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The Empire Strikes Back - at 40

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The Empire Strikes Back turns 40 years old this week…

and although the original theatrical version of the film hasn’t had an official dedicated release in 25 years, it is probably worth still marking the occasion with its own thread - especially as the offical Star Wars social media plaforms seem to be issuing out several pieces for it’s 40th anniversary, probably in the hope people think it is the same film that is available to buy now as it was 25 years ago, and more!

 

StarWars.com’s ‘Empire Strikes Back at 40’ website portal

Empire at 40: George Lucas on making ‘something that had never been done before’ again

Empire at 40: Why we love The Empire Strikes Back (StarWars official site writers talk about thier love of the film)

Empire at 40: Snow Walkers, Stop-motion, and dumpster lids: An Oral History of The Battle Of Hoth

History in objects: Dispatches from Empire Strikes Back

 

The Empire Strikes Back - May 70 mm vs June 35 mm - yotsuya’s thread on the offical site going into detail about some last-minute changes to the film as it hit the cinemas 40 years ago…

Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Time Capsule - ZkinandBonez’s post on the new short video about the production of ESB…

 

Star Wars drops 40th anniversary poster for ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ - article at Yahoo

There is another: SW actors, creators and fans on Empire’s enduring legacy at 40th - article at SyFy

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ at 40: How the sequel launched ‘Star Wars’ into the future - article at CNN

Joe Johnston expains the secret origins of the Empire Strikes Back’s new Star Wars vehicles - article at SyFy

The Legacy of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back 40 Years Later - article at Flickering Myth

‘I am your father’: The Empire Strikes Back writer looks back on iconic twist - article at EW

The Best Things The Empire Strikes Back Introduced to Star Wars - article at Gizmodo

The Empire Strikes Back at 40: did the Star Wars saga peak too early? - article at The Guardian

 

StarWars.com is also selling a load of Empire Strikes Back merchandise on the back of it’s 40th anniversary. Everything but the original film itself, of course!

 

^ from https://uk.movies.yahoo.com/star-wars-40th-anniversary-poster-empire-strikes-back-205944845.html

The FE Renegades thread; from the people who post ‘go kill yourself’, ‘fuck you’, ‘let’s throw abuse’, and more at OT staff & members. Four years on and still throwing accusations, slurs and abuse at the OT & anyone outside their Salacious Crumb filled clique. + FE Discord “to vent” more at the OT. Wook’s take.

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https://twitter.com/ILMVFX/status/1263879828937207808
Quote: “ILMVFX @ILMVFX
Thursday, May 28th at 4PM PDT join us for an unforgettable live stream on http://YouTube.com/ILMVFX in celebration of the 40th anniversary of ‘The Empire Strikes Back’. Announcing our first guest the legendary Joe Johnston.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cfqopSob_IU
Quote: “A special livestream conversation with effects legends Dennis Muren, Joe Johnston, Phil Tippett, and Lorne Peterson in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. ILM’s VFX Supervisor Bill George will moderate the discussion.”

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As with STAR WARS’ 40th anniversary celebrations, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is shamefully unavailable (officially) in its original release form.

I see nothing here to celebrate.

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Slavicuss said:

As with STAR WARS’ 40th anniversary celebrations, THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK is shamefully unavailable (officially) in its original release form.

I see nothing here to celebrate.

I here ya! It’s a strange world where my favourite movie of all time has come out in 4K with new artwork and I totally do not care. I guess Lucas has saved me a ton of money if nothing else…

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Another official site article to add to Fated’s quality thread for the 40th anniversary of Empire…
 

Empire at 40 | The stories begind 5 amazing matte paintings from The Empire Strikes Back’:-

Industrial Light & Magic created worlds with just pain and glass.

https://www.starwars.com/news/empire-at-40-5-amazing-matte-paintings-from-star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back

 
 

Ralph McQuarrie: Tribute to a Master - part 1

Ralph McQuarrie: Tribute to a Master - part 2

were also included in the ‘40th Anniversary section’ for Empire - despite being made in 2012 - though great videos themselves.
 

There is also a 58 image gallery on Ralph McQuarrie’s art for Empire at https://www.starwars.com/empire-40th

 
 

Defining Moments: I know’ article - https://www.lucasfilm.com/news/defining-moments-i-know - though no mention of how George Lucas hated it - and Empire’s director Irvin Kershner apparently having to fight to keep it in the film.

George Lucas Apparently Went “Apeshit” Over Harrison Ford’s Classic Line “I Know” From Empire’ - https://geektyrant.com/news/george-lucas-apparently-went-apeshit-over-harrison-fords-classic-line-i-know-from-empire-strikes-back - with quotes from Irvin Kershner and Harrison Ford (with video interview of Ford, by Jon Favreau).

 
 

‘The Empire Strikes Back’ at 40: What the ‘Star Wars’ sequel’s iconic special effects owe to Ray Harryhausen:-

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/the-empire-strikes-back-star-wars-special-effects-ray-harryhausen-212159259.html

^ Decent interview, recollections and videos with Dennis Muren.

