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Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
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Overview
User Rating:
Director:
Writers:
Contact:
Release Date:
21 May 1980 (USA)
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Tagline:
The Adventure Continues... more
Plot:
While Luke takes advanced Jedi training from Yoda, his friends are relentlessly pursued by Darth Vader as part of his plan to capture Luke. full summary | full synopsis
Awards:
Won Oscar.
Another 10 wins
&
12 nominations
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NewsDesk:
(83 articles)
'Mass Effect 2' Casts Martin Sheen, Seth Green And Tricia Helfer
(From MTV Multiplayer. 10 December 2009, 11:00 AM, PST)
Reviews From A Parallel Universe: David Lynch’s Return of the Jedi
(From HeyUGuys. 10 December 2009, 10:00 AM, PST)
(From MTV Multiplayer. 10 December 2009, 11:00 AM, PST)
Reviews From A Parallel Universe: David Lynch’s Return of the Jedi
(From HeyUGuys. 10 December 2009, 10:00 AM, PST)
User Comments:
A worthy second (or 5th??) Star Wars installment, might be the best of the bunch.
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Cast
(Cast overview, first billed only)| Mark Hamill | ... | Luke Skywalker | |
| Harrison Ford | ... | Han Solo | |
| Carrie Fisher | ... | Princess Leia | |
| Billy Dee Williams | ... | Lando Calrissian | |
| Anthony Daniels | ... | C-3PO | |
| David Prowse | ... | Darth Vader | |
| Peter Mayhew | ... | Chewbacca | |
| Kenny Baker | ... | R2-D2 | |
| Frank Oz | ... | Yoda (voice) | |
| Alec Guinness | ... | Ben 'Obi-wan' Kenobi | |
| Jeremy Bulloch | ... | Boba Fett | |
| John Hollis | ... | Lando's Aide | |
| Jack Purvis | ... | Chief Ugnaught | |
| Des Webb | ... | Snow Creature | |
| Clive Revill | ... | Emperor (voice) |
Additional Details
Also Known As:
Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (USA) (video box title)
The Empire Strikes Back (USA) (short title)
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The Empire Strikes Back (USA) (short title)
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MPAA:
Rated PG for sci-fi action violence. (special edition, DVD version)
Parents Guide:
Runtime:
124 min | USA:127 min (special edition)
Country:
Language:
Color:
Aspect Ratio:
2.20 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) |
DTS (special edition) |
Dolby Digital (special edition) |
SDDS (special edition) |
Dolby (35 mm prints)
Certification:
USA:PG (certificate #26034) |
Iceland:12 (special edition) |
Iceland:12 (original rating) (theatrical release) |
Iceland:LH (original rating) (video release) |
Germany:6 (video rating) |
Malaysia:U |
Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) |
South Korea:All |
Brazil:Livre |
South Africa:PG |
Netherlands:12 |
Argentina:Atp |
Australia:PG |
Canada:G (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (original rating) |
Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia) (special edition) |
Canada:PG (Ontario) |
Chile:TE |
Denmark:11 (special edition) |
Denmark:12 (original rating) |
Finland:K-10 (special edition) |
Finland:K-12 (original rating) |
France:U |
Hong Kong:I |
Ireland:G |
Netherlands:AL (video rating) (special edition) (1990s) |
New Zealand:PG |
Norway:11 (re-rating) |
Norway:12 (original rating) |
Portugal:M/12 |
Singapore:PG (special edition) |
Spain:T (special edition) |
Sweden:11 (special edition) |
Sweden:15 (original rating) |
UK:U |
West Germany:12 |
Mexico:AA
Filming Locations:
Fun Stuff
Trivia:
Irvin Kershner's involvement in the movie lasted a total of two years and nine months from start to finish.
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Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Luke is running out of the beast's cave you can hear the sound of his lightsaber being turned off. However, his lightsaber is on in his hand.
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Quotes:
[first lines]
Luke: Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?
Han Solo: Loud and clear, kid. What's up?
Luke: Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life readings.
Han Solo: There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. Sensors are placed. I'm going back.
Luke: Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take long.
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Luke: Echo Three to Echo Seven. Han, old buddy, do you read me?
Han Solo: Loud and clear, kid. What's up?
Luke: Well, I finished my circle. I don't pick up any life readings.
Han Solo: There isn't enough life on this ice cube to fill a space cruiser. Sensors are placed. I'm going back.
Luke: Right. I'll see you shortly. There's a meteorite that hit the ground near here. I want to check it out. It won't take long.
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FAQ
Who actually wrote the movie?Is it true that the Wampa ice creature attack was added to explain Mark Hamill's injuries?
"There is another." To whom is Yoda referring?
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My five children were all pre-teens when 'The Empire Strikes Back' came to the theater. While there had been other Sci-Fi movies with a theme of conflict in outer space, the 'Star Wars' trilogy filled our imaginations like no other movies before them. The fantastic, strange worlds were presented almost like we were there too. Aliens sitting around a tavern, enjoying drinks and speaking in all sorts of languages. Nothing before had approached the sheer size of the space ships depicted here, huge cities traveling all over the galaxy. And how about the jump to hyper speed, then disappearing from the screen as the speed exceeds light speed! And the light sabres of the Jedi Knights. The Jedi Knights, a striking parallel to the Japanese Samurai.
It is fruitless trying to argue 'which is best' in a trilogy, because the first one, in this case 'Star Wars', starts it all and has to be the 'father'. However, an argument can be made that 'The Empire Strikes Back' (now on DVD called Episode V) is overall a better-made movie which has more excitement, and grabs your imagination,than the other two original installments (now called parts IV and VI). The DVDs finally came out last month, and they are near perfect, as we should expect from Lucas Films and THX. The bit rate is high, and the picture is nothing short of superb. As is the Dolby EX surround track.
My wife and I watched all three of the movies on DVD this week -- Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi -- compliments of our local public library. It was an appropriate reminder how good these movies are, and still ahead of their time. Nothing else has been made to compare to them.