The Empire Struck Back!

If you saw the Empire Strikes Back in the 1980s and had to wait three long years to find out how everything turned out (Was Darth Vader Luke's father? Would Han Solo ever be thawed out? Why wasn't Yoda worried and who was "another"?), then you know what my past two weeks have been like. I am beyond frustrated. After being in an auto accident with a commercial, uninsured motorist, I know that the Sith are alive and well. 

Don't be fooled by their seemingly cool, sexy exteriors
 - these #$%@ are EVIL!

In Empire, the Rebels were constantly on the run and couldn't catch a breath. They had to hide out on a planet so cold that people from northern Siberia don't want to go there. Their ice base was attacked by what would eventually be the coolest toy you ever laid your eyes on.

How can you fight it if you can't take your eyes off it?

Then to be relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader, sending Han, Leia, Chewbacca & C-3PO into a harrowing asteroid chase all to end up in their eventual defeat that ended with Han being tortured and frozen and Luke in need of physical and psychological rehabilitation. After dealing with insurance companies, I think I know how they felt.


I remember being so swept up in the story that I didn't realize that the film was coming to an end until John Williams' score swelled. Just remembering that viewing of Episode V, even though it was devastating, still leaves me breathless and excited. Now that I think of it, all things considered, I would rather deal with the Empire than my own an insurance adjuster. I wonder if the Rebels had No-Fault coverage?

VS

I'm really not sure which is scarier.

May the Force Be With You!

The Star Wars Saga in 3-D: The Empire Strikes Back My Top 10 3-D Moments

Whose dumb idea was it any way to select only the Top 10 scenes I can’t wait to see in each Star Wars Episode? …Oh yea, I guess that was me.  Well I can honestly say, if I haven’t already, that I can’t wait to see EVERY SINGLE SECOND of every Episode in 3-D on the big screen (and eventually my Blue-Ray, lol).  My UPF fantasy is to build a Star Wars Saga war chest so that I can watch each film EVERY day that it is available on the big screen finally culminating with a marathon viewing of all six films (I would love to throw the Clone Wars in there as wellJ.), one right after the other until I drop from sheer bliss and exhaustion. Until I can work out all the kinks in that one, I will forge ahead and finish what I started my-masochistic listing.

1. Lightsaber Duel & Vader’s Revelation - I begin this list by cheating.  I admit it. I have lumped the lightsaber duel chapter with the Vader's revelation chapter. In my own defense, it's the same light saber battle and how can Vader's revelation not be THE moment to see in this film.
2. There is No Try  - My father being a man of the cloth – and the greatest man I have ever known – this scene holds a special place in my heart.  Many a day of my youth was spent discussing religious dogma and philosophy with my father – me as the awakening prodigy, Luke, and my father as the wise yet humble Yoda.  Here faith comes by hearing and seeing.
3. Battle in the Snow – We finally see the Rebels and the Empire lock horns in the light of day. For the Rebels…it ain’t pretty. Imperial walkers equal stubborn, tenacious, slow-walking kickass until Mr. Skywalker comes to town.
4. Confronting the Dark Lord – This was the most anticipated confrontation of its time: the imagery, the primary colors, the light sabers, the sound of them…these things will stay with me forever.
5. Rebels in Retreat - The fireworks display when Luke takes out that walker is awesomeness, and  the emperial walker (AT-AT) that takes a step back and shoots the speeder…come on…that is so cool, lol.  
6. The Empire in Pursuit – Han may be scruffy-looking and Chewie his nerf but they are beautiful poetry flying like a bat out of heck in the Falcon.
7. Carbon-Freeze – I admit it, this is the first scene in a movie ever to make me cry.  Chewbacca wailing at the loss of friend…kills me every time.
8. Escape from the Wampa – Luke hanging upside down on ice, hand outstretched reaching for his saber.  I know I can feel the Force, can’t you.
9. Crash Landing on Dagobah – Say it ain’t so…did we just lose R2-D2? Good thing R2 doesn’t taste as good as he looks.
10. Luke’s Recovery – I know that slave-girl Leia was every man’s favorite costume at Celebration V, but I will continue the lobby I started for some brave gym-baby to don Luke’s Bacta-Tank swimwear at Celebration VI.  I know there will be many a black garbed, Jedi Luke in attendance, however, for 30 years I have nursed this dream.  I see no reason to stop now, lol. This is not the only reason I want to see this scene in 3-D. The whole Empire family is there in one shot: Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO & R2-D2 doing what they do best-driving each other crazy. Just like all good families.

