'Star Wars' Addicts Relax, the Force Is Here utahtheaters.info

When the yellow block letters of the prologue unreel into the distance announcing once more: "At a time long, long ago, in a galaxy far away . . ." Star Wars: Chapter V, "The Empire Strikes Back!" motion picture audiences can be counted on to applaud and cheer with the expectation of two full hours of excitement, entertainment and fun.

The long-awaited sequel to George Lucas' "Star Wars," the great adventure which turned the world's motion picture tastes around, opens at the Centre in Salt Lake City Wednesday and odds are it will still be there next year.

"Star Wars" addicts who may have been concerned that the sequel might not measure up can relax, it may even be better than its predecessor and it leave George Lucas in an unenviable position.

National Treasure
- He has become so popular someone might want him to run for President of the United States (thus distracting him from his work), and,

- He now is a national treasure who needs protection, lest he fails to complete the remaining seven (count 'em) seven two-hour episodes of this brilliantly structured epic motion picture serial which (at the present rate of one every other year) will require 14 years to wrap up.

Which also means audiences of the world will have to begin taking better care of themselves, or they'll never see the whole serial (1994 or bust!).

(Lucas also could wind up winning the Nobel Peace Prize for taking the edge off world disharmony . . .)

"The Empire Strikes Back" is, actually, part two of a trilogy, "Star Wars" was part one with its title changed.

If you find that confusing, you must understand that Lucas has in mind a saga, a space adventure in three separate, lengthy chapters, each chapter with three episodes.

The full story is entitled "Star Wars."

Because he was uncertain about the success of the first show (he had to raise the cash himself and worked on a bootstrap) Lucas picked the episode most likely to succeed. It was the fourth episode of the whole, subtitled: "A New Hope," and told of Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill), once a naive farm boy on the desert world of Tatooine, who is plunged into the rebellion of good ("the force") against evil (the Dark side), when a combination of circumstances brought him into contact with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guiness) and Princess Leia Organa (Carrie Fisher), once senator and princess on an erstwhile world called Alderaan, but who now is the dedicated leader of the rebel effort against the Dark side.

Now that George Lucas has a few dollars and can continue with his project, all of the nine planned episodes will carry its own subtitle under the heading "Star Wars."

First Trilogy
The first trilogy is about young Ben Kenobi and the early life of Luke Skywalker's father when Luke was a little boy. This first set of three films takes place some 20 years before the second. About a year elapses between each story of the first trilogy. The whole adventure (all nine episodes) spans about 40 years. The second (middle) set of episodes now two-thirds completed with Episode IV "A New Hope," and Episode V "The Empire Strikes Back!" will conclude with Lucas's next phase Episode VI "Revenge of the Jedi."

So much for background. Since virtually everyone has seen a portion of "Star Wars" either in the movies or on (perish the thought) small-screen television, the news that Lucas has produced an even more exhilarating sequel should be enough to start lines forming at box offices everywhere to see it.

And rather than rest on his laurels, the best news is that he maintained that high quality which brought movie-goers back again and again and again for "Star Wars" to watch the subtleties of his sets and production values.

Fell to Temptations
This time Darth Vader (David Prowse), right hand man of the Galactic Emperor and Dark Lord of the Sith, is really rotten in this chapter. Once a Jedi knight, Vader fell victim to the temptations of the dark side of the Force, and now he seeks to lure Luke Skywalker to the dark side. Vader is a stinker. He can't be trusted, his creed (if he has one) is that the end justifies the means.

Vader lies. Boy, how he lies. And it is important to remember this, because what the Dark Lord says in "The Empire Strikes Back!" is vital to the plot. And you must bear in mind that he can't be trusted. Darth Vader is a rat. Remember that, and you won't have any problem with the show.

The scenario of "The Empire Strikes Back!" is [MISSING TEXT] pods from his star destroyer throughout the galaxy and one landing on Hoth discovers the rebel stronghold where Princess Leia, Han Solo (Harrison Ford), who portrays Skywalker's brother-father figure, and Skywalker are holed-up after the battle with Vader's Imperial Death Star in Episode IV.

In the ensuing fight, the rebels take a ferocious shellacking and would have been wiped out, except that Vader wants to capture Skywalker alive.

The animation, the special effects in this episode are absolutely incredible. The models of space ships are magnificient in detail and imagination.

It's this kind of stuff that makes you look all over the screen for "goodies." The little touches that populate Lucas's work. No detail is too insignificant, and that's why fans return time after time to enjoy more than just the main storyline.

Eventually Skywalker with his barrel-shaped droid pal Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) (portrayed by Kenny Baker), find thier way to the bog planet Dagaban where dwells the Jedi master Yoda, a long-eared wonder played by Frank Oz (who is a 27th century relative of Miss Piggy), and who, by the way, steals the episode. Personable, wise, and intriguing, this character obviously is more than 800 years old, since he has been teaching Jedi Knights for that length of time, and he sets about to teach Skywalker to be a Jedi Knight.

Dagabah is the best part of the two hours. It is pure Merian C. Cooper (the prehistoric land of Skull Islan, home of the original, the one and only Kong!) Gad, what a great touch.

Great Touch
Everything is to see in this portion of the film. Snakes, lizards, things, creep, crawl and splash about, even though they are not part of the principal photography. Excellent. Super. (Lucas for President!)

Most important at this point is the picture is to remember to pay attention!

What Yoda has to say to Luke is so enchanting to watch that audiences forget to listen.

And this may be the key to the sequel's success. The dialogue between Yoda and Luke is quite revealing, though the sets and their exquisite detail tend to distract. Yoda cautions patience. Luke, the young, the eager, craves action to "save his friends."

But the Jedi master warns that Vader is strong. Vader is devious, and Vader is no good.

Card Shark, Gambler
Then on to Cloud City where Lando Calrissian, a former card shark and gambler (who lost the space ship Millennial Falcon to Han Solo in a poker game) is administrator.

There the Dark Lord Vader plans his ultimate defeat of the Force and capture of Skywalker. Lando (portrayed by newcomer Billy Dee Williams) plays an important role in this game of wits.

It is a marvelous grand finale when Chewbacca, the 200-year-old wookie, and the protocal droid, C-3P-O (See Threepio) who, I swear, prattle on like a British nanny at all the wrong times, come to grips with the bad guys.

All the highlights in the first picture, the sounds (70 mm, Dolby) and the innovation are evident with the occasionally futile efforts to reach light speed in the Millennial Falcon, and the flight of the Falcon through an asteroid field (enough to clear anyone's sinuses) being great moments for fans of electronic hijinks.

The creatures in this chapter are something else and that's the best description anyone could provide: something else. How about a large, grey TaunTaun that bounds across the trackless ice of Hoth with the agility of a kangaroo and the size of a camel, the horns of bighorn ship. A Ramaroo, if you like. Great stuff.

What makes "The Empire Strikes Back!" work is the lighting of every scene to give a remarkable three-dimensional look . . What else can be said. See it. And take care of yourself. Seven more chapters, tune in next year for Episode VI. See you there. May the Force be with you.