THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK | *HARMY'S DESPECIALIZED EDITION* | FIRST TIME WATCHING!

[@jeanabradbury3766]

When Boba Fett said, "As You wish." What he meant was "I Love You."

[@PaulWaldoff]

You just won the internet.

[@garycollins3379]

Farmboy? Is that you?

[@piratetv1]

Lol

[@gloriebluestein9721]

😅

[@yankeerepairs]

It would take a miracle . . . Have fun storming the Empire !

[@bartsensei1]

When you found out that Vader was waiting for Luke, you shouted, "It's a trap!" You may or may not know yet why that is hilarious.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I don't think I know lol (yet?)

[@wonderfulwookiee6443]

@@ShanelleRiccio it's a great line in the next film... Even though you did hear Leia scream "LUKE ITS A TRAP!!" in this one.

[@JCBug555]

@@wonderfulwookiee6443 Wow, way to spoil it for her. Just because she already knew the big one, you don't have to spoil all the little cool lines. What Bart was doing was teasing it with subtlety. You said it outright. Not cool.

[@Yggdrasil42]

@@wonderfulwookiee6443 I'd expect someone named WookieWarrior to be cleverer at not spoiling Star Wars. 😔

[@mezlabor]

@@ShanelleRiccio you will, you will

[@commander515]

"I like Star Wars now? Who am I?" 'One of us...one of us...' 😃

[@Theomite]

She one of us...now.

[@skits_3d824]

One of us!!!

[@gdiaz8827]

Welcome young padawan

[@gdiaz8827]

Welcome young padawan

[@gdiaz8827]

Welcome young padawan

[@iSmartMan1]

My favorite bit of trivia about this film is how far they went to keep Vader being Luke's father a secret. The script actually had the line "Obi-wan killed your father", and only about a dozen people knew the truth during the film's production. Mark Hamill learned about the fake line about 15 minutes before they filmed his reaction.

[@RivalFarmGang1]

I always appreciated how the "I am your father" line still has impact, even for people who already knew the spoiler beforehand. Context is a helluva drug.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

the context is EVERYTHING. I love seeing everything up until that point

[@UTU49]

@@ShanelleRiccio It's DEEPLY upsetting for Luke... and we see it. It has impact even when you've seen it 100 times. I haven't the foggiest idea how many times I've seen Star Wars. Probably way over 30 times. Lots of people have watched more times than that.

[@coreymoore1443]

Yes. It’s not just a paternity reveal like on Maury; it’s the fact that Luke’s two major narrative arcs hit rock bottom at the same time: he lost the fight intended to avenge his father’s death, and he has to abandon his goal to be like his father.

[@billolsen4360]

I recommend that you don't quote it without James Earl Jones' "Noooo." 🤔

[@johnsperry9494]

Most people still mis-quote the line as, "Luke, I am your father," which is totally incorrect.

[@ceramicholiness]

It's so easy to feel cynical about Star Wars today. But, my god, does revisiting this movie (and watching someone experience it for the first time like this) remind me why I love this story so much.

[@Mr.Batsu12]

I totally agree. Star Wars (the IP) is dead to me. I don't give a flying F*CK about what happens to Star Wars now but just watching this reaction to the original gave me some of the same shivers of joy I had when I saw this opening week when I was 11 years old. Disney Star Wars can burn in hell as far as I'm concerned, it's $4.05 Billion of garbage.

[@christoffesedao3579]

I never feel cynical about Star Wars. Because today’s Star Wars is not Star Wars.

[@RedCaio]

I feel the same excited Star Wars feeling watching Empire Strikes Back or The Rise of Skywalker!

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

@@Mr.Batsu12 You've obviously never seen The Mandolarian (sp) series. It's every bit as good as the original three. Watch it, you'll be pleasantly surprised.

[@Mr.Batsu12]

@@user-sw4qd2up2s Actually, I've seen season 1. I didn't like it. Episode 1 felt like it had promise but the writing fell off a cliff right away. If you like it that's good for you.

[@netrider5]

I went to the original run in theaters and when Vader revealed that he was Luke's father tha gasps from the audience was so loud you barely heard the next line.

[@reesebn38]

Then we had to wait 3 years to see if it was true.

[@josephmckinney9660]

And also wait three years to find out what happened to Han.

[@susanmaggiora4800]

TommyJ. I was 12 that summer. For the next three years, I don’t think a week went by where some kid hadn’t read something in a magazine or heard something from ‘his brother’ that it was either true of false. I remember it being a major topic of conversation that first summer & especially when school started back up.

[@jeffburnham6611]

Imagine if when Luke ignited the lightsaber when he faced off with Vader, that Vader would've said, "Where did you get that? That belonged to me when I was a Jedi".

[@reesebn38]

@@josephmckinney9660 That was my biggest concern since I was a super Harrison Ford fan! But I had Raiders and Blade Runner to hold me over until Jedi.

[@papa_xan]

So as someone who saw this in the theaters in 1980 when I was 9, and also the first one when it came out, I was so blown away with it that I don't think I can accurately describe how it changed my childhood. For kids at that time, this was everything for us, and it was also quite torturous to have to wait two years for the next movie to come out. My mom took me to see those movies dozens of times each, and it wasn't until decades later that she admitted to me that she never even liked them, but she did it because I did. Moms rule!

[@billolsen4360]

You had a stellar mom!

[@brom00]

I just remember I bummed I was as a kid when it was released. THAT'S HOW IT ENDS! The years waiting for Return of the Jedi was torture. :-)

[@mem1701movies]

YES. Me too. Then ROTJ was a letdown. Plus the drug store had the comic early and I couldn’t help myself. The first movie will always be my favorite.

[@liljenborg2517]

Everyone always calls Empire the "best" film of the series. I never liked it for exactly that reason. I was all, "THAT'S how it ends? That's not an ending!!"

[@MysterClark]

That's actually part of the reason I DID like it. It's an ongoing war so why should it be wrapped up nicely by the end of this movie? I've seen many people watching Star Wars for the first time think that the ENTIRE Empire was destroyed after the first Death Star was blown up. Probably partly because they had a nice little celebration at the end and gave out medals. For all they knew a fleet of Star Destroyers were about to hit Yavin IV and they're all standing around clapping instead of evacuating. They corrected that sort of attitude on Hoth in this movie. Not only was this ending a downer but it doesn't even pretend like there isn't going to be another one coming. It got me really excited for the next one. I'm just young enough that I missed seeing most of these in the theater (I saw ROTJ but I was apparently only 11 months old). I can't imagine the wait between those two movies. Even the prequels and sequels didn't seem to have that kind of cliffhanger. I did see the special editions in the theater though so I was happy about that.

[@brom00]

@@MysterClark at the very least it would have been nice if they were headed somewhere and said so. Not just sating out of the hospital ship heading nowhere in particular.

