Any Empire Strikes Back-ONLY fans?

[DerekG]

Just sat through our annual SW marathon, and came to the sad realization that I couldn’t take these movies with me into adulthood. They’ve ceased to resonate.

Star Wars is good fun, but lacks the terror and sensuality that pervades through the most enduring fairy tales.

Return of the Jedi is essentially a 2-hour Kenner commercial, host to the most shamelessly sentimental redemption story committed to film.

The Prequels had some lovely passages, particularly Revenge of the Sith, but ultimately failed to make Anakin sympathetic.

In the end, there’s just Empire: a vision of what SW could have been, had the characters resembled human beings, if the narrative had been shorn of all the Flash Gordon trappings. It has all the transporting power of a Greek myth; so spiritual, so frightening, I have to see it as a one-shot, about two spirit men (Yoda, Vader) who fight for the soul of a budding messiah. No beginning, no ending. It’s its own thing.

Anyone else?

[Dr. Strange]

1. I can't say it's the ONLY one I like.

But it really is the best of the six.

[flvegan]

2. Agreed.

I don't enjoy Star Wars nor Return. Refuse to see the prequels. I still like Empire, with some of my favorite movie scenes being from Hoth.

[Deja Q]

3. Well

'A New Hope' was a visual treat, with a very thin plot

'Return of the Jedi' was a 2 hour escapade into the lives of walking loofah sponges

'The Phantom Menace' really was a phantom - no menace to be found

'Attack of the Clones' - more of the same sort of nothing

'Revenge of the Sith' - I slept through this one

'The Empire Strikes Back' is a bit dreary and depressing at times, but at least it's got a SOUL to it. OPh, Luke and Leia french each other in one scene too. That had to go over real well when, in 'Return of the Jedi', it's revealed the two of them are twins... oh my...

[Rabrrrrrr]

4. No, it's a vision of what SW could have been had Lucas cared enough not to direct any of the others

It is amazing how the one movie not directed by Lucas stands so far head and shoulders above the others.

However, I disagree with you on the Episode IV - I still think it's fucking awesome.



And you're totally right on ROTJ being a 2-hour Kenner commercial. Except for the scenes with Palpatine, that movie is utterly unwatchable. But not as bad as Eps I and II and III. I've never heard anyone call it a 2-hour Kenner commercial! Hilariously accurate. If you don't mind, that is now how I shall refer to it from now on.

[DerekG]

6. Actually, ROTJ was helmed by one Richard Marquand

I'll say this for Lucas: At least he knew where to put the bloody camera.

As for the 2-hour Kenner commercial bit: Be my guest.

[leeroysphitz]

5. Locking. These sorts of threads only serve to further divide the coomunity.

You might try bashing Star Trek 5 instead.

[DerekG]

7. As bad as The Final Frontier is...

I'd rather watch that than any of the Next Generation flicks.

[Critters2]

8. So you won't be wanting to borrow any of my Expanded Universe books? Okay! More for me!! nt

[DerekG]

11. I read one years ago: Dark Empire

I was quite impressed with that graphic novel, thinking "Why wasn't this the sequel to Empire Strikes Back?"

[Critters2]

12. They've become an addiction for me.

And yeah, many of them would've made better films than what was produced.

[Alexander]

13. The Timothy Zahn Thrawn trilogy would've made a great Episodes 7, 8, and 9...

Before the prequels came out I was hoping Lucas would make movies out of those books - the best Expanded Universe material to come out of Star Wars.

Oh well.

[edbermac]

9. TESB was consistently good throughout.

I'd rate them thusly from best to worst:

Empire Strikes Back

Revenge Of The Sith

Phantom Menace, A New Hope and Return Of The Jedi about even.

Attack Of The Clones

[yardwork]

10. Yeah. Me too.

Well, ok, I liked the first SW a lot and still enjoy it. I really liked Empire Strikes Back - just a great fun film. Haven't liked any of the rest of them. The prequels were...astoundingly bad.

[Alexander]

14. It's not the only one I like, but it is my favorite.

The story is excellent, the characters are sympathetic, the acting and dialogue is at its best point, and the movie doesn't drag like some of the others did.

[Danger Mouse]

15. TESB FTW.