Star Wars Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980 & 2004 Versions, 2-Disc Widescreen Edition)

What do you lose by watching the 1980 version? Dolby Digital 5.1 EX sound, for one thing (only 2.0 Surround here), and digital cleanup. But for home-theater owners, the biggest frustration will be from the non-anamorphic picture. On a widescreen TV, an anamorphically enhanced (16x9) picture at a 2.35:1 aspect ratio will fill the screen with the exception of small black bars on the top and bottom. The original edition of Empire, however, on a widescreen TV will have large black bars on the top, the bottom, and the sides unless you stretch the picture (and distort it in the process, especially considering the substandard picture quality). If you're watching on a standard square-shaped (4:3) TV, though, you won't notice a difference.

Yes, it's true that serious home-theater lovers who want spectacular sound and anamorphically enhanced picture can always watch the 2004 version of the movie also included in this set. But chances are good that they already picked up the trilogy edition of all three films, so their decision to buy the 2006 two-disc edition depends on how much they want the original film. The official LucasFilm stance is that this is an individual release of the 2004 version of The Empire Strikes Back, and the 1980 version of the film is merely a "bonus feature." Common speculation is that the only reason the original versions are seeing the official light of day at all is to undercut the booming black market for the laserdisc version. Star Wars fans will have to decide for themselves if that's worth the purchase. --David Horiuchi

Product Description
Luke Skywalker receives Jedi training from master Yoda while his friends are pursued by Darth Vader.

1. Best Plot out of the three and it shows you that it doesn't all come down to special effects.

2. The movie is very dark, revealing and more importantly it's realistic that the bad guys actually win. Like how many movies out there do u see the bad guys win? The trouble with other movies is they are so predictable in that you know what will happen. In Empire you don't.

3. Best acting by the cast out of the three.

4. The soundtrack, the best music score I have ever heard. It adds a lot to the movie.

5. Irvin Kershner did a fantastic job of directing, I wish George Lucas brought him back for episodes 2 and 3. The scenes with Luke in the cave was Brilliant.

The Battle Of Hoth was great, but I really enjoyed the scenes on Dagobah with Yoda and Luke. Yoda telling us about the force and the brilliant ending. This movies is 5/5 stars and my favourite movie off all time

In conclusion I wish George Lucas would watch TESB again and realise the prequels should be done the way empire was done. The Phantom Menace was above average but it is nowhere near as good as Empire and the WORST out of the 4.


The One And The Only Classic Star Wars Movie   July 13, 2000
R. T. Meisenholder (Bay Shore, Long Island)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful

The "Empire Strikes Back" is a fantasy/science fiction movie that overcomes its simplicity and its occasional displays of poor acting("Two fighters against a Star Destroyer." That line sounds awful) by covering a greater scope of human emotions and interactions. "The Empire Strikes Back" is the most realistic of the "Star Wars" movies. First off we have the development of the romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia. That aspect adds to the emotion later on when Han is frozen in carbonite and Leia spouts,"I love you."(The one and only touching moment throughout the "Star Wars Trilogy". It's way more touching than the whole pull it out of a hat feel that Luke and Darth Vaders "bonding" moment had in "Return of the Jedi") That simple phrase was built up in prior scenes in the movie and it is understandable why she would say that. It's hard to argue that it wasn't expected of her to say that at that time. We meet the personification of the force in Jedi-Master Yoda. The training sequence on Dago-ba(Spelling?) reveals a lot about "The Force". Luke is told by Yoda that the reason he fails is because he doesn't believe.("That is why you fail" he said after Luke said it was impossible to lift his ship out of the swamp lake. The force is more about faith than genetics horrible Phantom Menace and Alzheimers inflicted George Lucas. Hey Lucas don't you remeber your own material?) We are introduced to Lando Calrisian, an old friend of Han Solo who at first serves as a neutral party between The Empire and The Rebellion. He first betrays the rebels after being pressured by The Empire and in the end joins them to help save Han Solo in "Return of the Jedi". Not everyone is good or evil in this film. Some have their own interests as Lando did in maintaining his mining colony in Cloud City. The climax is great when we find out who Luke's father is at the end. I won't spoil that if you haven't seen it because I've probably spoiled a lot already. It is that moment that shocks the audience like no other moment during the "Star Wars Trilogy". It brings home what the struggle between The Rebellion and The Empire is really about. From beginning to end this is the "Star Wars" movie with the most depth making it the best and shining star of the trilogy.


One of the Greatest Films Ever   September 18, 2006
Michael Ensley (Orlando, FL United States)
9 out of 10 found this review helpful

The Empire Strikes Back is probably my favorite of all the Star Wars Films. There's greater character depth to enjoy then in either A New Hope or Return of the Jedi. The Imperial Walkers and the chase through the asteroid field are some of the most ground-breaking and astonishing scenes, visually speaking, in movie history.

Of the original trilogy films, this one was affected the least by the controversial "upgrades" Lucas released in the late 90's, and then later with the DVD set. While I did share some people's quarrel with a few of the changed scenes in the other films, everything Lucas did to this one worked for me. (as to the supposed continuity error of the taun-taun in the cave--I always thought it was the beast roaring, and the taun-taun was already dead, and obviously I was right).

Again, I believe that the majority of the whining over these dvd's is stupid. You don't want George Lucas to change the visual effects to make them better, but you DO want him to change the audio effects for you and your extravagant home theater. Aren't you a picky little nerd.


Star Wars: Episode V   July 19, 2000
14 out of 17 found this review helpful

I've watched all the Star Wars movies scores of times, and they are all spectacular with a great story, great action, and great characters (all with the beautiful music of John Williams).

The Empire Strikes Back, the middle story of the original trilogy, is probably one of my favorites (it's so hard to pick one!). The characters really come out in this episode, and you can't help but enjoy watching this film. Watch the exciting battle on the ice planet Hoth, the budding romance between the Princess Leia and the "scoundrel" Han Solo. See the breathtaking Cloud City, the murky swamps of Dagobah. Listen to the tutelage of wise Yoda, the fantastic musical score. And it all leads up to the critical battle between Luke and Darth, in which Skywalker makes his greatest mistake and Vader's dark secret is revealed.

Definitely the darkest of the trilogy, ESB leaves the viewer wanting more. We want to see the fate of Han Solo, how Luke reacts to startling news, and the further efforts of the Rebel Alliance ~ even if we've already seen the trilogy dozens of times. Watch this movie for a great story in a wonder-filled world.