Thanks for all the great feedback and additional thoughts folks. For those of you asking where my similar study on the first Star Wars film is, it's available to my Patreon supporters and on my website as a digital download. Links in video description. Rob :)
You should go see Beau is afraid, it’s Ari Asters best film. And this is coming from a guy who loved Hereditary and thought Midsommar was a huge disappointment. I think you would love it. Best film in years that iv seen.
@@coinraker6497 I feel you, i think Midsommar is not that bad as far as new horror films go. A24 really tries, Under the Silver Lake is also worth talking about, but it somehow went under the radar
@@mBrajan yeah didn't think it was "bad", definitely had some cool scenes. Just was a big disappointment after Hereditary. Never seen "Under the Silver Lake", I'll check it out.
'Hoth' was the the name of the German commander of the Fourth Panzer Army who fought on the Eastern Front on World War Two. I don't know if that's where the planet's name derives, but to me it's a name that's evocative of ice-bound mechanised warfare.
I can't remember ever consciously making this connection--even though I've known who Hoth was since precociously acquiring Alan Clark's "Barbarossa" on the WWII Eastern Front when i was maybe twelve years old, but Hoth commanded the doomed Operation Winter Storm/Tempest that attempted and failed to rescue the surrounded German Sixth Army trapped in the ruins of Stalingrad (December 1942).
54:36 Nobody ever remarks that Luke always draws his saber first in Empire. And then loses, because of his impatience. In Jedi he never draws first, even turning it off mid fight at one point.
I think the point of the million to one shot of Han finding Luke is that he was unknowingly lead there by Obi Wan's force spirit. To me it gives s a foreshadowing that Luke is never really alone and that he has a larger purpose. Great video by the way.
I've given this some thought too. Maybe the rescue craft are flying in some sort of circular or triangular pattern around the base. It just looks straight on camera. We could also suppose that Han rode around for an hour or two. What distance did he cover? It really takes a lot of twisting of thought. I think a simpler explanation like yours is probably what the story was going for.
@@mikeoyler2983 Maybe by blizzard winds or the good luck of the Force, Han wandered sideways as soon as he was out the door. The rescue crew might have flown straight out the door, then when they were farther than a man could walk in a day they looped back around.
Cloud City has always been my favorite section. I like that uneasy shot of the door after the Falcon lands and the heroes are speculating about what kind of welcome they're going to receive.
For me this film is still a example of a perfect film because of how well written it is, the incredible effects, the brilliant direction,the music, how well thought out everything Is it's just so well done and such an entertaining movie. Honestly the original trilogy has never been bettered or equalled and remains one of the greatest if not the greatest trilogy ever made
That quick, meaningful look between Lando and Lobot accompanied by the swell and sudden stop of dramatic music has always been one of my favorite scenes.
How Lucas would have shot that scene in his 'prequels:' Cut to Lando's private office sowewhere in the city. He and Lobot are seating on opposite chairs, a few guards are standing nearby. 'Now the empire has gone too far, we should take immediate action!' Lobot agrees. 'But what can we do? The threat of an imperial garrisson to my city, my people cannot be underestimated.' Lobot nods. 'I never thought it would come to this... But I'm inclined to think that (blablabla). Lobot stares intently at Lando. 'You're right, I never should have trusted the Dark Lord of the Sith to honour his part of the deal.' Lobot keeps staring. Lando stands up, turns and walks towards the nearest window. 'If we play our cards right, we could evacuate the city before more troops arrive. But we must be quick!' Lobot nods. Lando returns to the sofa and sits down, looking rather worried. 'This is terrible. All we ever worked for destroyed... But I cannot let the Empire continue its nefarious works' ETC.
What you make me wonder is just how many of these symbols were done outright by genius filmmaking/filmmakers, and how many where subconscious even on their part, not even fully aware of how brilliant ideas each were and might be surprised at "how right they got it" by just following their gut.
It is the expression (and impression) of the genius mind, both the conscious and subconscious, manifest in the physical world. No work of human creativity is one or the other.
The fact modern movies are garbage and nothing like this I'd say they were outright. That's the difference in hiring the best versus hiring by diversity and ideology.
@@cult_of_odin Probably so. I'm just so amazed at how deep Rob’s skills at analysis are that, perhaps, we’re witnessing he can at least sometimes see even farther afield than the creators could, at least in some examples.
@@cult_of_odin Lmao I highly doubt the drama f**s and film school grads that made movies in the 1970s were hardcore commie killing Republicans. People are just lame these days and the internet has seriously hindered the average persons worldly experience and creativity needed to make symbolic and compelling pictures, no matter who they hire.
@@cult_of_odin there's plenty of great movies these days. Don't act like everything was great, there were tons of bad movies back in the day too it's just that they're largely forgotten about now
The snake transforming in yoda theory is interesting. Note that the vintage kenner yoda figure came with the snake as an accessory. I never thought much of it until you pointed it out. 48:33
Oh yeah, I remember the figure coming with a snake accessory. Wow, that was a long time ago. I had mountains of Star Wars and Masters of the universe figures.
Something I always felt was strong in this movie is the way it was structured around the way a day is broken up into. It starts with an evening moving into night with Luke and han. We have early morning with the search, late morning the battles on hoth and space. The we have mid day with Luke having lunch with Yoda. Late after noon for the training, cloud city it's set with a orange dusk glow to the end scene set at night.
Hadn't thought of that. Very cool. Rename the movie ... The Rebels' Hardest Day or ... Day of The Empire ... damn I might even prefer the latter to the actual title.
All the bad continutity of the sun's position when they were approaching city in the clouds not withstanding, I always thought most people misread the relative time of day. I thought it was actually sunrise, particularly since the windows were getting brighter as they were making their way through it.
Something else: the score during the shootout in Cloud City (1:35:11 in the above video) features Yoda's theme even though Yoda does not physically appear in the scene. I thought that was oddly unlike John Williams until I realized that Yoda IS in the scene! He peered into the future at Luke's request during their discussion on the future (1:05:13), adding: "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future." In short, thanks to John Williams, Yoda's musical presence in this scene is the best approximation we have of a character time-traveling from one scene to a later one in the original Star Wars trilogy!
Not sure. In the first movie, after Ben sacrifices himself and Luke starts blasting away at the stormtroopers, Leia's theme pops up for whatever reason.
about the dramatics and commotion in cloud City, 1:35:34, got to take note of Wilrow Hood, carrying the crucial plans and files of Cloud City to safety!
This is an extreme stretch. He included Yoda's theme there because he needed to fill time, he was under a deadline, and it fit well in this passage. He wasn't making some sort of deliberate commentary about Yoda's role/presence in the scene. The appearance of Yoda's theme here does not require any special explanation, it's not 'unlike' Williams or any other elite composer.
I am halfway through watching this and would like to commend you for the years of analysis and your personal passion for the development of your ongoing narrative throughout your work. I must say that I found you about 5 or six years ago, when I was in the midst of becoming aware of my own research into film psychoanalysis and I am grateful for your interpretations. After hearing you state that you were six when you saw this, I can assume that we are around the same age and were influenced by similar media although you are in the UK and I in the US. The film, the television, the music, and the general zietgiest of our time created a context by which you have been able to make some great interpretations. That being said, as I watch this and remember the greater experience of being a child in the 80's, interpreting my world through media, using your analysis as well as the greater lexicon of other great research, I feel that we are all living in a time where we can further unpack the greater interpretation of our collective experiences to influence the greater understanding of "the uses of enchantment" to create a better world to propel our species to a greater evolution, (if that could be at all possible).
Wow. I don't believe I've ever come across a comment that addresses this specific topic; that our experiences and connection to childhood entertainment, media and all - enchantment, is it? - can possibly be used to create a better world, or better way of living in the world. Very interesting, thanks for sharing that.
Films and other media like this, which seem to have something profoundly special about them and make you feel a certain way, are basically providing us all with something (albeit through fantasy) that satisfies the great expectations and high standards/hopes we all had for the world when we were children. When we reached adulthood, we were exposed to the reality that life is cold, dead and heartless… and our inner children are absolutely heartsick over it. Films like this rekindle that ember of imagination, awe and expectation for the future.
@@collativelearning before watching this video I never realised how many layers there to the film and it's made me appreciate this amazing film even more
40:46 such an amazing shot, this has always been one of my favorites scenes in Empire. Also huge props for using the original theatrical releases during this video.
Dont know if it’s been commented on yet, but Han finding Luke was yet another foreshadowing of Leiha finding him at the end of the movie. I think the traumatic experience on Hoth unlocked his force ability to reach out to others (where as ObiWan was talking to Luke in New Hope, Luke hadn’t learned to communicate back yet), so his near death moment on Cloud City further magnified his abilities. Had never realized how much the end of the film really reflected the beginning.
This is one of may favorite movies of all time as well. You pointed out things that I knew about but never really considered and things that I never knew about. You did a great job, thank you !!
This was my first Star Wars movie, I went to the cinema with no idea about Star Wars in 1997 when the Special Edition was released. Didn’t know it was a trilogy back then, was one of my most memorable cinema experiences, became an instant fan but was quite confused by the story at first because had not seen “A new Hope” and the text in the beginning only explained so much. 😂
As a kid back in the 80s i visited Finse and I was in awe over being where the star wars film was shot. Some Norwegians got to be rebel extras in it too, which is awesome. Great film analysis, colour is so incredibly powerful to project mood.
Throughout the entire Cloud City sequence, the stormtroopers stand rigidly still. They're like statues. Keep an eye on them next time. You wouldn't suspect there were actual people in those costums until they do finally move. It's shocking to see what at first glance appear to be mannequins suddenly start walking around.
Luke seeing himself inside the mask of Vader was a representation of the “be careful not to become the monsters you hunt” in philosophy. It foreshadows a struggle within Luke, not the one between Luke and Vader. Having it take place in a location full of life, yet devoid of intelligence other than what Luke brought with him was absolutely brilliant.
Interesting note about the "bird chimes" on Bespin giving a "slight hippy feel": Between the charisma of Billy Dee Williams and the way that he describes the city as being essentially independant from the Empire, and the throwaway lines from the 1977 movie about Han "running spice" drawing this connection with Herbert's "Dune" series, I've always thought that Cloud City is supposed to stand in for this kind of libertarian utopia that would have been kind of the hope of a lot of countercultural people in the year 1980; and so the betrayal feels to the audience like a betrayal of their ideals. It's easy to forget but watching this movie from a fresh perspective if it weren't for Luke's premonition it would be very very surprising indeed that Vader had headed them off there. So Cloud City thematically represents this idea of paradise lost, and Lando's defection to the rebels is then a kind of redemption.
I like how they used a word like HOTh..to describe an Arctic place...Brilliant. I always thought his lightsaber just fell off when he was being put upside down in the cave..I dont imagine the Wampa would know it was a weapon.
