Star Wars 5: The Empire Strikes Back (special ed.)

Join me for a fourth helping of the Star Wars saga, this time dismantling the best film of the series. I examine Luke's story within the film and within the saga, as well as Vader's. I analyze Han and Leia's story as a romantic tragedy hors d'oeuvre that barely connects to the real story. And I compare the film to the prequels, Casablanca, adventure serials of the 1930s, samurai and western movies, Flash Gordon, and The Karate Kid. I try to determine the timeline, point out John Ratzenberger, and do stunningly life-like impressions of George Lucas and Darth Vader. I psychoanalyze Yoda and question Lando's sexuality. Courting controversy, I declare my love for ewoks, root for Admiral Piett to retire to a villa on the Black Sea, and imagine daily life for stormtroopers. And I confidently assert that Han and Leia closed the deal by the time they met Vader at Cloud City.