[@MysterClark]

@@brom00 Well, Lando said they were going after Han and "that bounty hunter" so we knew generally what they were doing. Earlier in the film it said that Boba would be taking Han to Jabba the Hutt. With the original Jabba scene left on the cutting room floor we didn't know it'd be Tatooine but I think they gave a fairly good clue on what they were doing. The rebels probably didn't know where they were going after this. Even in ROTJ they don't seem to have another secret base. They just stay in their ships. So I guess they never went much of anywhere. Just wandered.

[@eastmanwebb5477]

"I didn’t know Lord Vader had a Master." There’s always a bigger fish.

[@elizabeths50]

everybody serves someone.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

"I cast Summon Bigger Fish"

[@DGeass92]

Ahhh.... I hope she reacts to that too ;)

[@charlesmills8712]

One of my favorite single frame cartoons was one of a small fish, followed by a larger fish with an open mouth full of teeth, followed by an even larger one, and another. The last large fish is followed by a school of the same type of fish all with their mouths open but small and matching the first fish.

[@szeltovivarsydroxan9944]

But even in the first movie he had a boss, Tarkin.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

Leia jabs at Han constantly. It's not just lengthy tirades such as “stuck-up, half-witted, scruffy-looking nerf herder”. She digs where it hurts. She reminds him that he's not at her status level, calling him "scoundrel", or "flyboy", and generally telling him he's lower than her, or somehow not a good person. That's why Han acknowledges her status in a snarky way, calling her "your worshipfulness", and "highness". He knows she loves him, but that she won't allow herself to look at someone with such low status as a potential mate. Because of this, when she FINALLY admits her feelings... all he has to say is "I know". That says it all. That tells her that he's known it all along and she KNOWS he felt the same way.

[@Caseytify]

One historian has quoted Leigh Bracket went for a Tracy/Hepburn dynamic between Han & Lea. I first saw this in a theater during the first run. Watching the AT-ATs come at you was terrifying. In fact all of the Hoth scenes were stunning in theater. Small quibble: real asteroid fields are nothing like you see in movies. The density is quite relative. 99% of the field is empty space.

[@Mr.Ekshin]

@@Caseytify - Yup... and most of the asteroids would all be moving in the same direction. If they were all flying around in random directions, the asteroid field would disperse within a matter of days.

[@RideAcrossTheRiver]

Seems like 1980 predicted today's dynamic

[@alcockell]

Or the family guy take. "I love you" "Fuck off"

[@sparky6086]

The exchange, "I love you" ... "I know" knowingly or unknowingly comes from "Casablanca". Victor Lazlo (Paul Henreid) tells Ilsa Lund (Ingrid Bergman), "I love you" and she responds, "I know", so the genders were reversed in "Star Wars".

[@pebblesanddirt]

I was 5 years old and my grandfather took me to see this movie in the theater when it came out. When Vader makes the big reveal, grown adults were screaming at the screen “HE’S LYING!!”

[@billolsen4360]

They needed to search their feelings. They'd KNOW it to be TRUE!

[@benjaminroe311ify]

It was the first Schism in the franchise... A whole group of fans revolted and left the fandom over that story twist. Of course for most.... it was just epic and mind blowing. The next big schism would come with Ewoks... Then Special Edition haters...then Jar Jar and Midichlorian haters and it goes on and on. It's a such a credit to the first couple movies and the strength of the character drawing and story that people got SO UPSET when the tone of the franchise shifted here or there.

[@jameyhej3]

What temperature is it inside a tauntaun? . . . . Lukewarm!

[@Perktube1]

Clever. Hadn't heard that before.

[@Johnadams20760]

jamey. lmfao

[@capowable]

😱That’s so good. Have I been living under a rock this whole time? 😅

[@dontbstingy3587]

What did the bounty hunter name his dog? Boba Fetch!

[@erictaylor5462]

That joke was funny when I was 10. I'm 51 now. Do the math to find out what year I was 10.

[@joshjames582]

I love that you're totally honest about what you already know instead of pretending to be shocked at certain moments. That's low-hanging fruit a lot of reactors lean into but you're transparent and I appreciate that. Nice job on watching the despecialized editions, too.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

But the updated ones are better in so many ways AND GL real visions of the films.

[@curtinparloe]

It still blows me away that the whole of Dagobah was a studio set, and it was built on a raised platform to fit the puppeteers underneath.

[@themidianite1645]

"No time to discuss this with the committee!" "I am not a committee!" My favorite line from the entire series.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

I remember this film opened the day after Thanksgiving, and my dad took me to see it that day! Just out of nowhere, he said, get dressed, & get out to the car. I was like, huh? Where are we going? To the movies. The new Star Wars one. I went nuts! I was 9 years old.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

unreal. Also side note i LOVE a thanksgiving/Christmas Day movie. Feels so special

[@mem1701movies]

It opened in May.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

@@mem1701movies Huh. Maybe I misremember the opening day.

[@MeanMrMustard1]

It's possible it re-opened before Thanksgiving. It's also possible your local theater decided to show it that day.

[@bobbydigenova9070]

@@ShanelleRiccio You MUST watch the Christmas special. So bad it’s bad.

[@lewstone5430]

Shanelle, thank you for the despecialized version. It’s hands down the best!

[@sgtjohnson]

Fun fact: a reason why they chose to have the first major battle in this one on an ice planet is because some critics said “the Death Star battle from Star Wars was on a black background so you could hide any errors” So they had an all white background and the special effects team really stepped up their game.

[@mem1701movies]

I never liked the see through cockpit though.

Your claim doesn't make sense. They simply can't do such a space battles in a row because it causes fatigue on the audience. Same reason Return Of The Jedi then turn the battle scene to a forest.

[@dannybrase1253]

Those were some dumb critics if that's true. What background color did they expect in a movie called "Star Wars?" "If you were real special effects pros you would have made space magenta!"

[@ShanelleRiccio]

yes I read this! George Lucas didn't want to ever take the easy route I guess haha

[@sgtjohnson]

@@mem1701movies I did. It gave a 1st person perspective of the battle

[@GrumpyOldGuyPlaysGames]

I saw all three in theaters. I was, in fact, the first ticket sold in all of Orlando, Florida for "The Empire Strikes Back," having stood in line for 18 hours to do so.

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

Heh, as much as I love some movies and can understand excitement for a _lot_ of things, I just don't get people standing in line for so many hours for _anything..._ It also appears to be very much a US American thing for some reason, I've never heard of anyone practically camping out "in line" for anything here in Germany (or Europe in general), not movies, not some new Apple thingy, .... Not so sure about Asia though...

[@lendondain1]

Shanelle: "Harrison does a great, great, great son of a bitch character." Me: "Character?"

[@ShanelleRiccio]

LOL

[@whiterabbit75]

Harrison Ford just walked on the set, and they started filming him in secret. No acting involved.

[@gdiaz8827]

@@whiterabbit75 I heard he is actually a nice guy willing to take pictures with fans

[@whiterabbit75]

@@gdiaz8827 I heard that, too. We need to have more nice actors out there having positive interactions with fans.