What information would he even be looking for? He already knew Luke wasn't on the ship, he knew Yoda was probably still alive and in hiding. If we consider the animated segment from the Holiday Special to be canon (which it would seem Kasdan and Kershner did when they were writing the screenplay), then he even knew who Luke really was. All he needed was some kind of beacon to draw Luke out of hiding and into the trap he had already laid, and what impatient young Jedi can resist diving blindly into an unknown situation to rescue a friend in pain? Incidentally, young Anakin does exactly the same thing in _Attack of The Clones,_ to disastrous results-which is the one clever thing the Prequels ever did for Vader's character.
With Tarkin and the rest of the Empire crew dead after the destruction of the death star in A New Hope,Vader now runs the show under direction of the emperor and is out for blood,going as far as killing members of his staff who fail at thier jobs.
I believe in his backstory Lobot's mind is directly tied to the Cloud City, so he basically could access any of its systems. I think it's great that a non-speaking character has a great screen presence just by a visual design alone. And I believe that's what Empire Strikes Back excels as well, we see a lot of details in the background that tell a lot of the story without being pointed out to us by the characters. There's a lot of them in the Rebel base especially during Leia's meeting with the pilots, there's that silhouette of Lando arguing with Lobot as the door opens when they first land in the hangar.
I wanna thank you for this video, you summarized many thing i thought about in the last 30 years but never put into words. I really appreciate the length of you video. Long videos like this are getting a rarity. This movie inspired my imagination like no other movie. It not only told a fantastic story with fitting visuals, but created a distinc feeling in me. A feeling thats depicts what Star Wars is for me. Hard to put in words for me because im not an english speaker. This Star Wars Universe had a specific feeling for me. Everytime i saw this movie this cozy feeling immediately spiked my imagination. Everytime i wondered whats out there in this galaxy? The movie is deprived of huge civilisatory scenes. Like in the prequels. Those huge Cities and planets with huge facilities and temples. You get bombarded with all those CGI created bombastic worlds. And as kid, when i saw Empire Strikes back, i wanted to see this other planets like Coruscant. As a child you want it all. Not in this movie. This movie leaves so much space in your head for imagination. Its just beautiful how it sparked my fantasy. In this regard i am happy that George Lucas had not the tech and money at the time. This fantasy feeling those 3 movie created in me is a different feeling than all the newer movies caused. Its a different world. Maybe even a bit of an dissapointing world. With the prequels i got what i wished for as a child. The whole thing! The whole map was uncovered. But it looked different and felt!! different than what i imagined. But in hindsight i learned to love the Prequels. Something which i will never utter about VII, VIII and IX. Those last 3 movies reminds me on movies like The fast and the furios. Too put-on, lack of creativity, over the top comedic , a script which doesn't want to tell an adventure story but is written to fit into Special Effect scenes and in my case it feels extremly boring. Rogue One is the exception. So thank you for those 2 hours. You really described, what this feeling Star Wars created in me, is made of. I really apreciate the effort you put into this video.
Thanks. That's an essential point there about how part of the magic is to not show everything and leave parts of the Star Wars universe to the imagination of the audience. In fact it makes the films feel more personal when we're subconsciously filling in the gaps like that. Showing everything kind a shuts the viewer out. And yes Rogoe One was the exception. It's nowhere near up to OT standard but it had a good story that felt worthwhile in itself.
That surreal/mythical element of the landscapes and environments is far less present in later films, and I think as time goes on it gets reduced with each film. The hollow emptiness of the visuals in The Last Jedi (the only sequel film to even attempt anything thematic) despite how crisp they are, is glaringly evident when compared to the original trilogy. Great video showing why TESB is so timeless.
Excellent video. Even as someone born post millennial, Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi remain my favourites of the franchise and some of my all time favourites. I rewatched the Non Disney movies last year, and with Empire, I found it interesting how my opinions shifted. My favourite stuff as a child was the Hoth battle and Cloud City, but this time, The Dagobah stuff was probably my favourite and most interesting part of the film. Today lifting the X Wing is truly one of the most magical moments in cinema for me. These are a couple of things I noticed that you hadn’t mentioned: First of all, In the scene where Chewie saves 3PO from being melted, you can spot the IG88 Droid dismantled in the corner. Whether it’s IG88, or a different droid of the same model is unclear, but if it’s the former, that’s a cool detail. Second, when Luke gets thrown out of the window by Vader in their duel, the web-like design and circular shape resembles the window of a TIE Fighter, a strong force in the Empire. The way I see it, it could be that their duel has transcended the fight between the Empire and the Rebellion, and is (literally) outside of that, becoming about the struggle between father and son as outside this window is where the big twist takes place
Great analysis as always, Rob. All the attention to detail by the film makers and the psychological effects it has on audiences are why Star Wars was such a colossal hit and why people are still fascinated 40 years later. I don't think anything made in the last decade will have the same lasting appeal.
One thing I'd like to add to your analysis of Vader's command of the cosmos and his Super Star Destroyer is that the new ship is utilizing the visual psychology of the first movie to establish his dominance in this one. In the first movie, the Star Destroyer was so huge it swallowed an entire Rebel cruiser. Well, we can see in this establishing shot that this Super Star Destroyer is so huge it could swallow multiple Star Destroyers. The visual message is clear: Darth Vader is more powerful than ever
The right hand being chopped could be in reference to Jung's left and right hand paths. By removing the right hand, Luke has no choice but to follow the Left hand path. One of individuality. A dangerous but creative path. A hero's quest. Living out ones individual true potential.
1:02:09. Oh yes, great composers of symphonic music not only know how real world sounds work on an emotional level and what instruments best represent these, it goes much deeper. In this cue John Williams again employs the lydian scale (major scale with a raised 4th), the most uplifting of all, not to mention the harp and strings texture and the melody being played in various octaves by the woodwinds, giving it size and scope.
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING VIDEO! i really enjoyed your analysis and pointing out all those subtle details. It's fun to go through all these insights. Keep up the great work, Rob! You are a beacon of HOPE on the TH-cam landscape!
1:13:23 - that windchime like instrument is a celesta. It's very similar to a piano, but instead of strings, the hammers strike metal plates. It sounds very sweet and, as the name suggests, heavenly.
I remember watching this film as a child also. I have a vague memory of standing in line with my father to see "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," but I have no memory of that film from that viewing (though, I have seen it many times since then), whereas I remember vividly my experience of watching ESB at the time. I remember "Flash Gordon" from around that time, and of course "Raiders of the Lost Ark" a year later. We who were born in the early 1970s were fortunate to have had our first impressions of cinema shaped by these classics. I feel true sadness for the youngsters today whose first experience of a film on the big screen may have been a J.J. Abrams atrocity.
1:02:00 It's the Lydian mode with the raised fourth being utilized that gives the literal and figurative uplifting feeling you're describing. Amazing job with the breakdowns, thank you!
About the carbon freezing scene in regards to Han's hands. His hands were shackled, and his upper arms bounded to his sides. The shackles were removed just before freezing, but the upper arm restraints were not, making it possible for him to move his hands and forearms into that pose we see him frozen in. Everyone always seems to miss this. On a side note, those arm restraints are also made from carbonite, which is why they're missing when the stuff is melted off him in the third film. Speaking of continuity errors in Han's carbon freezing scene... His shirt changes from the one with the flap before he's frozen to the v- neck shirt from the first film after he's frozen. Nobody seems to notice this either.
Also love when Luke draws his pistol on Bespin..Boba Fett hears it as he and frozen Han walk by....1:28:54 ...he quickly moves his head towards the sound, but then continues to look forward...just a tiny thing but which adds to his badassery.
Rob, I love how you pointed out things in this review that I thought I had imagined, like the Emperor's hologram appearance. I think with the change of the ceiling in Cloud City was symbolism for the Empire coming down on them.
I saw this movie upon it's theatrical release and it was the greatest movie experience of my life. To this day, this is my favorite movie, a perfect movie. In all these years and the thousands of movies I've seen, I can't think of one better
I loved this one best out the trilogy as a kid and still haven’t changed that opinion. This was the one that I just didn’t expect and it blew me away. the other 2 were great too but this was always the one I would always watch if it was on tv as I still do today.
Full marks for using the theatrical version of the film. I wholeheartedly endorse your use of the original version. By the way, your reference to the carbonite pit being like descending into a pit of fire reminded me that just a few years later Lucas would be involved with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom which does include people being lowered into a pit of fire (but in that case Harrison Ford was spared the descent).
23:32 Also symbolic of baptism, death to the old self, new birth to the new self, transitional stage. Could indicate his new character development, having gone from farm boy to quasi-leader
52:57 I dont think he says "I feel cold" as if to then say "Pass me a coat", but in the sense that he feels the presence of Cold. So "I feel Cold, Death". He could have said "I feel evil", but that would not mean he was about to kick a puppy. At least that is how I always read it. I think the "Death" was inserted in post production to clarify that there is something supernatural that brings on feelings of Cold and Death rather than a simply chilly spot in the swamp.
Not sure if you were intentionally avoiding the esoteric, but Luke hanging upside down could be a representation of the tarot's Hanging Man card. This can symbolize patience and someone with a different perspective. Which highlights the relationship of Luke and Yoda in this movie. Luke is being put in these upside down positions and forced to focus himself and use the force or to gain a different perspective in rough situations. As well as Yoda trying to get him to be patient and continue his training, rather than to rush into battle unprepared. I imagine with G. Lucas' fascination with eastern philosophy, he may have been privy to some form of esotericism. So, it may be relevant.
I feel its also not a coincidence that Yoda takes Luke's lamp. The Hermit card shows a figure carrying a lamp. Where the original drew on hero's journey, Empire seems to use a lot of hermetic symbolism.
Definitely agree that the esoteric element is likely intentional, because Luke also hangs upside-down in the ice cave. After which, he learns to use the force pull, and gains the ability to communicate with Obi-Wan’s spirit. He is again depicted hanging upside down towards the end, when he falls underneath Bespin, which again precedes a revelation - he calls through the force to his friends, rejecting his ego and recognizing he’s the one who needs help, not the other way around.
It boggles my mind how Lucas apparently has this ability to incorporate layers of symbolism into this movie but then, in the 90's, he made his "special" edition where the Wampa in the cave is reduced to a comic relief gag. No joke, when I saw the Special Edition of Empire in theaters back in 1997, the Wampa was shown sitting down eating the Tauntaun and the audience in the theater laughed. It's evident that Lucas was being foolishly arrogant when he said critics were cinematically illiterate and didn't know what they were talking about. F him and everything he stands for.
Empire was always my favorite Star Wars movie, not for its killer ending but for the Hoth sequences. The lengths the film goes to show how desolate and completely frozen and hostile this environment is always dragged me in as a child. It’s pretty much the only Star Wars movie I’ll revisit on a regular basis.
Those shots of the imperial walkers relentlessly approaching and slaughtering everything are among my fave movie shots all time. They scared the hell out of me on the big screen when I was a kid.
