Irvin Kershner
L'Impero Colpisce Ancora (Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back)

THE REVIEW

When I watch this beautiful film for the umpteenth time, I can't help but smile, thinking that I know the plot by heart, yet I follow it as if it were the first time. For me, 'Star Wars' was a bit like first love, the one that imprints on you the most and reminds you of what you were a long time ago…

'Star Wars' definitely convinced me about what I should do and what I should enjoy. Not because George Lucas (the director) said so: never! Rather because that was and is the model of cinema I follow and love the most. That kind of cinema which is an homogeneous and fizzy mixture of fantasy, humor, science fiction, romance, and mythology. The group of rebels fighting against the dark and evil empire for freedom is an example of a classic fairy tale told in various ways. Who hasn't had the chance to read about some rebel fighting against the evil powers, or about those sacrificing their lives for the freedom of others? The question is rhetorical, of course. But the true innovation of "Star Wars" (as it was originally called) was the setting of our fairy tale. It transfers everything from the limited and relative dimension of Earth to a cosmic dimension, free from limitations and conditions, where everyone can move freely because space is infinite. But the evil Empire clenches this freedom with its iron fist and actually eliminates it. Why am I talking about "Star Wars" if the review is titled "The Empire Strikes Back"? Because to understand "The Empire Strikes Back" and evaluate all its aspects, one must first watch "Star Wars" (obviously, I refer to the 1977 film, not the new and baroque trilogy). Thus, I warn anyone who hasn't seen "Star Wars" (which is now called "Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) to watch it before continuing to read this review.

^REFLECTION SPACE^.

Okay. Firstly, we must know that the film "The Empire Strikes Back", having this name in Italian theaters when it was released in 1980, is now called (for better integration into the saga) 'Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back'. The most challenging task in the making of the movie was to make it comparable or at least as good as the first episode, "Star Wars". There was indeed fear that the sequels of any film (and unfortunately, this is still often the case) would be inferior to the first one that spawned them. So the production took precautions, as George Lucas (who directed the first episode), still exhausted from the marathon of the first film, did not want to take the helm of directing. So it passed to a veteran of cinema who was also once Lucas' mentor. I am, of course, talking about Irvin Kershner. Irvin has the directorial style that I like. A strong emphasis on the faces of the actors, shots of small things or somehow important objects, zoomed shots, the right transparency of his own role, rare but present slap zooms. The only flaw is a slight inattention to the symmetry of the shots, which is more present in Lucasian direction. The actors remain the same except for a new one, Billy Dee Williams, the weak misunderstood Lando Carlissian. The characters undergo a greater psychological analysis compared to the first episode and their most intriguing aspects are presented. The character development allows a brief presentation of the wicked Emperor and the introspection of his right-hand man and my favorite movie character: the fallen angel Darth Vader (Darth Vader in the original language). In this film, he is more evil and determined than ever. His authority and charisma strike at first sight, but at the same time, he is presented as a person who has lost everything and is not as dark as one might think. His downfall was lust and love, in the end. He has nothing left but his son, whom he desperately tries to recover. With the last act of the film, Vader's tragedy begins to clear up, and with it, the delicate mechanism of the empire, kept alive only by the mighty Emperor and his servant Vader. The ending is not the happiest but leaves a glimmer of hope, which will have the freedom to ignite, blaze, and triumph only in the last episode, "Return of the Jedi". Now I will analyze the film under seven different aspects, to provide the utmost fidelity to the review of a historic film title, which took home two Oscars (Special Effects and Sound).

1. DIRECTION: Irvin Kershner directs this film rigorously and authoritatively, making it not only on par with the episode that gave it birth but to the same level, if not beyond. Mission accomplished, then. As I previously listed, Kershner uses the technique of close-up on human and non-human faces very well and adds an abundant touch of sentiment to the saga, almost entirely absent from the first episode. Bravo Kershner.
2. SCREENPLAY: Leigh Bracket, George Lucas, Lawrence Kasdan: the one in the middle invents and those on the edges script. Thus was born the story of "The Empire Strikes Back", a story with more philosophy and, if you will, more sophistication. The hiring of the two new screenwriters was useful, no doubt about it, and adds value to this film, appreciated for once both by fans and critics. Very well.
3. SET DESIGN AND COSTUMES: what to say? The special effects of the era required the use of gigantic models to make the space ships of the Empire, as well as those of the rebel alliance. The result? Hyperuniversally (I fear I have coined a new term) fantastic. Nothing, not a single scenographic element is left to chance, everything fits perfectly, there are no mismatches. It's all wonderfully colorful (except for the Empire), a joy for the eyes. Princess Leia's hairstyles are history, D3-BO's (C3-PO in the original language) golden costume is more memorable than the movie itself (that's saying something), and Darth Vader is majestic 100%. His voice in the English version is orgasmic!! If I have to say anything else, I would occupy so much space as to clog your Internet connection; so it's better to move on.
4. ACTORS: as good and unfussy as usual. These "Star Wars" films, like those of "Indiana Jones", were the fortune and launchpad for Harrison Ford! Historic phrase: "I love you, Ian," "I know."
5. SPECIAL EFFECTS: The newborn ILM, thanks to a much more substantial budget than the first episode, constructs an incredibly large universe and makes imagination increasingly less bound by George Lucas's money a reality. Certain sequences, like the asteroid field chase, are timeless. Only ILM could surpass ILM.
6. EDITING: George Lucas thinks like an editor (which is his favorite post-production phase). It was evident in the first film as in this one, where he serves as executive producer, along with the brave Gary Kurtz. For some reason, though, he steps out of his role and somehow manages to imprint himself even in this film, which he did not personally direct.
7. MUSIC: John Williams composes one of his masterpiece soundtracks for this film, which includes a pillar of film music: the famous Imperial March. It's a pity that he didn't win an Oscar for this Episode as well, as he did for the first one. Superb.