 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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oojason said:

George Lucas Apparently Went “Apeshit” Over Harrison Ford’s Classic Line “I Know” From Empire’ - https://geektyrant.com/news/george-lucas-apparently-went-apeshit-over-harrison-fords-classic-line-i-know-from-empire-strikes-back - with quotes from Irvin Kershner and Harrison Ford (with video interview of Ford, by Jon Favreau).
 

That’s apparently from one of Irvin Kershner’s last interviews before his death.

To quote Kershner more fully:

[Irvin Kershner said:]

“George saw the first cut and said, “Wait a minute, wait a minute. That’s not the line in the script.” I said ““I love you, too’ was not Han Solo.” Han Solo was a rebel. George felt that the audience would laugh. And I said, that’s wonderful, he is probably going to his death for all they know. We sat in the room and he thought about it. He then asked me, “Did you shoot the line in the script?” I said yes. So we agreed that we would do two preview screenings once the film was cut and set to music with the line in and then with the line out. At the first preview in San Francisco, the house broke up after Han Solo said I know. When the film was over, people came up and said that is the most wonderful line and it worked. So George decided not to have the second screening.”

Apparently Lucas was worried the audience would laugh in a way that took them out of the movie. Fortunately people understood that it fit Ford’s character well and worked in the dramatic circumstances - so they laughed but thought it was excellent.

One thing that’s to Lucas’ credit IMO is that he’s always been very worried about what sort of things might break audience immersion.

“That Darth Vader, man. Sure does love eating Jedi.”

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ATMachine said:
One thing that’s to Lucas’ credit IMO is that he’s always been very worried about what sort of things might break audience immersion.

Like bad dialogue and poor acting?

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Well this story is already well-known for a long time. It shows just how Lucas controlled every little detail. But fortunately he was willing to compromise and convince himself by test screening. If that was Lucas with PT-era mentality, we would probably be deprived of this great line that Ford came up with.

真実

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ILM Presents: Empire at 40

https://youtu.be/cfqopSob_IU
(official ILM YouTube channel)

Join @ILMVFX for an unforgettable live stream in celebration of the 40th anniversary of #TheEmpireStrikesBack with special guests Dennis Muren, Lorne Peterson, Joe Johnston, and Phil Tippett.

(1:25:12)

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I don’t have time to watch The whole thing now, but just the intro was amazing. There were behind the scenes clips I’ve never seen before. Can’t wait to sit down and watch it all the way thru!

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It’s getting annoying that everyone says Han’s original line was, “I love you, too.” That’s not it! The line was originally, “Remember that, because I’ll be back.”

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'Disney to Release 4K Version of ‘Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back’ to Boost U.K. Cinemas:-

https://variety.com/2020/film/global/disney-to-release-4k-version-of-star-wars-the-empire-strikes-back-to-boost-u-k-cinemas-exclusive-1234637839
 

"The Force is with U.K. cinemas this July as they plan to reopen doors with a remastered 4K edition of “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back,” Variety can reveal.

It’s understood the planned screenings mark the first time a “Star Wars” film from the original trilogy will be screened to cinema audiences in 4K. European cinema giant Vue will show the film in the U.K."

and

"Variety understands “The Empire Strikes Back” is, in fact, among a number of titles Disney is offering U.K. exhibitors, who are eyeing a July 4 reopening date.

The country’s cinemas are among the last businesses to open as part of the government’s economic recovery plan. When they do restart, it will have been more than three months since they were first shuttered across the week of March 16."
 

more text in the linked article - seems to infer it will be the 2019 SE version being shown.

I imagine this is part of the Empire’s 40th Anniversary? (IF true) / with an attempt to get people going back to the cinemas due to the recent closure due to the coronavirus?

Though a little strange they are only putting up The Empire Strikes Back for release on the big screen?

(IF the article is correct)
 

The FE Renegades thread; from the people who post ‘go kill yourself’, ‘fuck you’, ‘let’s throw abuse’, and more at OT staff & members. Four years on and still throwing accusations, slurs and abuse at the OT & anyone outside their Salacious Crumb filled clique. + FE Discord “to vent” more at the OT. Wook’s take.

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’Empire at 40 : Revisiting some of the many trips to Hoth in Star Wars Storytelling’:

https://www.starwars.com/news/empire-at-40-hoth-storytelling

^ a good article covering some of the numerous stories on Hoth; some seen in the film, in the comics, or animated shorts.
 

Also:-

‘The Empire Strikes Back 40th Anniversary | Star Wars Galaxy of Adventures’:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2IF0DMFKxg - a fun 6 minute video from the ‘Star Wars Kids’ youtube channel.
 

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The 40th anniversary of ESB has made me start to wonder what the world would be like right now had we gotten Splinter of the Mind’s Eye as the film sequel to SW77 instead.