11:35 Also symbolic in that the wampa is a surprise attack on Luke, same with Vader, a surprise attack after being lured into a trap. Did the wampa then lure Luke into a trap as well? Also, the wampa leaving Luke hanging upside down, symbolic of Vader who had desired to freeze Luke in carbonate
It's funny because they spend so much money on making absolute garbage; but all the thought and care that goes into movies like this? That's CHEAP! I mean, it's rare because you have to find quality talent, but putting thought into something is way cheaper than spending 10 million on a single pretty shot of a ship yoloing into an imperial fleet
@@thetombuck Ok.. That's fair... Though, I'm not such a big fan of Blade Runner 2049 as everyone else.. I don't think those movies had the asssss big of budgets, and made the profits most new Star Wars and Marvel movies rake in.. and Fury Road came out 8 years ago. (and lost money) It feels like the landscape of high concept big budget movies is more bleak (and shallow) then in years past.
@@thetombuck I felt nothing for any of the characters in Fury Road. One of the most beautiful movies ever made, but otherwise hollow. I appreciated 2049 better on a second viewing, but I don't think it was a very well told story.
They CAN still be made today....and occasionally are. The problem today is that studio execs and pencil pushers (you know....ppl who have no business putting their 2 cents in on filmmaking) tend to try and micromanage every aspect of big budget film. Where once upon a time it was just a master chef and his financial backers....now its a whole kitchen full of marketing ppl who are trying to be short order cooks.
As you were showing the Wampa cave stalagtites and stalagmites being like teeth, I immediately thought of the asteroid worm teeth. Then you cut to it. Well done!
As for the chess pieces being stop motion, it still works because even though they are meant to represent organic creatures, they are still a mechanical device being used with a mechanical game board.
Luke uses the Force three times in the film, each time when he is upside down. 1. Force grab of lightsaber to escape Wompa. 2. lifting rocks with Yoda 3. Calling Leia while hanging under Cloud City.
Yes! Empire is the best star wars movie ever. Disney could spend every drop of money they currently have, use every resource at their disposal and never, never beat Empire. They don't have the skills, the creativity, the understanding of the material to put together an epic piece of film to match it. Empire is ingrained in our culture, its an icon of movie greatness. Sure it could be topped someday by Disney will not be the one to do it.
@@areguapiri and their movies will continue to suck! Not because they put women in there but because they hired writers that only know how to push propaganda, they don't know how to write good stories.
Topping Empire is honestly a tall order for anyone. Even Lucas had no chance of doing so...considering the disaster that was the prequel trilogy. ESB was just a perfect synergy of talent, writing, directing, and performance.
Well, let's get to the heart of the matter: How could a corporate conglomerate Property Manager possibly produce any film and story depicting the passionate struggles of rebels against an all consuming Empire, when that corporate conglomerate managing this Star Wars property is itself an all consuming Empire?
I think you’re right that all those incidences of Han being down in pits and/or surrounded by steam is foreshadowing his carbon freezing because there’s so few/near none incidences of it seen in the other 2 original films (just hiding in the smuggling floors is all I can think of).
The "prison" room in Cloud City where Leia and Han stay has got another interesting feature: the skylight above them looks like a giant eye spying on the protagonists, contrasting with the lack of windows on walls to symbolise their being kept ignorant of the trap they have walked into. The Empire is watching and well aware, but they are not.
This video is outstanding. I've seen this film about 20 times and there are so many details I didn't ever notice 😂 Thank you and you have greatly enriched my understanding and appreciation for one of my favourite films.
My step dad Greg told me one time that the middle part of a trilogy is always the best, or revered as the best. Empire, the Godfather 2, the Dark Knight, the Two Towers. This is because the creators don't have to worry about setting up any exposition nor tying everything up with a denouement. More focus on story, more nuance, darker, more serious.
also great point, Rob, about the speed at which Luke's versus Vader's lightsabers extend. I had never noticed that before. It seems to me that the lightsabers are responsive to the Force, thus to the emotions of the warrior who wields one. Luke is excited, full of rash intensity, anger, and fear. Thus his lightsaber is forced out very quickly. Whereas like you said, Vader is calm, meditative, savoring every moment. Thus his lightsaber extends much more calmly. On the otherhand, perhaps its not that the sabers have a force sensitivity "built-in." Do we ever see a non-force user wield a saber in the original trilogy? Maybe it's more a testament to Vader's incredible control over the force that he is *able to* cause the laser to extend more slowly, against its standard function.
@@collativelearning Thanks Mr Ager! Yeah... The Two Towers is the Battle of Helms Deep for me. I prefer the first one in that trilogy, as I do with the Godfathers. But speaking of consensus, it seems a part two is usually the most highly regarded, generally speaking.
2:38 "But in the Star Wars universe a planet will always have a breathable atmosphere even without plant life to create oxygen." That made me think of Dune. It's a desert planet, I don't remember it having significant plant life, so where does the oxygen come from?
Hoth is actually more realistic as having an atmosphere then Arakis (Dune) or Tatooine due to algae or cyanobactira living in ice or under frozen oceans. There are micro organisms on Earth that live in such extreme environments and Earth itself had a series of intense glaciation events hundreds of millions of years ago. Also, having large native animals like the Tuntum and Wampa implies that the climate wasn't always so harsh.
I'm so glad you're still doing these movies, somehow people think the prequels are actually better movies just because they grew up with them and I really just enjoy learning more about the thought filmmakers put in these original three that are very absent in every other Star Wars movies
Maybe the shot at 28:50 is actually a POV kind of shot suggested from inside Vaders helmet. Just the orientation of the 3 center glass panels combined with the eye like shape above them, as well as the two horizontal pillars suggesting the top part of the helmet. It could relate the viewer to Vader on a subconcious level.
it's possible. maybe sort of the "eye of the hunter" zooming in on its prey. but I think the filmmakers tried to sponge out any identification with the villains. this is how Vader becomes so terrifying - we can't relate to him at all - he's a full representation of the shadow self, the dark side of the personality. this is why the villainous characters wear masks or helmets - Vader, Boba Fett, the Storm Troopers - while Luke and his friends show their faces at all times. we identify with the ones whose faces we can see. // this is a great strength to science fiction or war films - think of Nolan's Dunkirk. we never see the face of a single German soldier, nor even hear the word "German" spoken. we only hear them referred to as the enemy, keep them offscreen or far off or blurred out. a recent film called The Outpost did this exceptionally well (for the modern times) as well. too much identification with the villains, like in Disney Star Wars or Marvel movies, takes away any fear we would feel for them otherwise, and defeats the point of a villain entirely.
@@_scabs6669 That makes sense. I guess the same principle can be seen in Jaws. But the prequels and the whole Anakin backstory would then de-mystify the character of Vader by giving more information about him and his motives. I guess that is somewhat true, however i believe Vader, even though here he is plain evil, has a redeemable side, not like Palpatine who hasn't any redeemable aspects about his character, which makes him a far greater vilain imo. Just in the context of this movie your argument makes perfect sense, but when looking at the big picture (Prequels+Originals) the inner conflict of Vader is still very real and therefore it could be a way to let the viewer somewhat realate to him, because he still has his "good" side and the inner conflict. Maybe Lucas had that in mind when filming this way before the prequels, who knows. I just thought the shapes in the frame were looking very deliberately placed to look like Vaders helmet, but idk.
@@difigiano3939 you're definitely right. Lucas was subtly showing a gray area. Showing that there is darkness inside of Luke and light inside of Vader. I bet that shot really was from his POV and was part of that idea.
@@difigiano3939 and a great villain performance like the emperor gave or Jack Nicholson as Joker or many others where you can see their face and their evil grin, those are equally great for the same reasons. Each way has its strengths and is good for different films
Great job Rob! As always, you deliver a great amount of insight. Helpful and informative I learn something new each time. I was born in 1972, so I saw the original trilogy in the theater. Several times as well, and The Empire Strikes Back is without a doubt in my top 20 movies too. By the way, I felt the slab in the dungeon that slid out from the wall was much like the monolith from 2001. I felt a little Disney’s The Black Hole vibe in the Han Solo freezing in carbonite scene. Thanks Rob!😊
Thank you for this. These films seem like a miracle of sorts. I like to credit the Jim Henson folks for adding that magic and perhaps their creativity was contagious to other departments. Folks, find a way to see the Despecialized editions. Look it up!
I always thought Han broke out of his handcuffs in pain and fear just before being frozen. It's unlikely a human could do that but it ads and kind of horror to it and humans are capable of impressive feats near death, like Rasputin.
Watch it again (not via Rob's video, but via the entire sequence of shots). The Ugnaughts do *something* to the cuffs right before Han goes in. It could be removing them - it's hard to tell. But it takes 2-3 seconds to happen, whatever it is. If so, Han still had his upper arms bound behind his back, and that binding was not removed. That would not stop him from raising up his hands as he does when he becomes a statue. But when he is eventually free in Jedi, there is no sign of that upper arm binding. (To say nothing of the handcuffs). (I've wasted my life.)
32:29 - the object at the "mouth" of this robot looks very much like the classic Shure 55 microphone. It very likely is the back half of an actual model 55. Excellent analysis as always!
The scene where Han & Leia see Vader on Cloud City is another great 2001 homage. It does match the surreal dining session of the Beyond the Infinite section, which is why I think there were plates on the table. You failed to mention one cool thing about that scene, that Han Solo immediately pulls his laser and fires at Vader. Even in the menacing face of Vader, Solo doesn't cower in fear. The only other character who doesn't is Boba Fett when he talks back to Vader, which is another reason why both are considered so badass.
I think Vader not only respects Boba Fett because he's a badass, but also because his father is the genetic blueprint of his entire stormtrooper army. I'm sure Vader would know that at this point in the saga and have some measure of sympathy to a boy who lost his father to a Jedi.
I saw this at the Lowe’s Astor Plaza in Manhattan back in 1980 and the sound was incredible. The roar of the Tie Fighter startled me as it moved from one behind and right beside and then ahead of me. I had never heard anything like it in a theater and it is a testament to the craftsmanship Ben Burtt and everyone at Lucasfilm put into ESB that made Dolby Stereo in 1980 better than the modern audio heard in contemporary theaters today.
When Yoda says "no, there is another" - with hindsight I always thought he was referring to Leia - but with even bigger hindsight could that have been foreshadowing for Anakin returning to the light at the end of ROTJ? in fact - isn't the title of "return of the Jedi" really referring to Vader?
