CT The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary

I was hoping someone would have started a thread to discuss specifically how you're planning to celebrate the 40th anniversary of TESB this year
(mods - please lock if such a thread already exists, I couldn't find any)

This is a momentous occasion, because ESB really is the movie that turned SW into an ongoing saga, and also proved that some sequels could be even superior to their predecessors. It also added two of the most enduring characters of the whole saga, whose presence is still strong with the franchise.

 

My friend has the laser disc of the non Special Edition hooked up to a nice system. Typically, I watch the newest version of the films (Disney+ 4K, etc.) On the big anniversaries of these films, we watch them as they were in the 80's. It's a delight. So, this year is ESB!

 

I watch it every few months anyway. it's my favorite movie.

 

I have the originals on DVD that came in the limited edition so will watch it, albeit letterbox. Is it worth buying the despecialised blu rays?

 

I don't have those. I have those DVDs too, with both versions.

 

Forty years since I fell to the floor among the discarded popcorn wrappers and cigarette ends in Chorley cinema as a six year old and cried my eyes out because I thought they had killed my favourite character Han Solo. I had a Han Solo T-shirt on, and a Han Solo figure in each hand.

My wonderful, late Grandad who took me to see it had to pick me up and carry me out when the lights came on at the end as I sobbed into the shoulder of his cardigan, all the way back to the car.

 

I was soooooo worried about what would happen to him... what if they rescued him but he was left badly disfigured or something? And what if the arms and legs came off or burned off when/if he got unfrozen? Or what if they rescued the carbonite block - but didn't have the right tools to unfreeze him? Was he just going to be put on a wall of the Rebel HQ to inspire everyone?
I wonder how many other kids spent those long 3 years between 1980 and 1983 worried about whether or not Han was gonna be OK....

 

The strange thing was, I remember in early 1983 seeing a clip of Return of the Jedi on Children’s TV hour here in the UK (back then, children’s TV programmes ran daily in the week from 3:55pm until around 5:30pm, when it was then time for the news. Or Aussie soap “Neigbours”) The clip included the scene on Endor where Han flings that Scout Rider against the tree. Pre-internet, that was a major spoiler!

 

I don't remember anything about spoilers back then except for (I believe) a Time magazine article saying that Vader was indeed Luke's father.

 

Back then, we had to rely on things like magazines and other publications for any snippets of information didn’t we? Sorry for the reminiscing, but something else I remember about The Empire Strikes Back.

My best pal in primary school was a kid called Matthew, and I remember him bringing into school a kind of “The Empire Strikes Back Photo Story Book” which was a glossy book, with the story text, but also lots of photo stills from the movie. This would have been around the time of the release and I remember being terrified of the carbonite images.

I still find that imagery and scene disturbing, the whole carbon freezing chamber and the carbonite block itself.

 

Hmm I was never a fan of ESB. Still a great movie. Will watch it again this year !

 

I remember that - since there was no Internet - some of the main sources of information we we things like the bubble-gum cards & stickers, and sneak peaks at the action figures. Can't really remember when most of the toys for ESB were released.
I do obviously remember the special offer for the Boba Fett figure. Everyone wanted one.

 

Ah, the toys of The Empire Strikes Back. I still maintain that the best 3 3/4” action figure that has ever been made was Han Solo (Bespin)

 

Yeah, I saved that issue of TIME for years, and the one about ESB. I'm sure they've been recycled by now. I never had the issue with Star Wars.

 

My favourite would have to be:

 

About tied with ANH as my favorite Star Wars film and film of any kind.

Love TESB. I love Vader, I love Luke’s arc, the Han/Leia arc has grown on me.

Among the best duels in the saga remains the Luke vs Vader fight on Cloud City.

First saw on VHS when I was about six, now own it on DVD (both 1980 and 2004 releases)


Soundtrack is great; Hoth theme is remniscent of a Lord of the Rings piece, Imperial March, Yoda’s Theme, Han and Leia’s theme.

TESB introduced the concept of light and dark to the saga as well as the biggest plot twist in film history, now turned into an almost cliche icon because of it.

 

I honestly felt that The Empire Strikes Back line of figures was the best. Han Solo Bespin, Luke Skywalker Bespin, Leia Bespin, Bossk, Dengar, Boba Fett...

All such wonderful figures. I loved the Snowspeeder too. We couldn't afford an AT-AT, that was a big, expensive toy back in the day.

 

I'm not sure what you're referring to... Are you talking about the snow battle?

I remember back in the day they released a double-LP soundtrack that was pretty comprehensive and had some good photos. It really made me appreciate classical orchestration a lot more.

 

Yes that is what I mean.
I’m thinking specifically of when the ATATs are first seen through the scout’s binoculars

 

I also remember this:

 

I used to listen to the ESB soundtrack for hours at a time in my headphones. Just epic. No other SW soundtrack has anywhere near the variety.

 

I love that scene when Han is on top of the Millennium Falcon in Echo Base and that little droid comes past

“Wakawakawaka”
“There’s gotta be a reason for it, check it at the other end”
“Wakawakawaka“
“Wait a second”
“Waaaa”

lol

 

That scene between Luke and Han gives me the feels

 

Probably one of my favorite scenes- Rebel base cuts to Imperial fleet as the Imperial March debuts

 

People say that the Imperial March is overused in ESB. But we had never heard it before; it was amazing. It only became overused in future films.