So I realized that after I posted My Five Favorite Things About A New Hope that I totally forgot about Solo and Rogue One, lol. I had planned on doing them in chronological order, but now it would just be weird to go back and do them. So I’ll continue on with the main trilogies, and then at the end do Solo and Rogue One.
Anyway, here’s my five favorite things about The Empire Strikes Back.
Favorite Scene
I’m going to say pretty much all the scenes between Han and Leia. I simply can’t pick just one, because they’re all delightful. The arguing, the banter, the chemistry and sexual tension, the tenderness–it’s all great. The kissing scene in the Falcon, culminating in the “I love you, I know” scene in the carbonation chamber makes up the best love story in all of Star Wars, in my opinion. When I was a kid and first saw Empire, it was about Han and Leia first, lol, and then Luke and Vader.
Favorite Duel
Again, there’s only one duel of note in this movie (besides Luke’s confrontation with Vader in the dark side cave on Dagobah, which is symbolic), and it’s between Darth Vader and Luke in Cloud City on Bespin (which is for reals). And it’s probably my favorite duel out of all the films in many ways. It’s kind of a game of cat and mouse, as they clash, each disappearing and reappearing, pouncing on each other suddenly and violently. Everything about this duel is epic: the part where Vader uses Luke as target practice and Luke smashes through a window and falls; the savage confrontation on the catwalk and the loss of Luke’s hand; Vader’s shocking revelation and offer; Luke’s decision to step off the catwalk and fall into oblivion rather than join his evil father in ruling the galaxy. So much going on here, and we get some insight into each character: Vader is willing to betray his master the Emperor and overthrow him (which is basically what the Sith do, but we wonder if he’s got a soft spot for his son, and therefore a bit of light left? Maybe?); and we see Luke’s total commitment to the Light and choosing to die rather than join evil. Later, in ROTJ, that commitment will be tested, but right now, there’s no question of going down that shaft.
Favorite Line
You know, up until very recently, this line confused the hell out of me. What does it even mean? I’ve come to realize that what Yoda was getting at is how you go about doing something–if you go into it “trying” then you’re letting in doubt about succeeding. Perhaps you don’t fully believe in yourself, and believe that you may fail. Once doubt sets in, I think Yoda is saying, then you’re doomed to fail. If Luke doesn’t believe in himself, then he doesn’t believe the Force will help him, and the Force won’t believe in him–it won’t work with him to move that darn X-Wing. A Jedi needs confidence and faith, in himself and the Force. Anyway, that’s how I’ve come to see it. A lot of philosophy in those few words, lol.
Funniest Moment
More classic Han Solo:
Most Impactful Character
Yoda. Yoda is the mysterious center of the film–force ghost Obi-Wan exhorts dying Luke to find Yoda and train to be a Jedi with him. Once on Dagobah, Luke finds not a “great warrior,” but a little wizened green guy with big ears, who makes a mess of his camp and plays tug-of-war with Artoo. But everything Yoda does is a lesson: he wants to gauge Luke’s response to him before he reveals himself. And of course, he finds that Luke takes things at face value, as most of us do sometimes. The lessons begin immediately, and he shows Luke that he has a lot to learn. He has misgivings, but trains Luke anyway–brave, considering he did the same thing with Anakin. Or perhaps he senses something in Luke, the strength of the Light in him. Either way, he has a lot to do with the Jedi Luke becomes. Wars not make one great, but Yoda is definitely a great Jedi Master.
What are your favorite things about The Empire Strikes Back? Comment below and we’ll talk about it!
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That is a great Han line 🙂
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“and the Force won’t believe in him–it won’t work with him to move that darn X-Wing. A Jedi needs confidence and faith, in himself and the Force”
Yes, this is how I interpret this line from Yoda as well. It’s very similar to the line Mr Miyagi gives to Daniel Larusso in The Karate Kid – it’s telling their students that you either make a full commitment to do something and believe you can do it or you will fail. And believing in yourself goes without question. I know this feeling myself lol so even though this is very much a “fictional” character dishing out this advice, it’s pretty solid advice in the real world too 😀
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Absolutely. The Jedi would do great in motivational speaking! Inner spiritual work, TED talks, that sort of thing, lol. In TPM, Qui Gon says, “Your thoughts create your reality,” or something like that, and that’s a key belief I’ve encountered in a lot of spiritual guides, etc.
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Yeah it just goes to show how deep the writing for Star Wars goes – also I would definitely be at that TED Talk lol
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In “Star Wars: Rebels” (I think it’s in Season One), there’s a callback to the “Do or do not” line, which Kanan says at one point when he’s training Ezra. Confused, Ezra asks his teacher, “What does that even mean?” And Kanan, caught off guard by the question, replies, “I don’t know, but Master Yoda said it a lot.”
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I remember that, it’s pretty funny! It’s a line you really have to think about.
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