Rent Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

Arguably The Best of The Franchise - Great Space Adventure Film - Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back review by GI

After an exciting set piece battle scene on an ice plant as the evil Empire attacks the rebel base this sequel becomes mostly one big space chase. With the hero Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) escaping to go off and learn how to be a Jedi Knight, the others, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Leia (Carrie Fisher), Chewie (Peter Mayhew) and C3P0 (Anthony Daniels) are chased through the Galaxy, fleeing and hiding until they eventually unite with Solo's old friend Lando (Billy Dee Williams). With a somewhat darker edge and the freedom to expand the story this is a more accomplished film than the first one even though the surprise originality is of course no longer present. This is made up with some great plot twists, one of which is very famous, and a cliffhanger ending setting the audience up for the finale to come. George Lucas wisely stepped back from the director's chair now taken by veteran Irvin Kershner, who added some panache to the film and ditched some of Lucas' more geek driven ideas. This is still highly entertaining even after seeing it for the umpteenth time so it's always a crowd pleaser and if you've held back from the Star Wars universe this is one of the very best of the franchise.