One item of note: Vader's breathing sound effect comes from a Dacor SCUBA regulator breathing device. One wonders if the scuba device Luke uses in the Bacta Tank is of the same model used for Vader's breathing effects. In any event, I know the filmmakers were well aware of the image they were producing on screen and that Vader's breathing is a scuba device. I don't think it's an accident that they made the choice that Luke uses assisted breathing exactly like Vader is required to do. The fact that they didn't even hide the fact that Luke is using 20th century SCUBA rebreather seems like a wink to those in the know. They clearly use many man/machine metaphors to parallel Luke with Vader in Empire and later Jedi. His hand being cut off at the end of Empire and replaced with a machine hand is the most persistent metaphor of Luke's possible future as a Vader-like corrupted Jedi -- that he has begun his transition into someone "more machine than man". When Ben makes that "more machine than man" statement in Star Wars(Ep IV), he isn't referring to Anakin/Vader requiring a lot of robotic prostheses. He's referring to Vader as lacking any form of human conscience. After all, nobody insults the all-robot Droids in similar fashion -- because even Droids appear to be possessed of a conscience. People show nothing but affection to their Droids in the SW universe. To be sure, Luke's face shown in Vader's broken helmet is the most blatant foreshadowing of what's to come -- foreshadowing that Luke is the son of Vader and just as susceptible to the same inducements to the Dark Side as Anakin. But we don't know Luke is Vader's son by that point in the Trilogy. The image seems to only be a foreshadowing a spiritual battle -- that Luke's soul will be lost to the Dark side. The audience doesn't yet know that Luke is Vader's son -- but Yoda knows. It's both Ben's and Yoda's greatest fear. The image of the broken helmet confuses Luke because he doesn't fully understand the ramifications of what Yoda instructed before Luke entered that dark place to battle this phantom Vader -- you only take what's with you into that place. Luke isn't fighting Vader in that dark place, he's fighting his own susceptibility to the Dark side. His own darker predilections which caused Vader to turn -- and for the same reasons. What's revealed later is that Luke's possesses the same predilections as Anakin/Vader -- because he inherited them from his father. The son inherits the gifts and weaknesses of his father. When Luke's hand is replaced with a machine hand at the end of Empire, the emotion of the scene is clear and it's dark import is performed in Luke's face, "Am I my father's son? Am I going to eventually fall to the Dark Side of the force? Is this how it begins -- one step at a time until you're more machine than man." Rob, I'm not sure if you know the lore, but Anakin/Vader can't create force lightning like most Dark Force users because he has had his arms cut off and replaced with robot parts. What's more, the robot body he's within is also very susceptible to force lighting. Darth Sidious intended it that way so he could kill Vader if he became a threat. It's why Vader didn't survive attacking Sidious in Jedi. Vader's body could've been shielded against those attacks but he wasn't provided with that shielding. Vader knew that protecting Luke would absolutely cost him his life. When Vader finally breaks free of the influence of the Dark side, he knows the Emperor will kill him. When Vader is making that choice, he's finally choosing to become truly good -- to become Anakin again. To become more man than machine. The metaphor is powerful. Vader's body is the metaphor for his soul. Since he's "more machine than man", when he reclaims his soul and returns to being more man than machine, his life ceases to function. For his salvation to be sincere and permanent, he had choose the ultimate sacrifice -- his life. The helmet comes off. His breathing becomes labored. In a real sense, his robotic body was an unnatural support system -- a corrupt soul which wouldn't have been able to live but for support of soulless machinery. For the soul to become good once again, it had to shed the mockery which kept it alive. There can be only Anakin or only Vader. Never both. Vader had to die for Anakin and Luke to live. Vader had to choose to be Anakin... and with that choice, he had to sacrifice everything: absolute power, galactic hegemony, his delusions of righteousness, his certainty that he was never wrong. Lastly, his life. In one intense scene, we see Vader stripping his own ego away as he witnesses his son being tortured to death by the Emperor. Anakin/Vader was finally stripped of the self-denial which allowed the Emperor to corrupt him. In what the Emperor was doing to Luke, Vader saw what had been done to him and why. He finally saw through the Emperor's machinations that corrupted Anakin. He finally saw what he had denied to himself -- that the Emperor never cared for him at all and would've dispatched him the same as Luke if he hadn't fallen to the dark side. That he was manipulated and used and that, very likely, the Emperor lied about everything that led Anakin to choose the dark side. Anakin's corruption by the Emperor occurred when he was very young. He was gr00med -- to be a Dark Side apprentice and the Hand of the Emperor. Vader finally broke that conditioning because his humanity -- which had been buried deep -- was touched by his son. Luke was right all along -- "I sense the good in you Father". Vader was in deep denial. It wasn't until he witnessed his son's suffering that he was able to defeat the conditioning and see through the lies which created Vader. Even on Vader's emotionless visage we see his delusions being stripped away until he finally becomes Anakin once again and saves his son. He chooses to give up all his power, all his delusions, all his hate, all his fear, all his anger, and all of his suffering. One after the other, the emotions which enabled Sidious to corrupt Anakin gave way to love. Anakin finally takes responsibility for what he became in Vader by sacrificing everything so that his son will live. It's the inversion of Christianity -- God sacrifices himself so that his son will live. I saw all the Star Wars movies when I was a young kid. I was the perfect age when Star Wars came out. I was the demographic it was aimed at -- young boys. I was a pre-teen when Star Wars hit the theaters. Those stories hold a deep power over my mind because they were the foundation of my storytelling mythology as a young boy. But as I grew older, the deeper themes became visible and what once seemed merely good vs evil, became a vastly more impressive moral tale -- filled with powerful metaphors which resonate with the deepest human experiences and the archetypes which our minds were formed to utilize for living a proper life. Great stories are great because they appeal to the deepest human needs to be instructed on how to live an optimal life. It influenced pop culture more than anything which came before or since. It's a pity that the franchise has been stripped entirely of it's mythological power by being run by incompetent ideologues who have zero understanding of how and why humanity tells the stories it tells. They replaced the hero's journey with the narcissist's wish fulfilment. Instead of struggle of a hero who must build his success, we see the vain wish fulfillment of ingrate narcissists who have no struggles and everyone loves them. Their greatest struggle is in getting others to realize just how infallible and fantastic they already are. This isn't a journey, it's the daydream of an incompetent and untalented charlatan who lucks into good fortune and believes themselves worthy by virtue of being inherently better than everyone else and more deserving of everyone else. I weep for what the last decade has cost us in great storytelling. Life has been a little less brighter for having so few great stories to enjoy. We have been culturally robbed. Parasites are feasting upon our great modern mythologies. Thankfully, this is coming to a grinding halt. The people are finally no longer falling for spectacle without substance. They're increasingly rejecting the pap which has been produced by Hollywood for the last decade. The money spigot has been turned off. Not even the normies are overlooking this garbage anymore. They're punishing every company dumb enough to allow ideologues to steer their companies. Zaslov is among the first to act upon the market intelligently. He's saving the storytelling of the company he runs by shutting down these boring, expensive, and unprofitable narcissist power fantasies. Batwhamman -- canceled at a cost of $90M. Woke Superman -- cancelled. There will be more to come as he burns away the weeds so that he can grow healthy fruit bearing trees.
Your interpretations are interesting and well thought out, with enough humor to keep it from being didactic and dry. I really enjoy your Kubrick videos but this one may be my favorite. Keep it up and thanks for all the entertainment!
I'm not sure if this has already been said. But the hoth system could be a younger star system then our own. Hoth could be the equivalent of a snowball earth, and the instability of the asteroid field could be reminiscent of the late heavy bombardment phase of our own solar system.
The dwarf planet at the heart of the field along with Hoth's advanced life forms and dense oxygen atmosphere would suggest a 'resent' gravitational disruption to the Hoth system that's possibly caused Hoth to shift it's orbit away from its parent star. Possibly, a gas giant has migrated from the inner to outer part of the system within that last few million years, causing massive disruptions and creating the dense, highly chaotic debris field by tearing a smaller planet apart.
Thanks for all the great feedback and additional thoughts folks. For those of you asking where my similar study on the first Star Wars film is, it's available to my Patreon supporters and on my website as a digital download. Links in video description. Rob :)
You should go see Beau is afraid, it’s Ari Asters best film.
And this is coming from a guy who loved Hereditary and thought Midsommar was a huge disappointment. I think you would love it. Best film in years that iv seen.
@@caseydorris6758 that makes me even more excited to see it since I feel the EXACT same say you do about Hereditary and Midsommar.
@@coinraker6497 I feel you, i think Midsommar is not that bad as far as new horror films go. A24 really tries, Under the Silver Lake is also worth talking about, but it somehow went under the radar
@@caseydorris6758 I will, thanks :)
@@mBrajan yeah didn't think it was "bad", definitely had some cool scenes. Just was a big disappointment after Hereditary. Never seen "Under the Silver Lake", I'll check it out.
'Hoth' was the the name of the German commander of the Fourth Panzer Army who fought on the Eastern Front on World War Two. I don't know if that's where the planet's name derives, but to me it's a name that's evocative of ice-bound mechanised warfare.
Interesting.
Honestly I would not be surprised if this was the case. Really interesting bit of trivia. Thanks
I can't remember ever consciously making this connection--even though I've known who Hoth was since precociously acquiring Alan Clark's "Barbarossa" on the WWII Eastern Front when i was maybe twelve years old, but Hoth commanded the doomed Operation Winter Storm/Tempest that attempted and failed to rescue the surrounded German Sixth Army trapped in the ruins of Stalingrad (December 1942).
Generaloberst Hermann Hoth
Also the Rebels use Golan laser batteries to try fight general veer's walkers, it has connotations of long desperate odds.
54:36 Nobody ever remarks that Luke always draws his saber first in Empire. And then loses, because of his impatience. In Jedi he never draws first, even turning it off mid fight at one point.
John Williams was in his TOP FORM for this film. He took all six films beyond next level.
Absolutely
I think the point of the million to one shot of Han finding Luke is that he was unknowingly lead there by Obi Wan's force spirit. To me it gives s a foreshadowing that Luke is never really alone and that he has a larger purpose. Great video by the way.
Yeah I had that thought too when watching the video back. Great point :)
You could have a video entirely about the million to one coincidences and lucky moments throughout Star Wars.
I've given this some thought too. Maybe the rescue craft are flying in some sort of circular or triangular pattern around the base. It just looks straight on camera. We could also suppose that Han rode around for an hour or two. What distance did he cover? It really takes a lot of twisting of thought. I think a simpler explanation like yours is probably what the story was going for.
@@mikeoyler2983 Maybe by blizzard winds or the good luck of the Force, Han wandered sideways as soon as he was out the door. The rescue crew might have flown straight out the door, then when they were farther than a man could walk in a day they looped back around.
Everyone knows Han is secretly force-sensitive
I’ve seen this film 500 times. And thanks to this, No. 501 will seem a bit different. Well done, sir!
Cloud City has always been my favorite section. I like that uneasy shot of the door after the Falcon lands and the heroes are speculating about what kind of welcome they're going to receive.
"Han found Luke riding a tauntaun during a blizzard...must've been a million to one shot"-Collative Learning
"Never tell me the odds.."-Han Solo
For me this film is still a example of a perfect film because of how well written it is, the incredible effects, the brilliant direction,the music, how well thought out everything Is it's just so well done and such an entertaining movie. Honestly the original trilogy has never been bettered or equalled and remains one of the greatest if not the greatest trilogy ever made
To me it is the greatest trilogy ever made (along with Lord of the Rings and The Godfather)
The prequel trilogy comes close, but the original trilogy is still the best.
@@LeonSKennedy7777 No, the prequel trilogy does not “come close”.
Episode V is also the one Lucas had the least to do with...
@@jnnx you’re going to need to explain yourself on that one, chap. They’re undeniable masterpieces from the mind of a genius.
Throughout all the years I've watched movies, I've never felt like a hero was more helpless than Luke upside down underneath Cloud City.
