The Empire Strikes Back is one of the few movies ever filmed that needs no introduction. Even though The Empire Strikes Back was shown back in 1980, kids born in 2000 know exactly what the movie is and who the main characters are. There probably isn’t any other movie on Earth (or in space) that can lay claim to that fact. In 1980 it was referred to as The Empire Strikes Back; today it’s sometimes referred to as Star Wars Episode V (thanks to episodes I, II and III). What you refer to it as depends on what year you were born, but regardless of what you call it, the movie is unarguably a timeless hit. The Empire Strikes Back takes place three years after the Death Star was destroyed. Darth Vader and the entire Galactic Empire are after Luke, Hans, Princess Leia and Chewy. Luke undergoes advanced Jedi training from Yoda while Hans and the princess are pursued across the galaxy. Darth Vader traps Luke and the movie ends with a climactic confrontation – and a single sentence that made cinematic history: “Luke, I am your father.”
Of course, if you saw The Empire Strikes Back in the 80s, you had to buy the toys. Action figures were everywhere and everyone had them. Even little girls were collecting Star Wars action figures and playing out scenes from The Empire Strikes Back. While very few things can unite boys and girls at the ages of six and seven, The Empire Strikes Back was able to do just that. Brothers and sisters played happily alongside each other – the “force” was at work.
Now, thanks to the three newest Star Wars movies, The Empire Strikes Back is available on DVD. This is good news indeed for Star Wars fans.