I like ESB in a vacuum (both as it’s own film as well as the middle chapter of the OT), but I feel that some of the rather dark story choices it made (mainly Vader being Luke’s father) is what set the franchise on a bad path in the long run. ESB turned SW from a space opera into a soap opera (or a “family saga,” as Lord Lucas likes to say it). And ever since then, people have been arguing about what SW should and shouldn’t be.

Splinter and anything afterwards would’ve been boring, sure, but at least we wouldn’t have cared so much, and the fandom at large wouldn’t have become so toxic.

ESB, despite being an absolutely GREAT movie on its own, put SW on an unreachable pedestal from that point onward. Ever since then, nobody can decide whether SW should keep “growing with its audience” or stay as a “kids thing.”

Sorry for ranting. Just wanted to get that out of my system!

http://henrynsilva.blogspot.com/2023/10/full-circle-order-new-way-to-watch-star.html?m=1

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Hell to the yes ! It’s playing at the Drive In down the street from me tis weekend . Going to take myself there for an early birthday treat tomorrow evening . Will be a little odd going by myself , but not gonna miss this one ! I drove by there after work tonight and there was a line of cars out to the street at 6 p.m. , so I think I will get there early tomorrow , like maybe 5 thirty , to secure a good spot …http://www.49erdrivein.com/

https://screamsinthevoid.deviantart.com/

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Did you enjoy the screening? Was it the 2011 version that was shown? Did you get a good spot? How cool was it to see an OT film on the big screen again?

Sorry for all the questions, I am both curious and envious 😃

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rocknroll41 said:

The 40th anniversary of ESB has made me start to wonder what the world would be like right now had we gotten Splinter of the Mind’s Eye as the film sequel to SW77 instead.

I like ESB in a vacuum (both as it’s own film as well as the middle chapter of the OT), but I feel that some of the rather dark story choices it made (mainly Vader being Luke’s father) is what set the franchise on a bad path in the long run. ESB turned SW from a space opera into a soap opera (or a “family saga,” as Lord Lucas likes to say it). And ever since then, people have been arguing about what SW should and shouldn’t be.

Splinter and anything afterwards would’ve been boring, sure, but at least we wouldn’t have cared so much, and the fandom at large wouldn’t have become so toxic.

ESB, despite being an absolutely GREAT movie on its own, put SW on an unreachable pedestal from that point onward. Ever since then, nobody can decide whether SW should keep “growing with its audience” or stay as a “kids thing.”

Sorry for ranting. Just wanted to get that out of my system!

Had Splinter been made into a film, it could have been equally as dark.

Forum Moderator

Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:
Had Splinter been made into a film, it could have been equally as dark.

No doubt about it. There are some scenes with Grammel that are as graphic as anything in the franchise. That said, since it’s the original sequel to Star Wars, it’s still my favorite novel. It’s a yearly read every Summer. Leia is a much deeper character here than in anything Lucas came up with later.

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And in the conversation Lucas had with Alan Dean Foster he suggests a very high level of violence in the Vader/Leia duel also. Though it was toned down somewhat in the written novel (especially with Luke using the Kiber Crystal for Force Healing and basically bringing Leia back from the dead).

“That Darth Vader, man. Sure does love eating Jedi.”

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If there isn’t a SOTME thread around here, there should be.

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Where were you in '77?

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SilverWook said:

If there isn’t a SOTME thread around here, there should be.

ooj knocked these up for inclusion in the new ‘The EU Index’ thread he was working on (is splitting the ‘The Expanded Universe & General Star Wars Discussion’ into two sections still going ahead?):-

Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye - review and thoughts (2007 thread)

My first step into a larger world… Splinter Of The Mind’s Eye (2007 thread)

Star Wars: The Alan Dean Foster Trilogy (2011 thread)

Alan Dean Foster Books? (2010 thread)

Ideas: Splinter of the Mind’s Eye - and other fan films wishlist (2013 thread in ‘Star Wars Fan Edits’)
 

and I think SOTME also features a little in these more generic threads:-

George Lucas: Unreliable Narrator & Time Travelling Revisionist… (in ‘2. The Changing Number of Episodes in the Star Wars Saga’)

Favorite Star Wars Book? (2010 thread)

Star Wars Books. Good Recommendations? (2015 thread)

Best Books (2007 thread)

What you’re reading now: EU style (2006 thread)

Expanded Universe Novel Discussion (2004 thread)

Does anyone care about the ‘extended universe’? (2011 thread)

How the expanded universe ruined the original trilogy (2012 thread)

If Star Wars flopped… (2006 thread)

Where to enter EU? (2007 thread)

and some other more ‘general EU book’ threads as well. Most of these are already listed in the current ‘EU & Gen SW index’ thread.

He even persuaded me to give SOTME another read it again, and am glad he did 😃 Quite surprised nobody has done a ‘fan film’ or animated version of it.

The FE Renegades thread; from the people who post ‘go kill yourself’, ‘fuck you’, ‘let’s throw abuse’, and more at OT staff & members. Four years on and still throwing accusations, slurs and abuse at the OT & anyone outside their Salacious Crumb filled clique. + FE Discord “to vent” more at the OT. Wook’s take.