[@Sinvare]

He didn't like the roles he was getting so he became a carpenter to support his then wife and 2 kids. He got introduced to Lucas, played a part in a couple of his films, was hired to rebuild part of his office and then got this role. He was originally hired to read lines to actors auditioning but his readings won over Lucas and got cast as Han.

[@ScooterBond1970]

You seemed to be looking for a meaning in the "Luke's face in Vader's helmet" scene, so here it is. It's never spelled out in any of the movies, but it actually indicates the path to the Dark Side and shows what Luke could become if he were to follow that path. There's probably a bunch of other potential interpretations as well but that's the generally accepted "official" meaning.

[@davidmcleod5133]

To build on what you said, I’d point out to that Luke is the first to ignite his lightsaber and take a swing at Vader, just MINUTES after Yoda tells him “a Jedi uses the Force for knowledge and defense, never for attack.” (Now, there’s a WHOLE loooooong discussion that could be had over the fact Obi Wan Kenobi was often the first to ignite his throughout the prequels, and what that says about him….)

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

That's the logical conclusion.

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

@@davidmcleod5133 That is curious but Jedis are warriors, they fight. They fight in the name of Good.

[@jabecker21]

Also, before entering the tree Yoda tells Luke not to bring his weapons. When Luke asks what’s in there Yoda says “only what you bring with you”. Luke brings his weapons. When you go into the tree with aggression you find aggression.

[@billolsen4360]

Let's face it, pun intended! It was Luke's HEAD in Vader's helmet

[@cammybaby01]

According to my family, though I dont remember it, in 1980, when I was 3 years old, my parents went out to eat leaving my 11 year old brother as babysitter (the 80's, am I right?) When he wanted to se this movie. So he risked getting grounded, loaded me into a stroller and walked to the theater. I dont know if its true, but if it is, this was the first movie I ever saw in a theater.

[@antoinettelopes]

Your brother raised you right. 😊

[@elzar760]

Hey, same age!

[@mena94x3]

The 80’s were the best. I started babysitting at the age of 10, usually something simple at that age, holding a neighbor’s baby while she went to the store, but was watching a couple kids for a few hours at night by the age of 12 and all day by the age of 13. I wouldn’t dream of hiring a kid that young to watch my kids these days! 😂😂 I think we were more mature and self-sufficient then. Too much technology and ease of life these days produce soft kids incapable of basic stuff.

[@chrismcelligott5462]

The first movie I saw I was 3 and it was Star Wars. Still remember being terrified of Vader.

[@robiking011]

It's kind of hard to wrap my mind on the fact that there was a time when these original 3 Star Wars movies were brand new and had just come out and were in theaters. I can only image someone saying ''Hey, The Empire Strikes Back just came out! Let's go see it this weekend!''. The original 3 Star Wars movies are the best. They're better than the garbage sequel trilogy that we just had these past 5 years.

[@bekindandrewind1422]

23:25 -- In the books, only a Jedi could use a lightsaber .. It's energy comes from The Force through the user.. --- That's why those of us who read the books were blown away when Han used it to cut open the Taun Taun... -- It's kind of a call back to the first movie.. Why Ben gives a knowing smile when Han says "There's no mystical energy field that controls my destiny." -- Ben KNEW that Han had a touch of the force. Even if Han didn't know it himself.. THAT is what made him an amazing pilot and lucky rogue.

[@Phantoon]

That was great. There's something really special in seeing someone getting excited at exactly the same bits you did. The Star Wars trilogy has aged more gracefully than pretty much every special effect heavy films of this era, partly because the people who did the special effects were geniuses, but most importantly because the characters are the most important bit of the film. The special effects, while incredible, are there to service the plot. It says a lot that in an era where many films are aping Star Wars so hard that there's still room for the real thing.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

thanks! I really enjoyed this one A TON

[@MeanMrMustard1]

@@ShanelleRiccio When you finish the OT, you should watch some of the many "making of" documentaries. They might help you appreciate the special effects and the battles more. "Empire of Dreams" is a good one. But there's the original "Making of Star Wars" and then the later one "From Star Wars to Jedi". I'd recommend those as well.

[@shaun374]

Yes. And then you get the other crappy 6 movies that are exactly the opposite, plus a few horrible spin-off movies all about special effects over everything.

[@MeanMrMustard1]

@@shaun374 You represent about .00001% of the fandom. Go worship your OT VHS tapes and let the rest of us enjoy what we want.

[@UTU49]

@@MeanMrMustard1 I was frustrated with the flaws of some of the Star Wars movies, but no one can know what anyone else will think of them. The only way for someone to find out whether they like something is to watch it themselves.

[@JasonDabrowski]

Interesting tidbit. Mark Hamill (Luke) got into a car accident between filming ep 4 and this one, and had facial injuries. That's part of why they had the snow creature attack him; to help hide his real scars.

[@nathanhittle9457]

There's a great line Luke says to R2 when he gets spit out of the swamp -- "You must not taste very good!" -- that Lucas cut for the specialized edition and each time I see it I get so mad. It's such a cute line!

[@stevenalexander6713]

That is a good line. I also don't like that they changed Vader's line "Bring my shuttle" to "Alert my star destroyer to prepare for my arrival."

[@billleonard9930]

From what I understand and have read, when they went back to do the Special Editions back in 1997, some of the original sound mix was so badly deteriorated from the original prints that they had to use an alternate sound take. Unfortunately, in this case, that meant changing the line.

[@billleonard9930]

This was changed because in the Special Edition, they added a few seconds of footage of Vader boarding his shuttle and then the shuttle flying towards the Star Destroyer. It helps explain how Vader got from Bespin onto his Star Destroyer so quickly. You can see that here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rJCtp4OlatuAes0 Necessary? Probably not, but with the added footage, it makes sense to change the line.

[@sixstanger00]

In the SE, the line is changed to "You were lucky to get out of there!"

[@erikawilliams9558]

So i didn't imagine that line?

[@ceetee2001]

THANK YOU for watching the ORIGINAL version!

[@darrellyoung7662]

Hoth was actually Norway. The "rebel soldiers" in the trenches were actually borrowed from the Norwegian Army so they would react like actual soldiers in battle as all the explosions were hitting around them.

[@rybock]

Also, the shot of Luke stumbling in the snow after escaping the Wampa was in the driveway of the hotel... there was a rough blizzard going on so they couldn't shoot... but figured they could set the camera in the doorway and have Mark Hamill go out and do that shot. All the crew stayed warm inside.

[@CaptainFrost32]

So, you are saying... Look for the hammer? :)

[@treadstone1138]

Yep, it was in Finse.

[@jiga6832]

@@rybock not that's just cold hearted thing to do 😂😂😂😂

[@Falcun21]

@@jiga6832 Harrison had to ride in the ENGINE COMPARTMENT of a snow crawler to get to the shooting location on his first day.