A powerful visual
He was stuffed. My impression was that he effectively tried to commit suicide rather then join the dark side.
You've never seen a movie about Jesus Christ?
@@CollaborativeDataAccounts No spoilers about Jesus, I haven't gotten to that part of the Bible yet.
@@JohnnyRico118 Hmm. Clever.
Just when I thought I couldn’t love this movie any more, Rob provides a thousand more things to appreciate about it!
Exactly!! Same!!
Still would rather have the 48 minutes that was cut from the original version.
If Empire Strikes Back were a woman, I'd marry her. I love this movie.
That quick, meaningful look between Lando and Lobot accompanied by the swell and sudden stop of dramatic music has always been one of my favorite scenes.
Lobot doesn’t say a word but you can tell he is capable and important. Such a cool character
How Lucas would have shot that scene in his 'prequels:'
Cut to Lando's private office sowewhere in the city.
He and Lobot are seating on opposite chairs, a few guards are standing nearby.
'Now the empire has gone too far, we should take immediate action!'
Lobot agrees.
'But what can we do? The threat of an imperial garrisson to my city, my people cannot be underestimated.'
Lobot nods.
'I never thought it would come to this... But I'm inclined to think that (blablabla).
Lobot stares intently at Lando.
'You're right, I never should have trusted the Dark Lord of the Sith to honour his part of the deal.'
Lobot keeps staring.
Lando stands up, turns and walks towards the nearest window.
'If we play our cards right, we could evacuate the city before more troops arrive. But we must be quick!'
Lobot nods.
Lando returns to the sofa and sits down, looking rather worried.
'This is terrible. All we ever worked for destroyed... But I cannot let the Empire continue its nefarious works'
ETC.
@@AudieHollandwtf
@@AudieHolland This is the most underrated comment I've seen all year.
What you make me wonder is just how many of these symbols were done outright by genius filmmaking/filmmakers, and how many where subconscious even on their part, not even fully aware of how brilliant ideas each were and might be surprised at "how right they got it" by just following their gut.
It is the expression (and impression) of the genius mind, both the conscious and subconscious, manifest in the physical world. No work of human creativity is one or the other.
The fact modern movies are garbage and nothing like this I'd say they were outright. That's the difference in hiring the best versus hiring by diversity and ideology.
@@cult_of_odin Probably so. I'm just so amazed at how deep Rob’s skills at analysis are that, perhaps, we’re witnessing he can at least sometimes see even farther afield than the creators could, at least in some examples.
@@cult_of_odin Lmao I highly doubt the drama f**s and film school grads that made movies in the 1970s were hardcore commie killing Republicans. People are just lame these days and the internet has seriously hindered the average persons worldly experience and creativity needed to make symbolic and compelling pictures, no matter who they hire.
@@cult_of_odin there's plenty of great movies these days. Don't act like everything was great, there were tons of bad movies back in the day too it's just that they're largely forgotten about now
The snake transforming in yoda theory is interesting. Note that the vintage kenner yoda figure came with the snake as an accessory. I never thought much of it until you pointed it out. 48:33
Oh yeah, I remember the figure coming with a snake accessory. Wow, that was a long time ago. I had mountains of Star Wars and Masters of the universe figures.
Yeah, I thought that was rather odd when I got the figure.
Because I never saw Yoda wearing it in the movie.
The figure had a brown or Orange snake. I had the Orange one. Yesterday I met a snake in real life.
@@31minutesagoI read this comment months ago and it still scares me.
@@xocomaox huh?
Something I always felt was strong in this movie is the way it was structured around the way a day is broken up into. It starts with an evening moving into night with Luke and han. We have early morning with the search, late morning the battles on hoth and space. The we have mid day with Luke having lunch with Yoda. Late after noon for the training, cloud city it's set with a orange dusk glow to the end scene set at night.
Hadn't thought of that. Very cool. Rename the movie ... The Rebels' Hardest Day or ... Day of The Empire ... damn I might even prefer the latter to the actual title.
All the bad continutity of the sun's position when they were approaching city in the clouds not withstanding, I always thought most people misread the relative time of day. I thought it was actually sunrise, particularly since the windows were getting brighter as they were making their way through it.
Something else: the score during the shootout in Cloud City (1:35:11 in the above video) features Yoda's theme even though Yoda does not physically appear in the scene. I thought that was oddly unlike John Williams until I realized that Yoda IS in the scene! He peered into the future at Luke's request during their discussion on the future (1:05:13), adding: "Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future."
In short, thanks to John Williams, Yoda's musical presence in this scene is the best approximation we have of a character time-traveling from one scene to a later one in the original Star Wars trilogy!
Not sure. In the first movie, after Ben sacrifices himself and Luke starts blasting away at the stormtroopers, Leia's theme pops up for whatever reason.
about the dramatics and commotion in cloud City, 1:35:34, got to take note of Wilrow Hood, carrying the crucial plans and files of Cloud City to safety!
Wow
This is an extreme stretch. He included Yoda's theme there because he needed to fill time, he was under a deadline, and it fit well in this passage. He wasn't making some sort of deliberate commentary about Yoda's role/presence in the scene. The appearance of Yoda's theme here does not require any special explanation, it's not 'unlike' Williams or any other elite composer.
I am halfway through watching this and would like to commend you for the years of analysis and your personal passion for the development of your ongoing narrative throughout your work.
I must say that I found you about 5 or six years ago, when I was in the midst of becoming aware of my own research into film psychoanalysis and I am grateful for your interpretations.
After hearing you state that you were six when you saw this, I can assume that we are around the same age and were influenced by similar media although you are in the UK and I in the US.
The film, the television, the music, and the general zietgiest of our time created a context by which you have been able to make some great interpretations.
That being said, as I watch this and remember the greater experience of being a child in the 80's, interpreting my world through media, using your analysis as well as the greater lexicon of other great research, I feel that we are all living in a time where we can further unpack the greater interpretation of our collective experiences to influence the greater understanding of "the uses of enchantment" to create a better world to propel our species to a greater evolution, (if that could be at all possible).
Cheers. I've taken great comfort over the years that so many of you out there are as open to the depths of these movies as I am.
Wow. I don't believe I've ever come across a comment that addresses this specific topic; that our experiences and connection to childhood entertainment, media and all - enchantment, is it? - can possibly be used to create a better world, or better way of living in the world.
Very interesting, thanks for sharing that.
Films and other media like this, which seem to have something profoundly special about them and make you feel a certain way, are basically providing us all with something (albeit through fantasy) that satisfies the great expectations and high standards/hopes we all had for the world when we were children. When we reached adulthood, we were exposed to the reality that life is cold, dead and heartless… and our inner children are absolutely heartsick over it.
Films like this rekindle that ember of imagination, awe and expectation for the future.
@@collativelearning before watching this video I never realised how many layers there to the film and it's made me appreciate this amazing film even more
40:46 such an amazing shot, this has always been one of my favorites scenes in Empire. Also huge props for using the original theatrical releases during this video.
Dont know if it’s been commented on yet, but Han finding Luke was yet another foreshadowing of Leiha finding him at the end of the movie. I think the traumatic experience on Hoth unlocked his force ability to reach out to others (where as ObiWan was talking to Luke in New Hope, Luke hadn’t learned to communicate back yet), so his near death moment on Cloud City further magnified his abilities. Had never realized how much the end of the film really reflected the beginning.
This is one of may favorite movies of all time as well. You pointed out things that I knew about but never really considered and things that I never knew about. You did a great job, thank you !!
Twenty-seven times in the movie-house viewer of ESB, and longtime CL fan. THANK YOU, Rob! Blessings your way!
This was my first Star Wars movie, I went to the cinema with no idea about Star Wars in 1997 when the Special Edition was released. Didn’t know it was a trilogy back then, was one of my most memorable cinema experiences, became an instant fan but was quite confused by the story at first because had not seen “A new Hope” and the text in the beginning only explained so much. 😂
As a kid back in the 80s i visited Finse and I was in awe over being where the star wars film was shot. Some Norwegians got to be rebel extras in it too, which is awesome. Great film analysis, colour is so incredibly powerful to project mood.
Throughout the entire Cloud City sequence, the stormtroopers stand rigidly still. They're like statues. Keep an eye on them next time. You wouldn't suspect there were actual people in those costums until they do finally move. It's shocking to see what at first glance appear to be mannequins suddenly start walking around.
I remember reading a fan magazine back in 1980. Those store troopers were actually wax dummies for some of the shots.
@@NightFlighttoCairo Interesting! That explains some of those shots then.
Luke seeing himself inside the mask of Vader was a representation of the “be careful not to become the monsters you hunt” in philosophy. It foreshadows a struggle within Luke, not the one between Luke and Vader.
Having it take place in a location full of life, yet devoid of intelligence other than what Luke brought with him was absolutely brilliant.
Interesting note about the "bird chimes" on Bespin giving a "slight hippy feel": Between the charisma of Billy Dee Williams and the way that he describes the city as being essentially independant from the Empire, and the throwaway lines from the 1977 movie about Han "running spice" drawing this connection with Herbert's "Dune" series, I've always thought that Cloud City is supposed to stand in for this kind of libertarian utopia that would have been kind of the hope of a lot of countercultural people in the year 1980; and so the betrayal feels to the audience like a betrayal of their ideals. It's easy to forget but watching this movie from a fresh perspective if it weren't for Luke's premonition it would be very very surprising indeed that Vader had headed them off there. So Cloud City thematically represents this idea of paradise lost, and Lando's defection to the rebels is then a kind of redemption.
I totally think that was intentional.
Excellent analysis. Lando is actually the closest we get to a libertarian in his novels...he wants to be left alone.
logan strait, your run on sentences are impossible to read.
I like how they used a word like HOTh..to describe an Arctic place...Brilliant.
I always thought his lightsaber just fell off when he was being put upside down in the cave..I dont imagine the Wampa would know it was a weapon.
That was my assumption too. If you hang upside down, stuff just kinda falls out.
Yeah, I think so too, because he sure as hell still ran right towards the ignited blade like he had no idea what he was in for.😂
Also, Vader doesn’t even question Han when he tortures him. He just tortures him. Evil!
Yeah, but knowing Luke will have a vision of it and come to the rescue .. and fail.
Han mentions this later. Vader probed his mind. Also, Han attacked him successfully in the previous movie. Vader is getting his revenge.
@@Philo-ul2uq AH!! That makes sense - Vader wouldn’t have forgotten that lol
What information would he even be looking for? He already knew Luke wasn't on the ship, he knew Yoda was probably still alive and in hiding. If we consider the animated segment from the Holiday Special to be canon (which it would seem Kasdan and Kershner did when they were writing the screenplay), then he even knew who Luke really was.
All he needed was some kind of beacon to draw Luke out of hiding and into the trap he had already laid, and what impatient young Jedi can resist diving blindly into an unknown situation to rescue a friend in pain? Incidentally, young Anakin does exactly the same thing in _Attack of The Clones,_ to disastrous results-which is the one clever thing the Prequels ever did for Vader's character.
