| | | "THX Digitally Mastered, For Superior Sound & Picture Quality."
Features: DVD, Pan and Scan (TV Format), Aspect Ratio 1.33:1, Dolby Digital 5.1 EX, Dolby Surround Sound, Commentary, Easter Egg, Game Demo, Trailer, English, Spanish, French Subtitled, Dubbed, 2 Discs
"For the first time ever and for a limited time only, the enhanced versions of the Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope, Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi will be available individually on DVD.Plus, these 2-Disc DVD sets will feature a bonus disc that includes, for the first time ever on DVD, contains the original films as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983."
"Technical virtuosity and entertainment ingenuity." David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor
"It's a near flawless movie of its kind." Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune
""...the special effects are more mature, and the tone is deliciously dark and downbeat."" James Berardinelli's ReelViews
"Technical virtuosity and entertainment ingenuity." "David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor"
"It's a near flawless movie of its kind." "Gene Siskel, Chicago Tribune"
Editor's Note
Considered the most morally and emotionally complex of the original Star Wars trilogy, THE EMPIRE STRIKE BACK continues creator George Lucas's epic saga where STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE left off. The Rebel Forces--which include young adventurer Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), rogue pilot Han Solo (Harrison Ford), and the beautiful but seemingly humorless Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher)--have been successful in destroying the Evil Empire's Death Star. However, the Empire's top commander, the terrifying Lord Darth Vader (played by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones), is scanning the galaxy for the Rebels' secret location. After a visually stunning showdown on the ice planet Hoth, the Rebels are forced to flee, and Luke separates from Han and Leia. Masterful storytelling weaves multiple, archetypal plotlines that pit Vader against Han and Leia as he desperately attempts to capture Luke for political--and, secretly, personal--reasons. Luke, meanwhile, finds himself under the tutelage of the tiny but powerful old Jedi Master Yoda, who teaches him the ways of the Force and warns the impatient but talented student against the threat of the Dark Side. Greek tragedy meets a philosophical hero's journey in EMPIRE, a remarkable sci-fi epic in which the performances are as powerful as the spectacular special effects. In 1997 a special edition of the film was digitally remastered with enhanced visual and sound effects. Several scenes--including the one in which Luke Skywalker encounters a deadly Wampa on Hoth--were reedited with more detail while other scenes--such as the one on Cloud City--were added for the rerelease.
Plot Summary
In this stirring sequel to STAR WARS, the forces of the Rebel Alliance are under constant attack from the Galactic Empire as Luke travels to the planet Dagobah to learn the secrets of the Force from the last great Jedi Master, Yoda. Han and Leia must evade the forces of the Empire while Luke draws ever closer to Darth Vader and his destiny. Academy Award Nominations: 4. Academy Awards: 2, Best Sound, Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects.
| Features | Commentary by George Lucas, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher | | Easter Egg - Credit Roll | | XBox Playable Game Demo | | Lego Game Trailer | | Audio: English Dolby Digital (5.1) EX; Dolby Digital Surround | | Subtitles: English, Spanish, French | | Full Screen Presentation |
| Technical Info
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Release Information
| | Studio: Foxvideo |
| Release Date: 2/20/2007 |
| Running Time: 127 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1980 | | Catalog ID: 2236388 | | UPC: 00024543263883 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English, French Dubbed, Spanish Dubbed | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: Color |
Aspect Ratio | | Pan and Scan (TV Format) 1.33:1 [4:3] |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Nominee (1981) | | | Golden Globe, John Williams, Best Original Score - Motion Picture | |
Winner (1981) | | | Oscar, Bill Varney, et. al., Best Sound | |
Nominee (1981) | | | Oscar, Norman Reynolds, et. al., Best Art Direction-Set Decoration | | | Oscar, John Williams, Best Music, Original Score | |
Winner (1981) | | | Oscar, Brian Johnson, et. al., Special Achievement Award for Visual Effects | | | People's Choice, Star Wars: Episode V , Favorite Motion Picture |
| Memorable Quotes| "Beware of the Dark Side."----Yoda (Frank Oz) to Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) | | "The Force is with you, but you are not yet a Jedi Knight."----Darth Vader (played by David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) to Luke |
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| | Professional Reviews | Variety
"...From the first burst of John Williams' powerful score and the receding opening title crawl, we are back in pleasant surroundings..." 05/14/1980New York Times
"...As polished and technically proficient as [STAR WARS]....Ford's Han Solo steals the show..." 05/21/1980 p.C25 Entertainment Weekly
"...The storytelling is the series' best....The boffo action sequences are more gracefully integrated into the whole than they are in STAR WARS..." -- Rating: A 03/07/1997 p.47 Chicago Sun-Times
"...THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is the best of the three Star Wars films, and the most thought-provoking....This one plunges into darkness and even despair, and surrenders more completely to the underlying mystery of the story..." 02/21/1997 p.35 The DVD Report 10 of 10
"No personal film library can possibly be complete without the greatest trilogy in cinema history (sorry Lord of the Rings fans, but Star Wars is the true king). The complete DVD trilogy offers the three original episodes (which are really episodes four, five, and six) with even more changes made by creator George Lucas for the DVD release...Without a doubt, Star Wars is the defining movie series of its generation, spawning entirely new industries to sell its merchandise and quench the desires of its loyal fans for more of anything whatsoever that's Star Wars related..." - Britt Gillette
DVD Town 10 of 10
By now everyone knows Lucas's inspirations for "Star Wars." Besides the adventure serials he so loved so well, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and the like, Lucas acknowledged the influence of mythologist and mythographer Joseph Campbell, which also helps explains why the plot and characters in "Star Wars" seem so familiar...Not to forget John Dykstra's special effects; the production department's still-amazing miniatures, modelled after the pioneering work in "2001"; John Williams' epic soundtrack music; Gilbert Taylor's sweeping cinematography; and the work of a legion of filmmakers and crafts people who brought it all to life. - John J. Puccio, Yunda Eddie Feng
DVD Town 10 of 10
"By now everyone knows Lucas's inspirations for ""Star Wars."" Besides the adventure serials he so loved so well, Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and the like, Lucas acknowledged the influence of mythologist and mythographer Joseph Campbell, which also helps explains why the plot and characters in ""Star Wars"" seem so familiar...Not to forget John Dykstra's special effects; the production department's still-amazing miniatures, modelled after the pioneering work in ""2001""; John Williams' epic soundtrack music; Gilbert Taylor's sweeping cinematography; and the work of a legion of filmmakers and crafts people who brought it all to life." - "John J. Puccio, Yunda Eddie Feng"
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