13 Things You Learn When You Rewatch Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back
12. The Battle Of Hoth Is Masterful
One of the great battles in all of Star Wars, the Battle of Hoth is a masterpiece of action filmmaking, helped immeasurably by its setting (the unforgiving terrain of an ice-planet makes for an inspired backdrop to the action) and its differing modes of battle (including both air and ground assaults). Starting roughly when Han Solo destroys the probe droid, and ending when Luke leaves for Dagobah (and not including any non-battle scenes in between), the battle lasts around sixteen minutes, making for one of the most sustained action sequences ever. There are entire articles dedicated to Darth Vader and the Empires inept tactics on Hoth (best of all is this one from Wired), and its this rare ineptitude on Vaders part which makes the battle so exhilarating: the AT-AT walkers, an inspired, iconic design but ultimately one of the most impractical in military history; Vader himself joining the ground assault, which is thrilling to see but a misstep in military terms as it means the base cannot be bombarded; the complete failure on the Empires part at eliminating anybody significant, instead, in Wireds words, scattering our heroes and sending them on the individual journeys that will help mould them for the successes of Return Of The Jedi.
