20 BEST Movies On Disney+
11. The Empire Strikes Back
The weakest of the original Star Wars trilogy, although that isn't saying much considering all three movies are so damn close to perfect. The darkest of the original trilogy, the film was a genuine groundbreaker in terms of what could be done in a sequel, changing the tone of the film from buoyant escapist fun to intense character driven fare.
There are some moments that drag, most notably Han's rescue mission of Luke that was only written into the script due to injuries Mark Hamill suffered in a car accident. These moments however do not take away from the film's iconic moments, including the epic battle sequence on the ice planet Hoth, Yoda's training sequence of Luke and that twist. The unresolved cliffhanger received a mixed reception at the time of the film's release, but in hindsight is a courageous decision that beautifully sets up the finale.
The focus on character is definitely the film's biggest strength, Lucas' script fleshing out our heroes and villains and blurring the line between 'good' and 'bad'. The chemistry between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher is dynamic as ever, the blooming romance between Han and the Princess firmly cemented by film's end.
Mark Hamill gives a better performance as Luke, the Jedi training sequence with Yoda allowing the darker aspects of his character to be explored. Anthony Daniels is great comic relief again as C-3PO, while Billy Dee Williams owns the final act as the flamboyant Lando Calrissian.