SW V: The Empire Strikes Back

Genre: Science-Fiction
Released: May 21, 1980
Rated: PG (USA), U (UK), 12 (GER)
Director: Irvin Kershner
Mark's Role: Luke Skywalker
Also starring: Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Peter Mayhew, Anthony Daniels

Available Formats:
This movie, as the entire STAR WARS trilogy, is available in a multitude of languages and formats, too many as that I could list them all here. For a quick overview of the different versions of the movie, see the Release Notes.


Mark says...

"The trilogy is structured as a fairy tale set to a classical three-act play. STAR WARS was act one. It introduced the characters. The Empire Strikes Back was act two. It developed the characters and gave them problems, with tragic overtones. Jedi is act three. It's the big finish, and everything is brought to end. "
Starlog

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Luke Skywalker


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Summary

Luke Skywalker, hero of the Rebel Alliance and destroyer of the Death Star, now knows that he is Force sensitive and meant to become a Jedi. Having achieved the rank of Commander within the Alliance, the young man works hard whenever he can to hone his skills in the Force, an extraordinarily difficult task without a mentor. While he and his friends have fled from the Empire to the ice planet Hoth, Darth Vader sets into motion all of his ressources to find young Skywalker.

The Imperial Fleet discovers the Rebels at Hoth, but Luke can escape. Following the advice of the ghost of his late mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi, the young man travels to Dagobah to find Jedi Master Yoda. He, so Luke hopes, will complete his training.

When Darth Vader captures Luke's friends, Princess Leia and Han Solo, Luke has to make a quick decision. Although Yoda begs him not to leave, young Skywalker cannot sit idly knowing his friends are tortured because of him. He leaves, fully aware that he is going to walk right into Vader's trap.

Luke knows what he will find won't be to his liking, but nothing could have prepared him for the challenge and the revelation that awaits him.

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Mark in Interviews

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Release Notes

The following versions of The Empire Strikes Back are available for purchase:

  • 1980 version
    The movie as it was originally released in theaters in May 1980.
  • 1997 Special Edition
    The Special Edition features new scenes and a general quality brush-up of the movie material.
  • 2004 DVD Edition
    The movie is transferred to high-quality DVD with the new scenes of the Special Edition plus some tweaks and plenty of extras on a separate DVD.

For most editions you will be able to purchase either Full Screen or Widescreen editions. There are various box sets, too, so before you buy, you should study the offers to see what caters to your interests the most.

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