tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post8404425781225097036..comments2024-03-29T04:57:26.162-04:00Comments on John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on Cult Movies and Classic TV: Star Wars Week: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)John Kenneth Muirhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15629979615332893780noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-87353942083165335782015-12-17T00:17:16.006-05:002015-12-17T00:17:16.006-05:00One of the things I love about Empire Strikes back...One of the things I love about Empire Strikes back are the visuals. Cloud City is especially intriguing. The approach to cloud city is at sunset with oranges and reds filling the screen. Even the Cloud Cars the accompany the Falcon are orange. It is not a color scheme we had seen in the series, and is a stark contrast to the whites, blacks, grey and greens earlier in the film. It hints at fire and blood - some kind of disturbing change.<br /><br />Later we see Cloud City in whites and blues. It presents itself as a safe haven and one that is above suspicion. We see it in this fashion when Han and Luke feel they are doing some good.<br /><br />But always underneath the reds and oranges lurk. And when the betrayal of Han kicks in they come back (with the shadows and blacks). Luke and Vader literally face each other in a visual Hell of smoke and a red floor (mimicking the battle on the lava world in Sith). <br /><br />I really admire what they did with Bespin from a visual standpoint and it remains a highlight for me.Roman J. Martelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09545497713474664555noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12380553.post-53202714254360962052015-12-15T12:09:56.291-05:002015-12-15T12:09:56.291-05:00I love the little moments inside this epic movie:
...I love the little moments inside this epic movie:<br /><br />- Luke's "I know what you mean" reaction to his gunner Dak's enthusiasm -- Hamill wears the face of a man who has been at war a long time and remembers being that excited about combat.<br /><br />- Leia's heartbroken expression as Slave I flies away, carrying the man she loves.<br /><br />- Han's swaggering "Who, me?" look when Lando accuses him of being a swindler.<br /><br />- Chewbacca's mournful howl as the Echo Base doors close, trapping Han and Luke out in the storm.<br /><br />- Threepio's "shoo! shoo!" moment when the mynocks swarm the Falcon.<br /><br />- Artoo standing on his "toes" to look inside Yoda's hut.<br /><br />- Darth Vader watching the Falcon escape into hyperspace, then wordlessly walking off the bridge.<br /><br />Star Wars will always be my favorite movie, but I can't deny Empire is an improvement. It's the difference between a raw, talented garage band and a slick, professional rock band.Monchttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14132341373842481242noreply@blogger.com