11. The Han And Leia Romance Is Perfectly Played Out
One of the best aspects of the original saga is the relationship between Han Solo and Princess Leia, and its never been better than it is here in The Empire Strikes Back. Riffing on the love/hate element that they started in A New Hope, Han and Leia (Carrie Fisher here delivering her best performance as the Princess) create a couple clearly into each other but unwilling to show it - at least initially, anyway. This is a cornerstone of many an on-screen romance, but its elevated in this picture because it never feels anything less than genuine. Playful without being annoying, the pair are perfectly believable as a man and woman in deep longing for one another. Hans teasing about Leias apparent love for a scoundrel lends the affair a deeper element of lust, and in fact their relationship is bursting with a sexual tension you wouldnt expect from a series such as Star Wars (their first kiss, with Han basically cornering Leia, who is far from resisting, is the series most sexually charged moment). Later on, their feelings are made public with Leias declaration of love for Han as hes descending into the carbonite (more on that scene later). Hans response (I know) is as touching as anything in the franchise, the character returning the love whilst still keeping his cool. If the Han/Leia relationship was taken out of its Star Wars context, it might be talked up as one of cinemas great romances; its that good.