With Tarkin and the rest of the Empire crew dead after the destruction of the death star in A New Hope,Vader now runs the show under direction of the emperor and is out for blood,going as far as killing members of his staff who fail at thier jobs.
I believe in his backstory Lobot's mind is directly tied to the Cloud City, so he basically could access any of its systems. I think it's great that a non-speaking character has a great screen presence just by a visual design alone. And I believe that's what Empire Strikes Back excels as well, we see a lot of details in the background that tell a lot of the story without being pointed out to us by the characters. There's a lot of them in the Rebel base especially during Leia's meeting with the pilots, there's that silhouette of Lando arguing with Lobot as the door opens when they first land in the hangar.
I can't stop listening to this.
I wanna thank you for this video, you summarized many thing i thought about in the last 30 years but never put into words. I really appreciate the length of you video. Long videos like this are getting a rarity. This movie inspired my imagination like no other movie. It not only told a fantastic story with fitting visuals, but created a distinc feeling in me. A feeling thats depicts what Star Wars is for me. Hard to put in words for me because im not an english speaker. This Star Wars Universe had a specific feeling for me. Everytime i saw this movie this cozy feeling immediately spiked my imagination. Everytime i wondered whats out there in this galaxy? The movie is deprived of huge civilisatory scenes. Like in the prequels. Those huge Cities and planets with huge facilities and temples. You get bombarded with all those CGI created bombastic worlds. And as kid, when i saw Empire Strikes back, i wanted to see this other planets like Coruscant. As a child you want it all. Not in this movie. This movie leaves so much space in your head for imagination. Its just beautiful how it sparked my fantasy. In this regard i am happy that George Lucas had not the tech and money at the time. This fantasy feeling those 3 movie created in me is a different feeling than all the newer movies caused. Its a different world. Maybe even a bit of an dissapointing world. With the prequels i got what i wished for as a child. The whole thing! The whole map was uncovered. But it looked different and felt!! different than what i imagined. But in hindsight i learned to love the Prequels. Something which i will never utter about VII, VIII and IX. Those last 3 movies reminds me on movies like The fast and the furios. Too put-on, lack of creativity, over the top comedic , a script which doesn't want to tell an adventure story but is written to fit into Special Effect scenes and in my case it feels extremly boring. Rogue One is the exception. So thank you for those 2 hours. You really described, what this feeling Star Wars created in me, is made of. I really apreciate the effort you put into this video.
Thanks. That's an essential point there about how part of the magic is to not show everything and leave parts of the Star Wars universe to the imagination of the audience. In fact it makes the films feel more personal when we're subconsciously filling in the gaps like that. Showing everything kind a shuts the viewer out. And yes Rogoe One was the exception. It's nowhere near up to OT standard but it had a good story that felt worthwhile in itself.
That surreal/mythical element of the landscapes and environments is far less present in later films, and I think as time goes on it gets reduced with each film. The hollow emptiness of the visuals in The Last Jedi (the only sequel film to even attempt anything thematic) despite how crisp they are, is glaringly evident when compared to the original trilogy. Great video showing why TESB is so timeless.
Excellent video. Even as someone born post millennial, Empire Strikes Back and Return Of The Jedi remain my favourites of the franchise and some of my all time favourites. I rewatched the Non Disney movies last year, and with Empire, I found it interesting how my opinions shifted. My favourite stuff as a child was the Hoth battle and Cloud City, but this time, The Dagobah stuff was probably my favourite and most interesting part of the film. Today lifting the X Wing is truly one of the most magical moments in cinema for me.
These are a couple of things I noticed that you hadn’t mentioned:
First of all, In the scene where Chewie saves 3PO from being melted, you can spot the IG88 Droid dismantled in the corner. Whether it’s IG88, or a different droid of the same model is unclear, but if it’s the former, that’s a cool detail.
Second, when Luke gets thrown out of the window by Vader in their duel, the web-like design and circular shape resembles the window of a TIE Fighter, a strong force in the Empire. The way I see it, it could be that their duel has transcended the fight between the Empire and the Rebellion, and is (literally) outside of that, becoming about the struggle between father and son as outside this window is where the big twist takes place
Great analysis as always, Rob. All the attention to detail by the film makers and the psychological effects it has on audiences are why Star Wars was such a colossal hit and why people are still fascinated 40 years later. I don't think anything made in the last decade will have the same lasting appeal.
One thing I'd like to add to your analysis of Vader's command of the cosmos and his Super Star Destroyer is that the new ship is utilizing the visual psychology of the first movie to establish his dominance in this one.
In the first movie, the Star Destroyer was so huge it swallowed an entire Rebel cruiser. Well, we can see in this establishing shot that this Super Star Destroyer is so huge it could swallow multiple Star Destroyers. The visual message is clear: Darth Vader is more powerful than ever
The right hand being chopped could be in reference to Jung's left and right hand paths. By removing the right hand, Luke has no choice but to follow the Left hand path. One of individuality. A dangerous but creative path. A hero's quest. Living out ones individual true potential.
It’s always a good day when Rob uploads.
That's what she said
Superb analysis. Thank you!
1:06:20 the twin pilot ships leading the way into Cloud City while also firing warning shots could be symbolic of Lando being “two-faced”
God, I love this film.
1:02:09. Oh yes, great composers of symphonic music not only know how real world sounds work on an emotional level and what instruments best represent these, it goes much deeper. In this cue John Williams again employs the lydian scale (major scale with a raised 4th), the most uplifting of all, not to mention the harp and strings texture and the melody being played in various octaves by the woodwinds, giving it size and scope.
I can watch your videos a billion times and never be bored! Thank you so much, rob!!!
ANOTHER OUTSTANDING VIDEO! i really enjoyed your analysis and pointing out all those subtle details. It's fun to go through all these insights. Keep up the great work, Rob! You are a beacon of HOPE on the TH-cam landscape!
1:13:23 - that windchime like instrument is a celesta. It's very similar to a piano, but instead of strings, the hammers strike metal plates. It sounds very sweet and, as the name suggests, heavenly.
The Foreshadowing is strong in this one.
This was the first movie I got to see in a cinema, with Raiders not far behind. I’m grateful as to my growing up timing.
Wow, what a powerfully intense first cinema experience!
Me too. I was too young to remember ESB, but I know I saw it. I remember seeing Raiders a year later.
I remember watching this film as a child also. I have a vague memory of standing in line with my father to see "Star Trek: The Motion Picture," but I have no memory of that film from that viewing (though, I have seen it many times since then), whereas I remember vividly my experience of watching ESB at the time. I remember "Flash Gordon" from around that time, and of course "Raiders of the Lost Ark" a year later. We who were born in the early 1970s were fortunate to have had our first impressions of cinema shaped by these classics. I feel true sadness for the youngsters today whose first experience of a film on the big screen may have been a J.J. Abrams atrocity.
Unbelievable work done analyzing one of the greatest films of all time. Awesome job! Thanks.
This certainly gave me a different perception on the film. A lot deeper than my childhood mind imagined. Great video, btw.
1:02:00 It's the Lydian mode with the raised fourth being utilized that gives the literal and figurative uplifting feeling you're describing. Amazing job with the breakdowns, thank you!
Thanks Rob ,you're a legend.
Beautifully illustrated why nothing tops this one! It's probably still my favorite movie of all time.
About the carbon freezing scene in regards to Han's hands. His hands were shackled, and his upper arms bounded to his sides. The shackles were removed just before freezing, but the upper arm restraints were not, making it possible for him to move his hands and forearms into that pose we see him frozen in. Everyone always seems to miss this. On a side note, those arm restraints are also made from carbonite, which is why they're missing when the stuff is melted off him in the third film. Speaking of continuity errors in Han's carbon freezing scene... His shirt changes from the one with the flap before he's frozen to the v- neck shirt from the first film after he's frozen. Nobody seems to notice this either.
Rob is to movies as a lightbulb is to a film projector. He illuminates the poetry of moving pictures!
Very poetic
Thanks for this. Lots of analysis of Star Wars and film these days are deconstructive, so it's nice to see something appreciative and constructive.
One of the best videos I've watched in a long time.
Also love when Luke draws his pistol on Bespin..Boba Fett hears it as he and frozen Han walk by....1:28:54 ...he quickly moves his head towards the sound, but then continues to look forward...just a tiny thing but which adds to his badassery.
Rob, I love how you pointed out things in this review that I thought I had imagined, like the Emperor's hologram appearance. I think with the change of the ceiling in Cloud City was symbolism for the Empire coming down on them.
I saw this movie upon it's theatrical release and it was the greatest movie experience of my life. To this day, this is my favorite movie, a perfect movie. In all these years and the thousands of movies I've seen, I can't think of one better
I loved this one best out the trilogy as a kid and still haven’t changed that opinion. This was the one that I just didn’t expect and it blew me away. the other 2 were great too but this was always the one I would always watch if it was on tv as I still do today.
Full marks for using the theatrical version of the film. I wholeheartedly endorse your use of the original version. By the way, your reference to the carbonite pit being like descending into a pit of fire reminded me that just a few years later Lucas would be involved with Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom which does include people being lowered into a pit of fire (but in that case Harrison Ford was spared the descent).
23:32 Also symbolic of baptism, death to the old self, new birth to the new self, transitional stage. Could indicate his new character development, having gone from farm boy to quasi-leader
52:57 I dont think he says "I feel cold" as if to then say "Pass me a coat", but in the sense that he feels the presence of Cold. So "I feel Cold, Death". He could have said "I feel evil", but that would not mean he was about to kick a puppy. At least that is how I always read it. I think the "Death" was inserted in post production to clarify that there is something supernatural that brings on feelings of Cold and Death rather than a simply chilly spot in the swamp.
agreed. a "spiritual" cold, juxtaposed against the warmth of a swamp and the warmth of a firelit hut.
Yes. Star Wars media since Empire has almost constantly represented the dark side as having a spiritual chill.
Not sure if you were intentionally avoiding the esoteric, but Luke hanging upside down could be a representation of the tarot's Hanging Man card. This can symbolize patience and someone with a different perspective. Which highlights the relationship of Luke and Yoda in this movie. Luke is being put in these upside down positions and forced to focus himself and use the force or to gain a different perspective in rough situations. As well as Yoda trying to get him to be patient and continue his training, rather than to rush into battle unprepared.
I imagine with G. Lucas' fascination with eastern philosophy, he may have been privy to some form of esotericism. So, it may be relevant.
buddy, trust me, when it comes to lucas and esotericism you don't know the half of it.
I feel its also not a coincidence that Yoda takes Luke's lamp. The Hermit card shows a figure carrying a lamp. Where the original drew on hero's journey, Empire seems to use a lot of hermetic symbolism.
Or you are completely overthinking what is merely a dramatic device. The simplest explanation is usually the correct one.
Tarot, indeed ! 😂
Definitely agree that the esoteric element is likely intentional, because Luke also hangs upside-down in the ice cave. After which, he learns to use the force pull, and gains the ability to communicate with Obi-Wan’s spirit. He is again depicted hanging upside down towards the end, when he falls underneath Bespin, which again precedes a revelation - he calls through the force to his friends, rejecting his ego and recognizing he’s the one who needs help, not the other way around.
