It is my favorite Star Wars movie and what a gift we got for the 40th Anniversary.
Containing never-before-seen on-set footage and outtakes from Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the rare behind-the-scenes moments captured by the film’s documentary crew are an amazing look back for those of us who loved this movie.
The frozen exteriors of Hoth, the Rebel base hangar, interiors of the Millennium Falcon, Cloud City, and the film’s climactic duel between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker are moments that defined the series. Also included is an all-new and archival audio commentary by George Lucas, Mark Hamill, Anthony Daniels, Billy Dee Williams, and Lawrence Kasdan.
Seeing Carrie Fisher again as the youthful Princess Leia was a special 40th Anniversary gift. Her smile radiates from the screen and brought back how much I miss her. In all my years as a journalist, I have never met a Star Wars actor in real life. In a way, it has kept their mystique for me. But I do wish I had the opportunity to tell her how much I appreciated her as an actor.
The alternate scene of Han and Leia’s first kiss was a poignant moment between Fisher and co-star Harrison Ford, adding a new dynamic to the rest of the series. Her smile radiates from the screen, and gives the feeling of truly enjoying what they were performing.
Mark Hamill talking out “The Tauntan” dance in a snowstorm is a pretty funny moment, and totally different from a later scene of his training for the epic light saber duel in what looks like an aluminum shed in a warehouse district. It’s so whacky out of context.
The introduction of Lando Calrissian was always one of my favorite Star Wars scenes. Billie Dee Williams describing Lando’s character is a special treat especially as a new series is on its way featuring the swashbuckling Calrissian.
Hamill describes the movie perfectly at the end of the video, “It was so daring, I don’t think we were ever able to be that surprising again.”
Boba Fett makes his first appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, helping Vader capture Han Solo, which is shown in the feature. Jeremy Bulloch, who played the Mandalorian bounty hunter, died Thursday, December 17, 2020. He also had two roles without the helmet as Lieutenant Sheckil in “The Empire Strikes Back” and Captain Jeremoch Colton in “Revenge of the Sith.”