Not happy with my Top 10 3-D list , no hard feelings (Apology accepted Captain Needa).  My suggestion, go watch the Empire Strikes Back again and make your own list.  The fun is in the doing.

May the Force Be With You Always!

Yoda Lives!

Mark Hamill is a great actor!

I am watching Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back AGAIN, lol. Yoda is one of the most loved and revered characters in the Star Wars universe and rightly so. Frank Oz, the team of puppeteers, designers, sound editors, John Williams' music and George Lucas all did an incredible job creating Yoda's physical presence, voice and movements; but it is Mark Hamill's performance that truly makes Yoda alive to me. 

Think of it, Mark Hamill spends nearly 30 minutes, one fifth of the film, as the only human character on the screen. Most good actors will tell you that acting is much more than reciting your lines and actions. Truly great actors take a memorized script and turn it into something that seems fresh, spontaneous and real-you feel it with them.  Mark Hamill's initial disregard of Yoda is hilarious.  The way he smells his food and throws it away because Yoda took a bite that kills me every time I see it, lol. His incredulity when he realizes that this little creature is Yoda, the Jedi Master he seeks. His intensity as he tries to convince Yoda to train him.  I will ignore the fact that I love Mark Hamill and Luke's character. While Luke does not revere Yoda when he initially appears, he respects him as a being.

In A New Hope when C3PO and R2D2 first come into his service, Luke does not look down on them as droids.  He tells C3PO not to call him Sir and speaks with the two as equals. He shows Yoda the same initial respect as another creature when he meets him on Dagobah.  After lowering his weapon, he rises to let Yoda explore the campsite and ruin his dinner.  During training, Yoda's oratim does not appear preachy but is rather the answer to Luke's inquisitive nature and eventual questioning "Is the Dark side stronger?"

Luke's faith in his new found beliefs are tempted when Yoda asks him to move his ship from the "puddle".  The Force is strong with Luke and Yoda is amazed when Luke begins to move the ship, but it is Luke's failure to move it that allows us to see not only Yoda, but the Power of the Force.  Yoda tells us that it is the Force that makes him powerful not him or his size.

This scene was my spiritual baptism into all things Star Wars.  The culmination of great acting by Mark Hamill, Frank Oz and Kenny Baker; the design team, puppeteers, John Williams' score and Irvin Kershner's directing and finally George Lucas' vision create my seminal moment of conversion. Luke's astonishment mirrors our own, is there anything so incredible in the universe.  As Luke learns from Yoda, his and our faith grows.

I am amazed by fans that watch these scenes with Luke and Yoda and are upset that Luke does not show Yoda the homage that they feel he deserves.  Remember Luke did not see the Jedi during their golden age, he does not know that Yoda has been addressed as Master for over 800 years and has a best friend, Han Solo, who tells him that his beliefs are a lot of hocus pocus. But that is the topic of another blog, lol.

Mark Hamill's ability to portray Luke's wide-eyed innocence, make Yoda believable and express all of our Freudian issues with our parents as he screams “Noooooo!” makes me feel every scene each time I see this movie.  Yoda, Mace and Obi Wan are the Jedi of the Grand Republic but for those of us born on Earth Luke is our arch type of a Jedi.  One born realized during a time of hardship and skepticism and Mark Hamill does it with humility and grace.
May the Force Be With You, Mark, Always!