[@hettbeans]

This has honestly been my favorite movie of all time for like 29 years running. When Yoda tries to explain the Force to Luke and then lifts the X-Wing is just a magical scene. Incredible.

[@Rmlohner]

Mark Hamill's face was severely injured in a car accident shortly before filming started, and the opening scene with the wampa was luckily already written and provided the perfect excuse for why he's so bruised.

[@Perktube1]

Was it Corvette Summer?

[@stevep2380]

@ryan....other way around brother. They added that scene into the movie because of Mark's face.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

@@Perktube1 I remember that movie! It was the plot of Pee Wee' Big Adventure, only without the fun.

[@MeanMrMustard1]

@@stevep2380 Ryan might be right. The first draft for ESB is online somewhere and I do believe the Wampa scene is in it, but it's possible it wasn't scripted to slap Luke across the face. Maybe that was added to address Mark's scars.

[@Tijuanabill]

Yeah, there was originally a whole wampa horror film subplot, with them deicing them everywhere on accident at the base.

[@tric5122]

Imagine that scene when it first came out, and you really had no idea who or what Yoda was. It was just Luke talking to some muppett, literally and figuratively. The dream scene made me jump when Luke's face was in the darth vader mask. I honestly never thought about the fact that there are probably 2 generations worth of people that don't know where "Do or do not..." comes from, and why it was so iconic. Billy Dee Williams lended A TON of credibility to the Star Wars franchise by playing Lando, dude was a legit movie star at that time. Well made, thought out and acted characters can make a regular plot great. Lucas just did remade the old epic's, but put them in space to obfuscate the obvious. The characters are very well done and acted so you stop caring that you seen/read this plot before. All of them create strong emotions from you for them.

[@Miguel8Moreta]

"Can anyone use a lightsaber?" Yes. Han Solo is shown using a lightsaber on a Tauntaun in the beginning of the film.

[@CraigKostelecky]

Are you implying Han Solo is just “anyone”?

[@ComeOnIsSuchAJoy]

There's a big difference between fighting with one vs. merely using one once for a mundane, practical purpose.

[@Miguel8Moreta]

No insult to Han Solo, but if, in this instance, "anyone" refers to "non-force users". Then, yes, he qualifies. In regards to lightsaber usage, I was under the impression that the operation of a lightsaber in any capacity is what was in question. Please correct me if I was in error.

[@Blazeor2]

@@landenayotte There are lightsabers in the "old" times, where the on/off button was on the inside of the hilt, so only force-users can ignite them with there telekinese, but not in the canon actually .

[@pfeilspitze]

@@landenayotte I think you'll find more who care about the old canon than the sequel trilogy...

[@mariselaorta1981]

Trivia: the shot in the cave when Vader's helmet explodes to reveal Luke's face. Mark Hamil had to actually shoot that shot, his body is hidden (obviously), but he had to hold still and not blink despite the smoke since they couldn't make a realistic looking head for the shot.

[@CraigKostelecky]

I don't have anything specific to add, but this was a pure joy to witness through your eyes. Thank you.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

YAY

[@alexsclewis]

great reactor doing despecialized version; it's perfection. thanks Shanelle

[@carriesmith742]

Most polls with favorite from the trilogy and this one in particular is usually ranked #1. I saw it in the theater when I was only 6 and cried when Luke got his hand cut off. :)

[@pyrite13]

One of my favorite writing choices is how they pick up the relationship between Han and Leia at the start. You get the clear impression that it has developed and there is tension. But they don't feel the need to stop the main story and recap it for us. You get the idea right away so we can move on.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I find that's true of everything in star wars! They never bother to name creatures, don't give the Emperor's name, they did't even name Boba Fett for me! They just trust their audiences to be smart, it's pretty cool that they don't feel the need to baby us

[@spiderfingers86]

When Mark Hamill was told the secret about Vader he was sworn to secrecy that nobody could know

[@jjfragglerock5020]

I love that you love the quiet, smaller scenes - as a life long SW fan, I do too! I think my fav is the 'lifting the X-Wing out of the water' and the Yoda reveal in his little hut. There's real movie magic happening there, and while yes that's also true for the big battles.... it's the more intimate moments that resonate imo.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

yes! Those smaller moments blow the battles out of the water. Pun intended.

[@DC_Prox]

You've gotta check out the song "Yoda" by Weird Al. He wrote it when the movie was still new and it's still a fan favourite.

[@Wolf-ln1ml]

I'd add "The Saga Begins" before watching Episode I, but I guess I'm a _liiiittle_ bit late for that ;D

[@mathfridge]

Some amazing trivia about this movie, prior to release in the theaters there were only four people who knew the I am your father moment, George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Mark Hamil and James Earl Jones who did Vader's voice. James Earl Jones thought Vader was lying when he said it. Even David Prowse who did the live performance in the Vader costume through the three movie was given a "FAKE SPOILER" line that he gave when it was filmed that Obi Wan murdered Luke's father instead. Mark Hamil was told in confidence what the real lines were going to be. No one else knew until the premier. Mark Hamil has talked about how hard it was to keep the secret for so long and how shocked Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford were in the theater! :)

[@mccpcorn2000]

I remember interviews from the documentary on this. I think Irvin and George took Mark to one side and said something along the lines of "David Prowse is going to say this, but you need to react to what we're going to tell us. You're only the third person to be told this, so if it gets out, we'll know exactly where it came from!" XD

[@texasdustfart]

Yes I had heard this as well, James Earl Jones allegedly stopped the session when he read this and said "NO! this can't be true, he's lying".

[@glenncabacungan9269]

Wouldn’t John Williams have known the big secret too? He would have to know in order to come up with the right music cue for that moment (which obviously was a variation of the new Galactic Empire theme).

[@mccpcorn2000]

Williams may well have been informed as he was doing the musical score, but this incident was during filming and the scoring came later. That said, the dialogue lends itself to a dramatic score without revealing the true content of the lines, or Lucas may have just told him to up the ante at that specific point in the film.

[@THOMMGB]

I would think the recording engineer would know this secret as well. I have no idea. Maybe the audio levels were set and the tape recorder was turned on and the sound recording engineer left the control room? Again, I have no idea.

[@erictaylor5462]

That beginning with "A long time ago..." and then the start of the theme with the "Star Wars" logo was *SO* freaking exciting when I was 10, in 1980. It is a *LONG* time waiting form 7 to 10 when you are that age. 3 years doesn't seem long as a grown up, but when you are a little kid, it is a really long time.

[@kb9whf]

It is exciting even today. Part of what makes Star Wars one of the greatest Trilogies of all time.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

I gather that anyone can activate and use a lightsaber -- well, we saw Han do it on Hoth to open up the Taun Taun pinata. But they are tricky & very dangerous, not to mention quite rare. I believe an important step in Jedi training is to design and build your own lightsaber.

