STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (SPECIAL EDITION)
A film review by David Wilcock
Copyright 1997 David Wilcock
A sci-fi/adventure starring Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing,Harrison Ford, James Earl Jones and Frank Oz
A TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX RELEASE
The second in the Star Wars trilogy is quite different to the first. While the first one was full of action and adventure, it was also very happy. However, the second one is not. The film itself is very dark, and has a totally different atmosphere to the first.
The film starts off happy enough. An excellent walker scene sets off the pace, with the walkers being destroyed (of course) and Luke going off to visit Yoda, and Hans, Leia, Chewbacca and C3P0 trying to escape from TIE Fighters in an asteroid. (With the princess giving hints of her love to Solo) However, it is when Luke arrives at Yodas planet that the atmosphere changes. The planet is very dark, and misty, filled with strange noises. Also, after being taught a bit by Yoda about how to use the force, Luke must confront his worst nightmare, which involves facing Lord Vader, and chopping off his head. I found these scenes really depressing compared to the oringal, and just not very enjoyable.
Things pick up when Hans and Co arrive at Landos shipdock, although even this gets dark when Han actually loses to the Empire, gets frozen, and sent to the Empire. To add even more depression, Lukes arm gets chopped off by the Vader. However, the film is very enjoyable, but I just don't like the way that while the first was happy, this one gets annoyingly depressing.
Overall, I rate this not as good as Star Wars, but must a bit better than Jedi. Depressing bits aside, the film is well shot and made, and there are some good set pieces (and some clever suprises) And, of course, its Star Wars, which makes it great anyway.
RATING=****1/2 out of *****
REVIEW BY DAVID WILCOCK =============================== DAVID WILCOCK EMAIL:david.wilcock@btinternet.com
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