Movies - Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

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	Movies - Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back

Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back is a 1980 science fantasy film directed by Irvin Kershner. It was the second film to be released in the Star Wars saga, but it is the fifth film by chronology of events. Among fans, it is commonly referred to as TESB or ESB.

The film concerns the continuing struggles of the Rebel Alliance to resist and fight the Galactic Empire. The Empire learns that the Rebels have established a new base on the ice world of Hoth. Following a suggestion from Obi-Wan's spirit, Luke Skywalker begins his major Jedi training with the wise Jedi Master Yoda. In an emotional confrontation with Darth Vader, Luke must face his destiny.

Debuting on May 21, 1980, the film initially received mixed reviews, but over time, has proven to be one of the most popular films in the series among many fans and critics. The original 1980 version was released on VHS and LaserDisc in the 1990s (but not DVD). It was re-released with changes in 1997 (all cinema), 2000 (VHS), and DVD (2004). A 3-D release is planned for 2007. A novelization was released in 1980, and a radio adaptation was broadcast on National Public Radio in the United States.

Plot summary

The Empire Strikes Back picks up several years after A New Hope. The opening crawl reveals that the Galactic Empire has hounded the Rebel forces across the galaxy, forcing them to establish their base on the deserted ice planet Hoth. Darth Vader has sent probes into space in search of this hidden base and Luke Skywalker.

On Hoth, while Luke is patrolling the outer reaches of the Rebel base, he is attacked and knocked unconscious by native predator of the wastes, a Wampa. After waking up and retrieving his lightsaber, he makes his escape, only to be overcome by the cold. While lying in the snow, a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi tells him to go to Dagobah for further training by the Jedi Master Yoda. As the vision fades, Han Solo (who went out searching for him after he didn't check in after sunset) finds Luke, and keeps him alive by making a makeshift shelter from the corpse of his riding beast (called a Tauntaun). The next day, Rebel search aircraft locate and rescue the two from the wastes.

As Luke recovers, Han and Chewbacca go out to investigate some anomalous readings, and blunder into an Imperial Probe Droid, giving away the position of the Rebel base. With this information in hand, Darth Vader orders an immediate attack. This attack initially stumbles, however, as Admiral Ozzel, the officer in charge of the attack, gives away the approach of the Imperial attack fleet. The Rebels prepare a makeshift defense, including rows and rows of trenches dug into the tundra and an energy shield to protect against orbital bombardment.

The Imperial attack is led by gigantic, quadrupedal tanks, called AT-ATs. While the laser fire of the ground troops is ineffective, Luke leads his squadron of agile snowspeeders against the hulking AT-ATs, trying to buy time for Rebel transports, carrying equipment and personnel, to escape. Luke's squadron is shot down, but not before crippling one AT-AT by tangling its legs with a tow cable. After barely escaping from his crashed snowspeeder, Luke manages to destroy another AT-AT, by using his cable and lightsaber to put an explosive charge into the belly of the transport, causing it to explode. Despite the heroism of Luke and his squadron, the holding action eventually fails; the Imperial forces destroy the generator powering the energy shield and storm the Rebel base.

Imperial snowtroopers storm the base, forcing Han, Leia, Chewie, and C-3P0 to flee. They reach the Millennium Falcon just in time, pursued by Imperial troopers. When he flips the switch to take them to lightspeed and it fails to work, Han realizes that the hyperdrive has been damaged. While trying to fix the hyperdrive system, they approach an asteroid field. Desperate to elude the Imperials, they enter the field, where C-3PO comments that the odds of successfully navigating it are 3,720 to one. After a dangerous chase, Solo evades his pursuers long enough to land inside one of the larger asteroids to hide, rest and find a way to fix the ship.

Meanwhile, Luke and R2 go to Dagobah in their X-wing to search for Yoda. There he discovers a strange little creature who offers to help, and invites Luke to his home. Luke becomes impatient and irritable. The creature then reveals himself to be Yoda, who was only testing Luke's patience. Luke is suddenly apologetic and insists he is willing and unafraid to undergo training as a Jedi. Yoda gravely informs Luke that fear will be a part of his training.

In his private quarters, Vader receives a message from Emperor Palpatine, who alerts him to a new enemy who could destroy the Empire: Anakin Skywalker's (Vader's) son, Luke. Vader suggests that if Luke could be corrupted to the Dark side, he would become a powerful ally. He declares that Luke will join the Empire or die. Already knowing that Luke is his lost son, Vader conceals his knowledge from the Emperor: Vader secretly plans to have Luke become his apprentice, and have Luke join him in overthrowing the Emperor, while Palpatine wishes to have Luke join him, and in the process, kill and replace Vader as his servant.

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