[@poolhall9632]

You need the force to not cut your damn arm off...

[@susanmaggiora4800]

Pool Hall lol, exactly

[@CaptainFrost32]

@@poolhall9632 The lightsabers are more dangerous than band saws, and we had no problem sending teenagers to wood shop without a worry.

[@poolhall9632]

There’s also a little bit of Canon concerning the actual Khyber crystal inside the light saber and how the force user has to communicate or imbue their power into the Crystal. Edit: this is why the Darkside force users tend to have red light sabers - Khyber crystals are not naturally light or dark side - The force user has to bend the Crystal to their will - in the case of the dark side, the Crystal is actually “bleeding”, which is why it has a red saber color.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

@@CaptainFrost32 Bah, nobody cares if little kids lose their limbs. If they did, they'd never get to have any wars at ALL!

[@williamjones6031]

1. In 1980 we had no idea who Yoda was. It was a real trip. 2. "Laugh it up fuzzball" I almost lost my soda. 3. Nice cockblock C3PO (not). 4. IRL Ford and Fisher were having an affair. She was young and only 19 and he was older, married and had kids at the time. He gave the ok to put it in her biography before she died. 5. Solo's, "I know" was adlib by Ford because he thought it's something Solo's character would say. They had to change dialog in the next film because of it.

[@FreakDaMIghet]

Lucas didn't direct this one because he was going through a stressful period in his life. Instead, he asked his old college professor Irving Kirshner to direct it.

[@juliusperseus8612]

And there you go with the Best Star Wars !

[@danielgarza8219]

...and then Kersh went waayyyy over budget and George ended up being on set every day anyways.

[@Mokkari77]

@@danielgarza8219 I think it was worth it. The Yoda scenes needed to take a lot of time to make him look right on screen. George would have given up after a few days and try to make it work in editing like Artoo in the first movie.

[@Mokkari77]

The first movie was so difficult to direct that Lucas gave up directing and decided to just produce the next movie.

[@dBro4769]

"I don't care about space battles" Fighting words if I've ever heard them.

[@shugaroony]

Especially when its a space opera we are watching! :D

[@wellfit1511]

They mention the rendezvous point, that is where the rebel ships gather after the battle on Hoth and is where they left them at the end. This is the best film

[@GalacticAbsurdity]

15:02 - The Cave of "Hope and Fear", a way represent what we fear to become. Luke is afraid he will betray his friends, that he will essentially become what Vader represents, evil! He meets his fear and sees him self in it. Something we all have to do to evolve and grow.

[@dabe1971]

Remember the feeling you had at *the* reveal and then imagine the 9 year old me, hooked on Star Wars since that opening Star Destroyer shot in ‘77, taken to the UK Premiere in Leicester Square by my Dad, hearing it after no gossip, no internet reveals, no idea it was coming. Life changing. Empire is the better piece of film making but Star Wars will always be the favourite of my inner child.

[@ChrisMaxfieldActs]

34:57 "Go-motion" was stop motion animation, but with motors in the puppets, or having the puppet on a movable track, so instead of taking a static shot for each frame, there is natural motion blur during the actual shot of each frame. That was used for the Tauntauns, mostly, and for the walkers for some big shots. It was also used extensively in the mine car chase in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.

[@toecutterjenkins]

The star destroyers were models too with literally tens of thousands of fiber optics run through them to have all the tiny lights to give the illusion of how big they are.

[@jamesgardner2101]

BIG models. Really neat to see one up close, but when you think "model" it doesn't really prepare you for something almost the size of a small airplane.

[@CikosDarkPassenger]

That's so cool you reacted to the Despecialized versions. That's the only proper way to see these movies, especially for a first time viewer. I'm impressed you went to the effort to track down the despecialized versions instead of just grabbing it off of a streaming service.

[@Inspadave]

" tHAt's tHe ONlY PrOPeR way tO seE thESE MoVIES" Why do people go on like this? It is almost like some kind of fanboy virtue signaling.

[@nydabeats]

Mean or not, I highly doubt you'd be able to resist the charm of Han Solo... Dudes a galactic stud!

[@nathanhittle9457]

Young Harrison Ford could treat me like dog shit on a shoe and I'd still do anything for him.

[@NightmareSWGOH]

@@nathanhittle9457 Thats gay

[@nathanhittle9457]

@@NightmareSWGOH Amazing observation!!! Have you considered a career in detective work? 🤔

[@ShanelleRiccio]

@@nathanhittle9457 I find myself reallllllllly into Harrison Ford in this and i hate it because he really is acting like an ass

[@joehoy9242]

@@ShanelleRiccio - Harrison Ford has had to be talked into reprising the role more than once, apparently because he considers the character somewhat one-dimensional. It's interesting to contrast his position when it comes to reprising playing Indiana Jones - he's always jumped at the opportunity...

[@BlueIcyRose]

I know this is a bit implied with the trivia that says they weren't sure if Harrison Ford would return for the third movie so this is a bit of an expansion on that, I suppose, but he's actually the only one of the three leads in the original trilogy that appeared in all three films but never signed a contract. I love that you're reacting to these films and that you're enjoying them so much. Can't wait for the next one!

[@RMBittner]

I saw this one on opening day at the Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, IL. I recall that the line through the parking lot was several blocks long. As soon as the final credits rolled, my friends and I all looked at each other and stayed in our seats. We ending up staying for the next showing. What really amazed me-and I’ve never experienced it in any other sequel I’ve seen-was that when each of the main characters first appeared on screen, the entire, packed theater erupted in applause and cheers.

[@gawainethefirst]

You can tell the moment Vader stops playing with Luke. He switches to a two handed grip.

[@adamthephotographer]

Again, I gotta give it to you for watching the original versions

[@George_Washington_1776]

I will admit that a good change of the special editions is that they replaced Clive Revill as the Emperor with Ian McDiarmid who plays him in the other films. Also it’s a huge visual upgrade.

[@rotationalshorts9104]

And Cloud city being more open

[@user-sw4qd2up2s]

They are just superior, and the way you should watch them as they were "fixed" by JL to fit his original vision of the films. You're missing out by not watching those versions.

[@FamilyGuyRoks6]

@@user-sw4qd2up2s thats subjective... certain "fixes" such as the change from Vader saying "Bring My Shuttle" after the battle with luke, showing clear frustration for the first time in the film to "Alert my star destroyer, to prepare for my arrival" completely takes away the heft of the scene and the line...

[@TerribleEnglish]

​@@user-sw4qd2up2s Although the effects are better, the most talked about changes in the Special Edition are the negative ones: the silly Jabba scene in ep 4, the stupid beak in the sarlac pit, etc.

[@Biggiiful]

@user-sw4qd2up2s. That's a terrible take. Some of the changes are great, and some are terrible. Some are absolutely NOT what Lucas "originally" had in mind, but we're instead stupid decisions he made decades later while trying to be too clever for his own good.

