10 Great Films From Bad Directors
8. Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back - Irvin Kershner
Widely regarded as one of the best Star Wars films ever made (even the best by some) it’s easy to forget that our second foray into a galaxy far far away wasn’t actually helmed by creator George Lucas.
Following on from the events of A New Hope, Empire Strikes Back continues the story of the rebel alliance and their attempts to undermine the galactic empire. Along the way, Luke trains with Master Yoda, discovers the truth about daddy Vader and loses an entire limb in a lightsaber duel with said father.
Praised for its incredible action set pieces and overall darker tone, The Empire Strikes Back remains a firm favourite among Star Wars aficionados and casual fans to this very day; director Irvin Kershner’s other work? Not so much.
The Barbara Streisand starring stinker Up The Sandbox and the disappointing RoboCop 2 both spring to mind when examining Kershner’s very mixed filmography. Whilst 007 spoof Never Say Never Again could be considered something of a cult classic, this wasn’t due to Kershner’s directing abilities and The Empire Strikes Back remains his greatest ever effort behind the camera.