Even though I gave both A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back a full 10 Stars, everyone knows that Empire is the crown jewel in the original Trilogy. There is no debating this. It's a fact set in stone. This sequel just resonates more as it's deeper and richer as both a story, character development and Special FX. And with the reveal of who Luke's father is, it becomes Shakespearean in it's plot device. There are so many great things about Empire that actually make this film stand on it's own, regardless of it being part of the Trilogy. I put this up against any other movie that's come before or has come out since then. I'm just glad that George Lucas was too busy counting his money and had the sense to hand the reigns over to Irvin Kershner and give the fans something truly epic.

A lot of people ask me why I am so anal about Spoilers. Why I avoid them like the plague. Well, it all started with this movie. Actually it started in line on opening day, waiting to see the movie. A couple of jackasses had just come out of the screening of Empire and they purposely walked down the side of the loooooooooooong line we were all waiting in and they kept repeated over and over "Darth Vader is Luke's Father". I can't tell you how  p i s s e d   I was when they did this. Everyone in line was furious with them. They ruined what should have been in epic turning point. They one shining light for me is that once the movie started, I completely forgot about that little bit of information because I was just consumed by what was unfolding on the Silver Screen. By the time it got to the big reveal, I was completely in the dark and it was a big shock. So, all's well, ends well.....

I highly recommend this as a Buy. My copy comes from the Widescreen 2004 Box Set. Unlike the the new stuff that was added to A New Hope, I really didn't have a problem with the new stuff added in Empire. I actually think it was needed, especially the inclusion of the Wampa in all its glory.

Is this real? I only say that because of this.

As you can tell by the date of this thread, I just recently did a marathon of both Trilogies and I tell ya, there is a reason why the original Star Wars Trilogy is called the definitive Trilogy. As for the prequels.... So, go ahead and watch the best and just skip the Jar Jar crap. Save yourself the pain.

Mac posted the Red Letter Media review for Phantom Menance around here somewhere. Funny sh*t....and quite depressing when broken down like that.

Well, according to /Film, the cast of Empire is now complete.

Who is Princess Leia?  Jessica Alba.  Makes sense, I suppose.  But even better...

Han is ELLEN PAGE.  I'm annoyed as H*CK that I didn't think of that myself.  That's the kind of brilliant, left-field casting I love. I kinda feel inspired to draw that, now.