It has been three decades since the second instalment of the Star Wars trilogy hit cinemas, but does Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back stand up as one of the great classic movies of all time even today? Well yes, it does! Though its opening sequence is perhaps less eventful than the original Star Wars, chronicling the flight of an Imperial Spy Droid from a Star Destroyer to the ice planet of Hoth, immediately we are reminded of the vast universe of the saga. Mark Hamill gets the spotlight for a time, but soon enough Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher are staging a rescue for Luke from a well-animated Wompa beast. Darth Vader (David Prowse) also makes a quick return, and the terror installed in kids of the '80s still doesn't seem misplaced as the cloaked villain storms the corridors of his ship, killing generals and ordering invasions as he goes. Luke's later venture to Dagobah provides some of the only fun to be found in Empire, introducing viewers to Yoda, a comedic creature later revealed as a Jedi Master- a revelation which could debatably have surprised newcomers even more than the famed "I AM YOUR FATHER" to come. But when that does come, boy is it effective: John Williams' soundtrack builds tension fabulously through the prior lightsaber duel in the clouds, and Prowse and Hamill do a fine job in their respective roles throughout. In the 21st century, Empire loses a few marks for a jarring middle section which moves between too many locations, but overall it still makes for a compelling watch for any audience.
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