IRVIN KERSHNER

Bil’s rating (out of 5):  BBBBB. 

USA, 1980.  Lucasfilm.  Story by George Lucas, Screenplay by Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan.  Cinematography by Peter Suschitzky.  Produced by Gary Kurtz.  Music by John Williams.  Production Design by Norman Reynolds.  Costume Design by John Mollo.  Film Editing by Paul Hirsch.  

The best of all the Star Wars movies is this rip-roaring adventure that continues the drama from the 1977 original and improves on the action and character subtext. Having defeated the Empire in the first round, the galactic forces of good are devastated to find out that the evil Darth Vader has begun rebuilding a new Death Star weapon. This means that heroic Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) must leave his rebel friends at their secret stronghold on the icy planet of Hoth and travel across planets to find wise Jedi master Yoda and be taught the ways of the ‘force’, the only power that could destroy the evil that stands between the galaxy and its survival. Gorgeous sets and breathtaking visual effects are compounded with magnificent performances (well, let’s just say that Harrison Ford‘s smirking was never more appropriate) to create a science-fiction classic like no other. The City In Clouds sequence is a wonder of science-fiction production design that was never again repeated in any of the Lucas productions to follow.

Academy Awards:  Special Achievement in Visual Effects; Best Sound
Nominations: Best Art Direction; Best Original Score

Golden Globe Award Nomination:  Best Original Score