[@joelmayberry6771]

This one is most fans favorites in the whole series!

Return Of The Jedi is most fans favorites in the whole series! 😉

[@shugaroony]

@ Not to me - to quote Plo Koon.

[@bluebear1985]

Frank Oz pulls off the Yoda voice in this pretty well. He's known for doing that kind of thing, considering he's portrayed a few Muppets, including Miss Piggy, Animal, and Fozzie. Thank you for this one, and may the force be with you. 😀

[@stt5v2002]

That authentic smile is reaction gold. A Star Wars fan is born.

[@Enrique-Garcia]

Random trivia: when Leia tells Han she loves him, he replies "I know" because Carrie Fisher kept ruining take after take with the line "I love you" (she was having drug problems at the time). Han was supposed to reply "I love you too" but Harrison Ford was frustrated and said "I know" instead. George Lucas liked it and kept it.

[@commander515]

I was confident that she was going to like this one, it's definitely my favorite. This film was much more complex and dynamic than the first, in no small part due to the director, Irvin Kirshner (who was actually reluctant to take the job at first). He knew that the film would have to focus heavily on the characters, especially Luke. There's a lot more uncertainty and misdirection to keep people guessing, much more so than the first film. It makes the twists that much more mind-blowing when they finally come.

[@mythdusterds]

What! I had no idea that this whole time the way Luke got his light Saber was by Mark Hamill Throwing the Light Saber and just filming it in reverse. That’s news to me.

[@henninggirl261]

The alternative title could be “Everyone is very Stressed.” Han and Leia are short with each other because they can’t get the Falcon’s hyperdrive to work, thus they can’t get away from Vader. So it’s just a game of cat and mouse where Han’s luck is no match for Vader’s power and relentlessness. Luke is stressed because he’s been with the rebellion for three years and has learned valuable skills but has stalled in his Jedi training. So while he does want to train with Yoda, he’s restless because the rebels are scattered, time is of the essence and he has no idea where exactly his friends are in all this or if they even got away. Lando is stressed because he’s trying to stay out of the fight and off Vader’s radar, and protect Cloud City. He learns that that’s impossible and can only evacuate Bespin and join the fight to get Vader off his and his friends’ backs. Thus the Empire struck back. 😉

[@nickperkins8477]

I love the line “He doesn’t want you at all!! He’s after somebody called uh uh Skywalker!!”

[@terpcj]

"Go-motion" was an advance in stop motion that added in motion blur so it would look a little less stop-motion-y. As for the AT-AT: there is no consensus on pronunciation so both "at at" and A-T-A-T are considered correct and also irksome depending with whom you are speaking. As for first viewing: opening day. As a self-respecting college-age nerd (I mean, I helped put on Star Trek conventions for pete's sake) who watched the first movie during its initial run (way more than once), how could I not? I only had to stand outside in line at the mall's multiplex for an hour and a half, so not too bad. Unfortunately, one set of surround speakers in the theater didn't work right, so when Luke came to rescue his friends in the cloud city, some of the stormtrooper guns never "pew"ed. Very disconcerting.

[@jeffburnham6611]

I think most fans are more comfortable calling it an "at-at", since there is a hyphen between the two letter groups, and not each individual letter.

[@kevinpogue7294]

Go-motion kept the camera shutter open during each frame as the figure moved, giving it that realistic motion blur.

[@fragwagon]

Wasn't Go Motion first used in Jedi? (The Rancor monster). I remember the Hoth battle being all traditional stop motion.

[@procrastinator547]

@@jeffburnham6611 interesting cuz everyone person I’ve ever spoken to has said A-T-A-T. I’ve literally never heard anyone say AT-AT out loud

[@Theomite]

They call it "At-At" in ROGUE ONE.

[@SC457A]

Ahh. 25:05 moment in the theater as a young kid and hearing that line was such an amazing feeling. I really hated the thought walking out of the theater after the movie was over and thought. I have to wait YEARS for the next part!!!

[@BezoRazo]

I feel like the brilliance of that "I know" response by Han is sadly lost on a lot of people who immediately get all pissy thinking that he was just being cocky or "too cool" to say it back. But not only would it have sounded weak and been out of character for him to say "I love you too" or something equally lame, but what he's communicating with those two words says FAR more than what was originally scripted. "I know" says _"I know you love me. And I love you too. And I know we're both stubborn and uncomfortable with open expressions of our feelings and that you're only doing so now because you're afraid that these might be our final moments with each other and fear that you'll regret it for the rest of your life if were to go to my death without hearing it and knowing it... but I already know. And now you know the same. There's no need to say anything more."_

[@tinyhato]

This is a perfect explanation to a perfect line. And Harrison Ford delivers it, you guessed it, perfectly. With different inflection, or even higher or lower in his register, the meaning changes completely. His facial expression is just right as well, full of resignation to the fact that, as far as he knew, they'd never see each other again.

[@BezoRazo]

@@tinyhato Ab-so-lutely! So well said, and such an important point that I neglected to mention. His delivery--tone, facial expression, etc--makes it unequivocally clear (to me, at least) that our interpretation is correct, and that the all-too-prevalent cynical read is way off the mark.

[@beragis3]

Harrison Ford did much the same thing in the Gun vs Sword scene in Raiders of the Lost Ark. The original scene was supposed to have some elaborate whip vs sword fight between Indiana and the swordsman. Harrison Ford wasn't feeling well, and the movie was behind schedule, and kept having to stop the scene every ten minutes. He eventually just said, "Just shoot the sucker," and it was replaced with the iconic scene that was so much better.

[@juliusperseus8612]

all of people AKA weak minded "feminist"...

[@UTU49]

@@BezoRazo I like your take on what Han means by "I know".

[@FinishedGamesLLC]

I love that you are watching the original cuts. That is a rare thing these days. Good on you!

[@jasonstinebaugh8447]

This movie is a Masterpiece. Most people do love Empire the most. Yeah, Lucas wasn't long out of film school, when he made Star Wars A new hope. His only film prior was a comedy/drama based near Lucas's hometown in the Central Valley CA. It was a semi autobiographical film called American Graffiti. It was my dad's favorite film, as he spent his early childhood and adolescence there at the same time depicted in the movie. It's a great film. I highly recommend it. It stars Ron Howard, Richard Dreyfuss, and Cindy William's of Laverne and Shirley fame.

[@yankeerepairs]

An absolute classic movie ! The first 'R' rated movie I saw on cable TV,, it spawned many of the actors you mentioned, as well as the TV shows, Happy Days / Laverne&Shirley - It's also, I feel, what inspired the sneeky good recent classic 'Dazed & Confused' ... Which, in its own rite, launched many young actors, as well... Matthew Mcconaughey, Ben Affleck, Mila Jovanic etc.. Both of those, would be great movies to see on this channel. 👍👍

[@ArtamStudio]

Er, he did THX-1138 before American Graffiti.

