These Are a Few of My Favorite Movies: The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back (1980) - I love this movie a little more every time I watch it. As a kid, maybe I didn't enjoy it as much because it's darker and a little more nuanced than the other two films in the original trilogy. But my appreciation has really grown to the point that I can't help but pin superlatives on it such as "spectacular" or "masterpiece".

I love that it portrays the Empire as serious business, not just a bunch of bumbling fools who will eventually be outsmarted by the good guys. Darth Vader was perhaps his most villainous in this film . Tracking down the rebels on Hoth. Force-choking two Imperial officers. Hiring a crew of sketchy bounty hunters. Forcing Lando Calrissian to betray his friend. Kicking the crap out of an overconfident Luke. Altering the terms of the deal.

I love that it uses some creative locales. Let's face it. . . Star Wars is in kind of a rut with the desert scenery. Tatooine features prominently in Ep. I, Ep. IV, and Ep. VI, and makes cameos in the other two prequels. The Force Awakens takes place partially on Jakku, another desert planet, albeit not Tatooine. But in The Empire Strikes back, we see an ice planet, a swamp planet, an asteroid, and a city in the clouds. No deserts anywhere.

I love that there's still a little romantic tension. Although the momentum swings in the direction of Han + Leia during the course of this film, as it ends, Han is temporarily out of the picture and Luke has his arm around Leia. The fact of Luke and Leia's familial relationship hasn't yet been revealed (or created, depending on how cynical you are).

I love Leia in this movie. She gets more attention for the hair buns of Ep. IV and the metal bikini of Ep. VI, but she really dazzles as the female presence throughout Empire, whether she's wearing the snowsuit or the Bespin gown.

I love that the chemistry between Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher is palpable. Every interaction between them throughout the film is fantastic, culminating with the classic "I love you/I know" exchange before Han enters the carbon freeze.

I love when Luke insists that he's not afraid, and Yoda stares at him and says, "You will be. You. . . will. . . be."

I love that it's the least screwed-with of the "special editions". Not really anything major added other than the full-body Wampa monster.

I love this deleted scene. Trilogy-making is dynamic. One sequel a crush, the next sequel  your twin sister.

I love "Stop that, my hands are dirty/My hands are dirty too, what are you afraid of?"

I love "Your tauntaun will freeze before you reach the first marker/Then I'll see you in hell!"

I love Bossk and all three seconds of his screen time. I love C-3PO with his head on backwards. I love tauntauns.

I love Yoda and his bits of wisdom. "Luminous beings are we. Not this crude matter."

I love that we briefly see Yoda's sense of humor before he morphs into ultra-serious mode. "How do you get so big eating food of this kind?"

I love, "I'd just as soon kiss a Wookiee."