It boggles my mind how Lucas apparently has this ability to incorporate layers of symbolism into this movie but then, in the 90's, he made his "special" edition where the Wampa in the cave is reduced to a comic relief gag. No joke, when I saw the Special Edition of Empire in theaters back in 1997, the Wampa was shown sitting down eating the Tauntaun and the audience in the theater laughed. It's evident that Lucas was being foolishly arrogant when he said critics were cinematically illiterate and didn't know what they were talking about. F him and everything he stands for.
Empire was always my favorite Star Wars movie, not for its killer ending but for the Hoth sequences. The lengths the film goes to show how desolate and completely frozen and hostile this environment is always dragged me in as a child. It’s pretty much the only Star Wars movie I’ll revisit on a regular basis.
Those shots of the imperial walkers relentlessly approaching and slaughtering everything are among my fave movie shots all time. They scared the hell out of me on the big screen when I was a kid.
I love all three but yeah Empire definitely the best. Like the guy in the movie Clerks says, "All Jedi had was a bunch of muppets". 🤣
@@coinraker6497 Clerks, what a masterpiece. They were wrong about Jedi though. It had The Emperor !!!!
@@collativelearning cool you like Clerks. Probably the best low budget comedy of all time.
11:35 Also symbolic in that the wampa is a surprise attack on Luke, same with Vader, a surprise attack after being lured into a trap. Did the wampa then lure Luke into a trap as well? Also, the wampa leaving Luke hanging upside down, symbolic of Vader who had desired to freeze Luke in carbonate
Wow.. Could you imagine if movies of this scale were still made with thought and care?
They'd be good.. Which they don't have to be anymore.
It's funny because they spend so much money on making absolute garbage; but all the thought and care that goes into movies like this? That's CHEAP! I mean, it's rare because you have to find quality talent, but putting thought into something is way cheaper than spending 10 million on a single pretty shot of a ship yoloing into an imperial fleet
They are. Blade Runner 2049, Dune and Fury Road instantly come to mind
@@thetombuck Ok.. That's fair... Though, I'm not such a big fan of Blade Runner 2049 as everyone else.. I don't think those movies had the asssss big of budgets, and made the profits most new Star Wars and Marvel movies rake in.. and Fury Road came out 8 years ago. (and lost money) It feels like the landscape of high concept big budget movies is more bleak (and shallow) then in years past.
@@thetombuck I felt nothing for any of the characters in Fury Road. One of the most beautiful movies ever made, but otherwise hollow. I appreciated 2049 better on a second viewing, but I don't think it was a very well told story.
They CAN still be made today....and occasionally are. The problem today is that studio execs and pencil pushers (you know....ppl who have no business putting their 2 cents in on filmmaking) tend to try and micromanage every aspect of big budget film. Where once upon a time it was just a master chef and his financial backers....now its a whole kitchen full of marketing ppl who are trying to be short order cooks.
As you were showing the Wampa cave stalagtites and stalagmites being like teeth, I immediately thought of the asteroid worm teeth. Then you cut to it. Well done!
Great analysis, Rob. I could listen to these all day
As for the chess pieces being stop motion, it still works because even though they are meant to represent organic creatures, they are still a mechanical device being used with a mechanical game board.
Luke uses the Force three times in the film, each time when he is upside down. 1. Force grab of lightsaber to escape Wompa. 2. lifting rocks with Yoda 3. Calling Leia while hanging under Cloud City.
Yes! Empire is the best star wars movie ever. Disney could spend every drop of money they currently have, use every resource at their disposal and never, never beat Empire. They don't have the skills, the creativity, the understanding of the material to put together an epic piece of film to match it. Empire is ingrained in our culture, its an icon of movie greatness. Sure it could be topped someday by Disney will not be the one to do it.
Disney will make a lot of women and gay men the heroes of the movie.
@@areguapiri and their movies will continue to suck! Not because they put women in there but because they hired writers that only know how to push propaganda, they don't know how to write good stories.
They came pretty close with Andor but I doubt Empire will ever be topped
Topping Empire is honestly a tall order for anyone. Even Lucas had no chance of doing so...considering the disaster that was the prequel trilogy.
ESB was just a perfect synergy of talent, writing, directing, and performance.
Well, let's get to the heart of the matter: How could a corporate conglomerate Property Manager possibly produce any film and story depicting the passionate struggles of rebels against an all consuming Empire, when that corporate conglomerate managing this Star Wars property is itself an all consuming Empire?
I think you’re right that all those incidences of Han being down in pits and/or surrounded by steam is foreshadowing his carbon freezing because there’s so few/near none incidences of it seen in the other 2 original films (just hiding in the smuggling floors is all I can think of).
Yeah quite consistent in this film.
When Vader reveals he's Lukes father- anyone else forget they're still on Cloud City? Feels like they're on the Death Star
No not for me, but I did think that Vader was lying just to mess with Luke's head.
The "prison" room in Cloud City where Leia and Han stay has got another interesting feature: the skylight above them looks like a giant eye spying on the protagonists, contrasting with the lack of windows on walls to symbolise their being kept ignorant of the trap they have walked into. The Empire is watching and well aware, but they are not.
it also makes a sharktooth mouth shadow on the wall
Oh look, Rob put up a video about 'Empire'... that should be worth watching for...... 103 minutes?!? Holy!!!! Thank you! 👍
I always thought this film had a special attention paid to the atmosphere of the planets. Love this analysis
This video is outstanding. I've seen this film about 20 times and there are so many details I didn't ever notice 😂 Thank you and you have greatly enriched my understanding and appreciation for one of my favourite films.
My step dad Greg told me one time that the middle part of a trilogy is always the best, or revered as the best. Empire, the Godfather 2, the Dark Knight, the Two Towers. This is because the creators don't have to worry about setting up any exposition nor tying everything up with a denouement. More focus on story, more nuance, darker, more serious.
also great point, Rob, about the speed at which Luke's versus Vader's lightsabers extend. I had never noticed that before. It seems to me that the lightsabers are responsive to the Force, thus to the emotions of the warrior who wields one. Luke is excited, full of rash intensity, anger, and fear. Thus his lightsaber is forced out very quickly. Whereas like you said, Vader is calm, meditative, savoring every moment. Thus his lightsaber extends much more calmly.
On the otherhand, perhaps its not that the sabers have a force sensitivity "built-in." Do we ever see a non-force user wield a saber in the original trilogy? Maybe it's more a testament to Vader's incredible control over the force that he is *able to* cause the laser to extend more slowly, against its standard function.
Good take ... though I found Two Towers beyond boring personally.
@@collativelearning Thanks Mr Ager! Yeah... The Two Towers is the Battle of Helms Deep for me. I prefer the first one in that trilogy, as I do with the Godfathers. But speaking of consensus, it seems a part two is usually the most highly regarded, generally speaking.
2:38 "But in the Star Wars universe a planet will always have a breathable atmosphere even without plant life to create oxygen."
That made me think of Dune. It's a desert planet, I don't remember it having significant plant life, so where does the oxygen come from?
Hoth is actually more realistic as having an atmosphere then Arakis (Dune) or Tatooine due to algae or cyanobactira living in ice or under frozen oceans. There are micro organisms on Earth that live in such extreme environments and Earth itself had a series of intense glaciation events hundreds of millions of years ago.
Also, having large native animals like the Tuntum and Wampa implies that the climate wasn't always so harsh.
I'm so glad you're still doing these movies, somehow people think the prequels are actually better movies just because they grew up with them and I really just enjoy learning more about the thought filmmakers put in these original three that are very absent in every other Star Wars movies
I've bore witness to the opposite. The Prequels get shat on constantly. Only the Sequel trilogy gets more hate than it, usually.
Vader really took that "high ground" lesson from Obi-Wan to heart.
Maybe the shot at 28:50 is actually a POV kind of shot suggested from inside Vaders helmet. Just the orientation of the 3 center glass panels combined with the eye like shape above them, as well as the two horizontal pillars suggesting the top part of the helmet. It could relate the viewer to Vader on a subconcious level.
it's possible. maybe sort of the "eye of the hunter" zooming in on its prey. but I think the filmmakers tried to sponge out any identification with the villains. this is how Vader becomes so terrifying - we can't relate to him at all - he's a full representation of the shadow self, the dark side of the personality. this is why the villainous characters wear masks or helmets - Vader, Boba Fett, the Storm Troopers - while Luke and his friends show their faces at all times. we identify with the ones whose faces we can see.
//
this is a great strength to science fiction or war films - think of Nolan's Dunkirk. we never see the face of a single German soldier, nor even hear the word "German" spoken. we only hear them referred to as the enemy, keep them offscreen or far off or blurred out. a recent film called The Outpost did this exceptionally well (for the modern times) as well. too much identification with the villains, like in Disney Star Wars or Marvel movies, takes away any fear we would feel for them otherwise, and defeats the point of a villain entirely.
@@_scabs6669 That makes sense. I guess the same principle can be seen in Jaws.
But the prequels and the whole Anakin backstory would then de-mystify the character of Vader by giving more information about him and his motives. I guess that is somewhat true, however i believe Vader, even though here he is plain evil, has a redeemable side, not like Palpatine who hasn't any redeemable aspects about his character, which makes him a far greater vilain imo.
Just in the context of this movie your argument makes perfect sense, but when looking at the big picture (Prequels+Originals) the inner conflict of Vader is still very real and therefore it could be a way to let the viewer somewhat realate to him, because he still has his "good" side and the inner conflict. Maybe Lucas had that in mind when filming this way before the prequels, who knows. I just thought the shapes in the frame were looking very deliberately placed to look like Vaders helmet, but idk.
@@difigiano3939 you're definitely right. Lucas was subtly showing a gray area. Showing that there is darkness inside of Luke and light inside of Vader. I bet that shot really was from his POV and was part of that idea.
@@difigiano3939 and a great villain performance like the emperor gave or Jack Nicholson as Joker or many others where you can see their face and their evil grin, those are equally great for the same reasons. Each way has its strengths and is good for different films
Great job Rob! As always, you deliver a great amount of insight. Helpful and informative I learn something new each time. I was born in 1972, so I saw the original trilogy in the theater. Several times as well, and The Empire Strikes Back is without a doubt in my top 20 movies too. By the way, I felt the slab in the dungeon that slid out from the wall was much like the monolith from 2001. I felt a little Disney’s The Black Hole vibe in the Han Solo freezing in carbonite scene.
Thanks Rob!😊
Thank you for this. These films seem like a miracle of sorts. I like to credit the Jim Henson folks for adding that magic and perhaps their creativity was contagious to other departments. Folks, find a way to see the Despecialized editions. Look it up!
I always thought Han broke out of his handcuffs in pain and fear just before being frozen. It's unlikely a human could do that but it ads and kind of horror to it and humans are capable of impressive feats near death, like Rasputin.
That’s a facisnating and believable way to view the scene
Watch it again (not via Rob's video, but via the entire sequence of shots). The Ugnaughts do *something* to the cuffs right before Han goes in. It could be removing them - it's hard to tell. But it takes 2-3 seconds to happen, whatever it is.