[@jasonstinebaugh8447]

@@ArtamStudio I forgot about THX honestly.

[@PurpleColonel]

One thing these 3 movies do well is infuse a lot of the action with the emotional weight they need. I think its really what separates the space battles here from other sci fi before or since (including other star wars)

[@LanceHerod-n5d]

The "No! I am your father" line is probably the next popular misquote after Star Trek's "Beam me up Scotty" which Captain Kirk never actually said in those actual order of words.

[@hughcorrigan3265]

Play it again Sam

[@starytancerz]

Although not in the film, the line in the 1983 Radio Drama of the ESB by NPR was actually 'No Luke, I am your father', which may be the source for the misquote.

[@tk421zz]

@@starytancerz I think its more misquoted from Tommy Boy. I know a lot of people who know Tommy Boy. I don't know anyone who has heard the radio drama.

[@starytancerz]

@@tk421zz what's Tommy Boy? Have never heard of it/him.

[@tk421zz]

@@starytancerz Tommy Boy is a Chris Farley movie. He says it into a fan to sound like Vader.

[@Kainlarsen]

In answer to your question about lightsabers, technically, you *can* pick up a lightsaber, but unless you're a Jedi or very skilled in unusual weapons, you won't be able to use it properly. It generates some sort of gyroscopic effect when activated, which makes it difficult to handle.

[@oaf-77]

Thank you. Not enough people acknowledge this.

[@AddSerious]

To answer the Light Saber question, anyone can use a light saber, HOWEVER people that use the force can see things better as they are happening, like a split second before, so if someone that used the force fought someone that doesn't it would be a very short fight.

[@MysterClark]

Typically it'd be a short fight. Some are skilled fighters even without the Force.

[@cybergeek11235]

also, presumably very easy to lop your OWN limb(s) off, on account of how the blade would lack mass. kinda makes you wonder why no one ever just turns theirs OFF when in a clash - let the other person's own force (heh) knock 'em over, easy win.

[@sealofapproval637]

It really depends on the experience and techniques of the fighters plus the context of the fight itself. The Pre Visla vs Maul duel was a fight where the advantage switched back and forth despite Visla not being force sensitive. For me Star Wars is more interesting when those who can’t use the force can stand a chance against those that do.

[@Theomite]

It also depends on if the Force-user is a crap fencer.

[@f0rth3l0v30fchr15t]

IIRC in old EU materials, some Jedi constructed their lightsabers with the activation button inside, so you'd have to both use the Force and know where it was in order to turn the saber on or off.

[@casinodertoten721]

I love that you watched the original edition!

[@mythdusterds]

Lando’s introduction was so well done in Empire.

[@billolsen4360]

A real scoundrel, even to the point of faking out his buddy after not seeing him in years.

[@Starsaber222]

@@billolsen4360 To protect the hundreds/thousands of people he's responsible for as the administrator of Cloud City. Then, once he found out that Vader wasn't going to abide by the deal, he turned on the Empire and told his people to evacuate.

[@bekindandrewind1422]

15:23 -- There are ALOT of running jokes throughout the movies.. "It's not my fault".. "I have a bad feeling about this".. -- I think each character gets to say it at least once..

[@Chrisratata]

"That gives me goosebumps... - that black shiny helmet." Me: 😏

[@O_Towne_Bear]

Too easy...yet so many one liners.

[@billkinneymath]

I saw it when I was about 12 years old in the theater when it came out in 1980. A cool part of being in the theater was that the audience cheered wildly at the camera's first close up of Luke on the tauntaun. I remember that I didn't even realize it was him and I was like, "why is everybody cheering?" There was a lot of cheering the rest of the movie too and a collective gasp at the big reveal. I remember that most of my friends thought Vader was lying. I thought it was pretty obvious that he was telling the truth because of both the cave scene and how Vader called out to Luke and Luke heard him and said "father" on the Falcon.

[@RHannah78]

One piece of trivia that you skipped over that I've always found interesting is the scene where Luke gets attacked by the Wampa was added as an excuse for why Mark Hamill's face is all beat up. In reality, he had been in a bad car accident just prior to shooting.

[@KabukiKid]

Mark Hamill was in a car accident actually shortly after shooting the first movie, so it wasn't right before this one.

[@shugaroony]

@@KabukiKid Indeed, I think his car crash happened before the premier of the first film when it was in post-production.

[@KabukiKid]

@@shugaroony Yeah, because of that, they even needed to use a stand-in for Mark to do some landspeeder pick-up shots a few weeks before the movie premiered.

[@ComandoPadentro]

"John Williams I love you" Yes... we all do.

[@jean-paulaudette9246]

I'd love to see you react to the Family Guy parodies of these films. i can't see Luke stop sliding through that Bespin-chute without thinking about them.

[@kyrosv1289]

I'd recommend reading: The Thrawn trilogy, also known as the Heir to the Empire trilogy, written by Timothy Zahn. (which begins approx. 5 years after the events depicted in Return of the Jedi) - Heir to the Empire (1991) - Dark Force Rising (1992) - The Last Command (1993)

[@kyrosv1289]

I'm waiting for a mini series, or 6 to 8 movies, of these novels!

[@jamesbelshan8839]

Why do tauntauns need all that fur? Because their normal body temperature is only lukewarm.

[@yankeerepairs]

Ha

[@Trapper50cal]

That qualifies for Dad Joke status.

[@ShanelleRiccio]

hahahhah

[@robertpearson8798]

@@Trapper50cal I think it was an inside joke.

[@eatsmylifeYT]

So Luke became Luke Warmwater when he was put inside the tauntaun?

[@randovideoman7661]

Imagine being 10 and slowly realizing the movie was ending and you had to wait another three years to find out how it all resolves, lol. It was a bittersweet ending, in real time. These are fun, you’re a sharp cookie, thanks for posting!

[@ThatPurpleGirl81]

Return of the Jedi is my favorite I can't wait for you to see it!

[@sean---the-other-one]

The actor playing the Emperor in this version of Empire Strikes Back was a lady who was uncredited. She was only officially revealed recently when the actor passed away. When Return of the Jedi was filmed they cast Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor and later in a revision George Lucas they added Ian’s Emperor in instead.

[@WastedPo]

I'm thrilled that you went the extra mile and are reacting to the despecialized version here. I don't think I've come across another reactor who has even *heard* of the despecialized editions before, much less have the motivation to seek them out. (As an aside, I still don't understand why - even after Disney acquired the rights to Star Wars, we haven't gotten what would amount to "official" versions of the despecialized editions.)

[@HenryCabotHenhouse3]

Probably because Lucas included something in the sales contract about them not changing his versions.

[@porflepopnecker4376]

12:50 -- This is the original Emperor. Before Ian McDiarmid took over the role in the next film, he was played by an actress named Marjorie Eaton, who was also in such films as The Snake Pit, The Trouble With Angels, Bullitt, Mary Poppins, Harold and Maude, and The Atomic Brain.

