and how the “down note” ending to TESB informs some folks’ opinion, I present Exhibit A:
This movie could not have done a better job at being a bridge film. It expands the universe introduced in the original film, it fleshes out the characters so that the audience cares about what happens to them, and it sets up the final chapter in the trilogy perfectly. More than that, it establishes the Luke and Vader dynamic in a way that creates as much pathos as surprise.
A quick aside about Vader. Even before ROGUE ONE, but especially now that it’s been released, the only STAR WARS spinoff that I want to see is a hard-R Vader standalone movie. The folks whose fandom made STAR WARS the pop culture phenomenon that it is are the Gen X folks [and probably a few Baby Boomers], so the box office return “calculus” that makes some studios shy away from anything over a PG-13 is mostly a dead letter. Here endeth the rant.
There is so much awesome packed into this movie that I could blather on for pages… and probably ages. So, rather than force those of you stalwart folks still tuning into these movie missives of mine to endure that kind of tedium, I’ll just share what the folks at Honest Trailers had to say about it with the video that is embedded below:
It’s just such good stuff. Much like yesterday’s film, I’m one of the ones that thoroughly enjoyed the third installment… but no Jedis making their triumphant returns are able to topple an Empire hell-bent on striking back, at least cinematically, so watch. Or watch not. There is no ignore. Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - THE DARK KNIGHT; Day 2 - DESPERADO; Day 3 - THE ROAD WARRIOR; Day 4 - X2: X-MEN UNITED; Day 5 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY; Day 6 - DAWN OF THE DEAD; Day 7 - DEADPOOL 2; Day 8 - HOT SHOTS! PART DEUX; Day 9 - STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN; Day 10 - THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; Day 11 - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER; Day 12 - ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES; Day 13 - PADDINGTON 2; Day 14 - RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET; Day 15 - LETHAL WEAPON 2; Day 16 - FINAL DESTINATION 2; Day 17 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE; Day 18 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION; Day 19 - THE RAID 2; Day 20 - THE BOURNE SUPREMACY; Day 21 - SPIDER-MAN 2; Day 22 - EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN; Day 23 - X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST; Day 24 - BLADE II; Day 25 - BILL & TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY; Day 26 - THE GODFATHER PART II]
So, yesterday’s installment in this “series” hit a somewhat perfunctory note with THE GODFATHER PART II, and, following suit, so will today’s… but there’s good reason for a film like STAR WARS EPISODE V: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK [hereinafter, “TESB”] to be on a list like this one.
While yesterday’s film could have been the last in the saga, TESB necessitates another film. It expands on the previously established universe, not only with new worlds but also with some great new characters [some of whom have gotten extended play in the various STAR WARS spinoff series], and absolutely ups the ante with its final act. Honestly, that’s the rub for many people, as they went from the “Yay, Darth is spinning and the Death Star went kablooey!” elation of the first film’s ending to a rather dark, downer ending in the original trilogy’s bridge film.
Just in case you didn’t think there was a debate about which of the OT films was best, and how the “down note” ending to TESB informs some folks’ opinion, I present Exhibit A:
This movie could not have done a better job at being a bridge film. It expands the universe introduced in the original film, it fleshes out the characters so that the audience cares about what happens to them, and it sets up the final chapter in the trilogy perfectly. More than that, it establishes the Luke and Vader dynamic in a way that creates as much pathos as surprise.
A quick aside about Vader. Even before ROGUE ONE, but especially now that it’s been released, the only STAR WARS spinoff that I want to see is a hard-R Vader standalone movie. The folks whose fandom made STAR WARS the pop culture phenomenon that it is are the Gen X folks [and probably a few Baby Boomers], so the box office return “calculus” that makes some studios shy away from anything over a PG-13 is mostly a dead letter. Here endeth the rant.
There is so much awesome packed into this movie that I could blather on for pages… and probably ages. So, rather than force those of you stalwart folks still tuning into these movie missives of mine to endure that kind of tedium, I’ll just share what the folks at Honest Trailers had to say about it with the video that is embedded below:
It’s just such good stuff. Much like yesterday’s film, I’m one of the ones that thoroughly enjoyed the third installment… but no Jedis making their triumphant returns are able to topple an Empire hell-bent on striking back, at least cinematically, so watch. Or watch not. There is no ignore. Enjoy!
Other films recommended:
[Day 1 - THE DARK KNIGHT; Day 2 - DESPERADO; Day 3 - THE ROAD WARRIOR; Day 4 - X2: X-MEN UNITED; Day 5 - TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY; Day 6 - DAWN OF THE DEAD; Day 7 - DEADPOOL 2; Day 8 - HOT SHOTS! PART DEUX; Day 9 - STAR TREK II: THE WRATH OF KHAN; Day 10 - THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS; Day 11 - CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER; Day 12 - ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES; Day 13 - PADDINGTON 2; Day 14 - RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET; Day 15 - LETHAL WEAPON 2; Day 16 - FINAL DESTINATION 2; Day 17 - FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE; Day 18 - NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION; Day 19 - THE RAID 2; Day 20 - THE BOURNE SUPREMACY; Day 21 - SPIDER-MAN 2; Day 22 - EVIL DEAD 2: DEAD BY DAWN; Day 23 - X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST; Day 24 - BLADE II; Day 25 - BILL & TED'S BOGUS JOURNEY; Day 26 - THE GODFATHER PART II]