If so, Han still had his upper arms bound behind his back, and that binding was not removed. That would not stop him from raising up his hands as he does when he becomes a statue. But when he is eventually free in Jedi, there is no sign of that upper arm binding. (To say nothing of the handcuffs).
(I've wasted my life.)
Lets say it was made of a material that dissipates during carbon freezing or when he is unfrozen.
32:29 - the object at the "mouth" of this robot looks very much like the classic Shure 55 microphone. It very likely is the back half of an actual model 55. Excellent analysis as always!
The scene where Han & Leia see Vader on Cloud City is another great 2001 homage. It does match the surreal dining session of the Beyond the Infinite section, which is why I think there were plates on the table. You failed to mention one cool thing about that scene, that Han Solo immediately pulls his laser and fires at Vader. Even in the menacing face of Vader, Solo doesn't cower in fear. The only other character who doesn't is Boba Fett when he talks back to Vader, which is another reason why both are considered so badass.
I think Vader not only respects Boba Fett because he's a badass, but also because his father is the genetic blueprint of his entire stormtrooper army. I'm sure Vader would know that at this point in the saga and have some measure of sympathy to a boy who lost his father to a Jedi.
I saw this at the Lowe’s Astor Plaza in Manhattan back in 1980 and the sound was incredible. The roar of the Tie Fighter startled me as it moved from one behind and right beside and then ahead of me. I had never heard anything like it in a theater and it is a testament to the craftsmanship Ben Burtt and everyone at Lucasfilm put into ESB that made Dolby Stereo in 1980 better than the modern audio heard in contemporary theaters today.
Back when Star wars truly was great, I'm glad I got to live these three films as a child
When Yoda says "no, there is another" - with hindsight I always thought he was referring to Leia - but with even bigger hindsight could that have been foreshadowing for Anakin returning to the light at the end of ROTJ?
in fact - isn't the title of "return of the Jedi" really referring to Vader?
Interesting.
It was originally titled Revenge of the Jedi before it was changed, but Return does sound appropriate to Vader
Fantastic videos Rob. Thank you.
Your disclaimer said you recommend us purchasing the original copy of the film. Trust us, we agree. Han shot first..
It’s Luke who says ‘death’. According to the script, the line is simply this:
“I feel cold, death”
One item of note: Vader's breathing sound effect comes from a Dacor SCUBA regulator breathing device. One wonders if the scuba device Luke uses in the Bacta Tank is of the same model used for Vader's breathing effects.
In any event, I know the filmmakers were well aware of the image they were producing on screen and that Vader's breathing is a scuba device. I don't think it's an accident that they made the choice that Luke uses assisted breathing exactly like Vader is required to do. The fact that they didn't even hide the fact that Luke is using 20th century SCUBA rebreather seems like a wink to those in the know.
They clearly use many man/machine metaphors to parallel Luke with Vader in Empire and later Jedi. His hand being cut off at the end of Empire and replaced with a machine hand is the most persistent metaphor of Luke's possible future as a Vader-like corrupted Jedi -- that he has begun his transition into someone "more machine than man".
When Ben makes that "more machine than man" statement in Star Wars(Ep IV), he isn't referring to Anakin/Vader requiring a lot of robotic prostheses. He's referring to Vader as lacking any form of human conscience. After all, nobody insults the all-robot Droids in similar fashion -- because even Droids appear to be possessed of a conscience. People show nothing but affection to their Droids in the SW universe.
To be sure, Luke's face shown in Vader's broken helmet is the most blatant foreshadowing of what's to come -- foreshadowing that Luke is the son of Vader and just as susceptible to the same inducements to the Dark Side as Anakin. But we don't know Luke is Vader's son by that point in the Trilogy. The image seems to only be a foreshadowing a spiritual battle -- that Luke's soul will be lost to the Dark side. The audience doesn't yet know that Luke is Vader's son -- but Yoda knows. It's both Ben's and Yoda's greatest fear.
The image of the broken helmet confuses Luke because he doesn't fully understand the ramifications of what Yoda instructed before Luke entered that dark place to battle this phantom Vader -- you only take what's with you into that place. Luke isn't fighting Vader in that dark place, he's fighting his own susceptibility to the Dark side. His own darker predilections which caused Vader to turn -- and for the same reasons.
What's revealed later is that Luke's possesses the same predilections as Anakin/Vader -- because he inherited them from his father. The son inherits the gifts and weaknesses of his father.
When Luke's hand is replaced with a machine hand at the end of Empire, the emotion of the scene is clear and it's dark import is performed in Luke's face, "Am I my father's son? Am I going to eventually fall to the Dark Side of the force? Is this how it begins -- one step at a time until you're more machine than man."
Rob, I'm not sure if you know the lore, but Anakin/Vader can't create force lightning like most Dark Force users because he has had his arms cut off and replaced with robot parts. What's more, the robot body he's within is also very susceptible to force lighting. Darth Sidious intended it that way so he could kill Vader if he became a threat. It's why Vader didn't survive attacking Sidious in Jedi. Vader's body could've been shielded against those attacks but he wasn't provided with that shielding. Vader knew that protecting Luke would absolutely cost him his life. When Vader finally breaks free of the influence of the Dark side, he knows the Emperor will kill him. When Vader is making that choice, he's finally choosing to become truly good -- to become Anakin again. To become more man than machine.
The metaphor is powerful. Vader's body is the metaphor for his soul. Since he's "more machine than man", when he reclaims his soul and returns to being more man than machine, his life ceases to function. For his salvation to be sincere and permanent, he had choose the ultimate sacrifice -- his life. The helmet comes off. His breathing becomes labored. In a real sense, his robotic body was an unnatural support system -- a corrupt soul which wouldn't have been able to live but for support of soulless machinery. For the soul to become good once again, it had to shed the mockery which kept it alive. There can be only Anakin or only Vader. Never both.
Vader had to die for Anakin and Luke to live. Vader had to choose to be Anakin... and with that choice, he had to sacrifice everything: absolute power, galactic hegemony, his delusions of righteousness, his certainty that he was never wrong. Lastly, his life. In one intense scene, we see Vader stripping his own ego away as he witnesses his son being tortured to death by the Emperor. Anakin/Vader was finally stripped of the self-denial which allowed the Emperor to corrupt him. In what the Emperor was doing to Luke, Vader saw what had been done to him and why. He finally saw through the Emperor's machinations that corrupted Anakin. He finally saw what he had denied to himself -- that the Emperor never cared for him at all and would've dispatched him the same as Luke if he hadn't fallen to the dark side. That he was manipulated and used and that, very likely, the Emperor lied about everything that led Anakin to choose the dark side.
Anakin's corruption by the Emperor occurred when he was very young. He was gr00med -- to be a Dark Side apprentice and the Hand of the Emperor. Vader finally broke that conditioning because his humanity -- which had been buried deep -- was touched by his son. Luke was right all along -- "I sense the good in you Father". Vader was in deep denial. It wasn't until he witnessed his son's suffering that he was able to defeat the conditioning and see through the lies which created Vader.
Even on Vader's emotionless visage we see his delusions being stripped away until he finally becomes Anakin once again and saves his son. He chooses to give up all his power, all his delusions, all his hate, all his fear, all his anger, and all of his suffering. One after the other, the emotions which enabled Sidious to corrupt Anakin gave way to love. Anakin finally takes responsibility for what he became in Vader by sacrificing everything so that his son will live. It's the inversion of Christianity -- God sacrifices himself so that his son will live.
I saw all the Star Wars movies when I was a young kid. I was the perfect age when Star Wars came out. I was the demographic it was aimed at -- young boys. I was a pre-teen when Star Wars hit the theaters. Those stories hold a deep power over my mind because they were the foundation of my storytelling mythology as a young boy. But as I grew older, the deeper themes became visible and what once seemed merely good vs evil, became a vastly more impressive moral tale -- filled with powerful metaphors which resonate with the deepest human experiences and the archetypes which our minds were formed to utilize for living a proper life. Great stories are great because they appeal to the deepest human needs to be instructed on how to live an optimal life.
It influenced pop culture more than anything which came before or since. It's a pity that the franchise has been stripped entirely of it's mythological power by being run by incompetent ideologues who have zero understanding of how and why humanity tells the stories it tells. They replaced the hero's journey with the narcissist's wish fulfilment. Instead of struggle of a hero who must build his success, we see the vain wish fulfillment of ingrate narcissists who have no struggles and everyone loves them. Their greatest struggle is in getting others to realize just how infallible and fantastic they already are. This isn't a journey, it's the daydream of an incompetent and untalented charlatan who lucks into good fortune and believes themselves worthy by virtue of being inherently better than everyone else and more deserving of everyone else.
I weep for what the last decade has cost us in great storytelling. Life has been a little less brighter for having so few great stories to enjoy. We have been culturally robbed. Parasites are feasting upon our great modern mythologies. Thankfully, this is coming to a grinding halt. The people are finally no longer falling for spectacle without substance. They're increasingly rejecting the pap which has been produced by Hollywood for the last decade. The money spigot has been turned off. Not even the normies are overlooking this garbage anymore. They're punishing every company dumb enough to allow ideologues to steer their companies.
Zaslov is among the first to act upon the market intelligently. He's saving the storytelling of the company he runs by shutting down these boring, expensive, and unprofitable narcissist power fantasies. Batwhamman -- canceled at a cost of $90M. Woke Superman -- cancelled. There will be more to come as he burns away the weeds so that he can grow healthy fruit bearing trees.
Enjoyed reading your essay there.
An excellent screed, and one sorely needed to assuage our collective cultural atrophy.
Excellent comment. I've recently been re-examining the stories of my youth, and discovering more depth than I initially suspected.
Absolutely brilliant essay. I was also around the original target age and love to explore these deeper meanings in midlife.
Great read. Worthy of its own mini-documentary.
Your interpretations are interesting and well thought out, with enough humor to keep it from being didactic and dry. I really enjoy your Kubrick videos but this one may be my favorite. Keep it up and thanks for all the entertainment!
I'm not sure if this has already been said. But the hoth system could be a younger star system then our own. Hoth could be the equivalent of a snowball earth, and the instability of the asteroid field could be reminiscent of the late heavy bombardment phase of our own solar system.
The dwarf planet at the heart of the field along with Hoth's advanced life forms and dense oxygen atmosphere would suggest a 'resent' gravitational disruption to the Hoth system that's possibly caused Hoth to shift it's orbit away from its parent star.
Possibly, a gas giant has migrated from the inner to outer part of the system within that last few million years, causing massive disruptions and creating the dense, highly chaotic debris field by tearing a smaller planet apart.
Speaking of symbolism, Luke spends time upside down on Hoth, Dagobah and Cloud City.
A school friend of mine has a cottage where Hoth scenes were filmed, at Finse, Norway. Snow storm, one of the worst in decades during the shoot.
Got so much enjoyment from these on your website, happy to watch this study again!
The Ugnaughts remove the bindings on Han Solo's hands before he is lowered down into the carbonite freezing pit.