[@rustyforceps1012]

It’s so awesome seeing your reaction to these films that I have loved for so many years. Don’t make me wait for too long for ROTJ!

[@ShanelleRiccio]

I'm going to be really disciplined this week! haha

[@UTU49]

@@ShanelleRiccio If you could get it up within 3 years, that would be great.

[@roguecomics4775]

Been a Huge Star Wars Fan for nearly 30 years, and I almost always watch Despecialized when I sit down to watch OT these days.

[@awall1701]

John Williams, Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner, Thomas Newman and Hans Zimmer are just a few of my favourite film composers.

[@elbirrioso]

Don't forget Alan Silvestri

[@dapeach06]

Howard Shore deserves to be on this list, because the LOTR soundtrack I honestly think is the best of all time, it just can't make up for the sheer volume of quality that came from the others on this list

[@glenncabacungan9269]

And what about Bill Conti or Danny Elfman?

[@dapeach06]

@@glenncabacungan9269 come on, they're not even in the same class

[@olliehays3206]

I like how you get its the sets and locations and art direction which really make star wars what it is

[@moonlitegram]

21:09 she’s a natural Star Wars fan; she organically exclaimed “it’s a trap!” 29:09 “I zone out in the space battles” - ok maybe not. ;D

[@GamingWookie]

“Love you like a brother, Luke.” Oh boy, funny you say that...

[@Dillpicks95]

Finally it’s uploaded even though you had some technical issues it was worth the wait. I love this movie and love your reaction can’t wait for return of the Jedi.

[@oxhine]

Hey, Shanelle! This is most people's favorite installment and widely considered to be the best Star Wars film. It certainly is mine. Young people who came of age with the Prequel trilogy often cite Episode III as their favorite. "Empire" has four strikingly distinct environments, an amazing opening battle, the Yoda reveal, the romantic sparring, a deeper explanation of the Force, Lando's treachery and redemption, the presence of fan favorite Boba Fett, the loss of Han, the Vader revelation and the cliffhanger ending. It is a wild escapist ride that packs an emotional wallop! Mark Hamill had a terrible car accident prior to filming and underwent facial reconstructive surgery. Already a part of the screenplay, the WAMPA attack on Hoth became an in-story way to explain his new look and the make-up department enhanced his barely-visible scars. Han eviscerating the TAUN TAUN is an authentic form of arctic and/or cold weather survival. He stuffed Luke's hypothermic body in the still-warm carcass of the animal wrapping him in its innards in order to keep him from freezing to death. People have done this to survive. I love it when people freak out watching that scene! BACTA is the liquid in the healing cylinder. It is a bacterial compound with regenerative properties that is the standard medical treatment for all injuries in the Star Wars galaxy. Yoda's odd little voice is provided by his puppeteer Frank Oz who voices many Jim Henson Muppets like Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear and Animal as well as Sesame Street characters like Cookie Monster, Bert and Grover! Yoda pretended to be a grubby, eccentric hermit simply to get an honest reaction out of Luke that would reveal his character. It's a test like those of the gods in Greek mythology who appear as deformed peasants to see how the hero will behave toward the lowliest person. The new player Vader was kneeling before is the Emperor! The same actor plays him in all his appearances across the saga except in the despecialized version of this film. The MYNOCKS are bat-sized creatures that feed off electrical energy and are starship pests. Sometimes they live symbiotically in the gullets of space leviathans like the EXOGORTH that swallowed the 'Falcon'! I find it amusing how social norms have changed. I've watched a number of millennials view Star Wars for the first time now on KZbin and quite a few young women are APPALLED by Han Solo's behavior! When these movies came out, Harrison Ford became an instant mega-star and sex symbol because of his devil-may-care swagger and brash forwardness. He subscribed to the "treat a Queen like a whore and a whore like a Queen" school of seduction and WOMEN LOVED HIM FOR IT!!! You can tell he's a softie underneath which is what makes him endearing but it seems young women today find him INSUFFERABLE!!! All boys thought he was the coolest guy ever. It's funny how times change. I'm relieved that his charms weren't lost on you, Shanelle, but even you say he's being mean. He's not. She's the one being snide and aloof while he returns her jabs with affectionate ribbing! Leia was a feminist icon back in the day! An independent woman of means comfortable wielding power, unafraid to get her hands dirty and dedicated to a serious cause! A whole generation of young boys and girls grew up with her as a role model. Talented screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan was responsible for all the fun romantic banter in this film. As Leia is Alderaanian royalty and Han Solo is a Corellian street kid, it's basically a CLASS ISSUE preventing her from accepting her feelings for Solo. The constant arguing is their foreplay as he wears her down with his roguish charm. Lol. Harrison Ford's famous "I know." reply to Leia's declaration of love was ad-libbed by Ford who wasn't feeling the more generic "I love you, too." line from the script. Director Irvin Kershner and George Lucas kept it in the movie. It's perfect for the character. I've seen others take DEEP OFFENSE! Keep in mind that Solo has been upfront with Leia about his feelings for her for THREE YEARS at this point! She's the one who has been coy with him despite her obvious attraction. Her admission is what HE'S been patiently waiting for and he matter-of-factly tells her he's fully aware of how she feels. It's the answer SHE DESERVES! Lol. The movies were remastered in the late '90s to promote the upcoming Prequel trilogy with some CGI overlays of the original practical effects but this installment has the fewest egregious changes and looks much like the unaltered 1980 version you saw. The Wampa feeding, some aerial shots of Cloud City, a clearer view of the Emperor and some windows cut into corridors Leia, Lando and Chewie are running through at the end which look out onto the Bespin cityscape are the only updates I can think of. People were SO INVESTED in this franchise back in 1980 that scrutiny during production was INTENSE!! They had the actor in the Vader suit, David Prowse, speak different lines to Luke to conceal the reveal even though Hamill was told what to react to. Dummy scripts were used on set to throw off snoops and spies. James Earl Jones was told the truth just prior to recording the scene. When Jones uttered those immortal words on screen, "No, I am your father.", audiences collectively GASPED, SCREAMED, CRIED, FAINTED and SHOUTED their dismay! It remains one of cinema's MOST ICONIC MOMENTS.

[@timbmusician]

I made my dad stand in line with me to see this on opening day. He could have cared less and was not thrilled with our over 3 hour wait!

[@KabukiKid]

Yeah, I saw it opening day too and my parents stood with me for several hours, as well.

[@freaklives]

I did see this in theatres in 1980 - it was my first time and I was six. It blew my mind. The first film I'd ever seen where the good guys lose! In high school I was more interested in rock music and girls, but then I rediscovered it afterwards when studying screenwriting and was blown away on a whole other level. I remember I was a bit hesitant about whether or not to take my trilogy VHS boxset with me to university. I did in the end, and when I got there I discovered the two guys I would be sharing a house with for the next three years had both brought their trilogy VHS boxsets with them too. :-)