THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

US, 1980, 124 minutes, Colour.
Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Alec Guinness, Frank Oz, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse.
Directed by Irvin Kershner.

Episode 5 of a possible 9 films, this spectacular epic immediately continues Star Wars and gives us more of the same. For enthusiasts, no problems. For the generally appreciative, the freshness has gone (except for the Muppets' Frank Oz’s diminutive character Yoda - most entertaining). But, by the end, one has been swept into the galactic adventures as before. Everybody (human and robot and Wookie) is back - characterisations somewhat stronger. The effects are quite spectacular: space, spaceships, asteroids and some excellent dinosaur-looking tanks; some of the rear projection work looks artificial. However, there is plenty of action, John Williams' score and the whetting of the appetite for more.

1. The Star Wars phenomenon of the '70s? The popularity of science fiction -stories, themes? The overtones of the old serials and their comeback? Perennial popularity? Audiences enjoying straightforward material, adventures, characterisations? The overtones of folklore, fairy tales, stories of chivalry? Knights, empires, battles? Good and evil, black and white? Stories and symbols? How well did Star Wars embody these ingredients for a '70s audience? The continuation in The Empire Strikes Back? (How much did the film need the huge financial promotion - how would it have succeeded on its own merits?)

2. The vast conception of the Star Wars series - George Lucas and his vision, memories, nostalgia, delight? The technological resources available? Cinema as the communication of myth and folklore for contemporary audiences? The cinematic eye, wonder, splendour? What did Lucas respond to in these stories and their treatment - and his being aware that audiences would respond?

3. The technical contributions: the visualising of space, battleships in space, the stars, the planets? Warfare, inventions? The strange animals? The engines of war- especially the dinosaur tanks? The inventions of the swords., the Jedi traditions? The space stations and their decor? The importance of the robots. Chewbacca? The contribution by Frank Oz with his Muppets background of Yoda?

4. The basic themes and their perennial appeal: good against evil, symbolised by black and white? Heroism and heroines? Valiant adventures and heroines to be rescued? Romance? Heroism, courage, options, training? Man and the shadow side of his personality? How have these been traditionally presented in poems, epics, stories, film, comic strips?

5. The plot and audience expectations: the role of the Empire and the Emperor, Darth Vader and his missions, his control over the human soldiers? Han Solo and Princess Leia and their role in space? Attacks, evacuations? Luke and his heroism, his being rescued, the expedition, his being trained as a Jed! warrior? The Emperor wanting him and the confrontation with Darth Vader? The robots. Yoda and his training? Lando and his friendship with Han. the betrayal? The final escape? Basically interesting and entertaining material?

6. The film is considered to have more characterisation and depth of character than Star Wars. Is this evident? Han Solo and the comic side of his character, hit-and-miss success, his attraction towards Princess Leia,' going to rescue Luke, his being frozen at the end? The betrayal by Lando? Princess Leia and her control, attraction towards Han. towards Luke? Her role in the Empire? Rescues, evacuations, her mistrust of Lando? Chewbacca and his helping of Han Solo, friendship with Lela? Participation in repairs, the escape? The details of the evacuation, flying, trying to go at the speed of light? The visit to Lando? Audience identification with these characters - hero, heroine? The presentation of Luke as hero, prince, knight? The romance and the battle of the sexes - comic style!

7. The portrayal of Luke as hero - his initial mission, his riding in the snow, being lost, surviving, the rescue? His attraction towards Leia? The importance of Obi Ben Kenobi and his appearances, inspiration, instruction? Luke and Artoo Deetoo and his continued help, especially in going to the galaxy? The search for Yoda and the comedy of the encounter, talk, eating? The Jedi training, will power, the Force, goodness? The power to raise by the will only? Yoda's demonstration and disappointment with Luke? Luke's progress, the fight with Darth Vader in the forest and the discovery that Darth Vader's face was his own? His determination to leave the training and go to the rescue of Han Solo and Leia? The warnings of Leia? Obi Ben Kenobi's judgment? The Emperor's wanting Luke Skywalker in his employ? The clash with Darth Vader, the revelation that he was Luke's father, the pressures on Luke, his resisting them, his falling through space? His options? A loyal knight?

8. Darth Vader and his role in the Empire, the sinister leader, loyalty to the Emperor, the killing of his officers? The confrontation with Han Solo, freezing him, having Lando in his power? The confrontation with Luke and trying to persuade him? The black dramatic villain? The sword fights?

9. The robots and their comedy - parody of humans? See Threepio and his talk, fussy manner, cowardliness? His being in pieces, his being turned off? Artoo Deetoo as a kind of pet, helper, rescuer? Fixing the plane to go at the speed of light?

10. The battles - the war machines, the probes, the commando raids, the warfare attacks, the white troops, the dinosaur-like tanks, the missiles? The parallels from conventional warfare - transferred into space?

11. The serious warfare combined with the playful, the funny, human errors?

12. The character of Yoda - his appearance, his unprepossessing nature, awkward way of speaking, eating? The revelation that he was the Jedi teacher? His capacity to teach, his disappointment in Luke, his advice? A comic creation?

13. The technological background of space, the planet for mineral exploitation? The pressures on Lando and his betrayal? The intergalactic power exploiting the small unit? Lando and his opportunity to turn the tables, rescue and confront?

14. The final escapes. Han Solo and the cheeky attitudes towards the Empire? The hiding of the space ship on the large battlestar?

15. The open ending of the film - audience encouragement to continue the adventures?

16. The reasons for audience popularity and response: the basic adventure story, the freedom of fantasy, the style with which the film was made, enjoyment values, good and evil, basic human behaviour, heroism? The characters as models, easy to identify with, limitations? Inventiveness, seriousness and comedy? Technical cinematic achievement of the late 20th. century?