Disagree. While Empire might be the best Star Wars film, in my opinion the best FILM of the saga is Star Wars. That is, Empire is arguably the most defining and impactful piece in building the saga (the force, the family, the Yoda, the love story, the redemption, etc). But if each film were to be judged against the landscape of great films, in my opinion the only one that really stands on its own at a comparable level alongside the greats like Citizen Kane, Casablanca, etc., is Star Wars.
Yes! I love SW and ESB equally but for different reasons. I’ve been trying to put a finger on it for awhile but that sounds very right to me.