Star Wars Movie The Empire Strikes Back

[Rocki Eibl]

ThemeStated: Just as in the Wampa cave, Luke will need to face his fears by allying himself with the Force if he is to confront Darth Vader and avoid turning to the Dark Side himself. The Force comes from within, and so Luke must learn that the strength to do what is right and to overcome evil will come from himself.

Set-Up (Continued): Luke wanders in a blizzard, succumbing to the cold. The commanders at the base realize that Luke and Han are the only two patrols not accounted for, but must close the shield doors for protection.

Catalyst: Before passing out, Luke sees a vision of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), who tells Luke to visit the Dagobah system to learn the ways of the Jedi from Yoda. It is through this journey that Luke will learn to truly ally himself with the Force. But on this road, he will need aid from his team if he is to achieve the prize, the defeat of the Galactic Empire.

Debate: Han finds Luke, keeping him warm with the deceased Tauntaun. The next morning, a search party finds them and takes them back to base. While Luke prepares to meet Yoda, Han and Leia banter back and forth, with Leia kissing Luke to make Han jealous. A probe lands outside, giving off a signal that is not used by the Alliance. Chewbacca and Han investigate, taking it out, but alert the Empire in the process.

In space, Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice: James Earl Jones) learns that the probe has found life readings in the Hoth system. Even though others doubt it, Vader is certain and orders an attack. A fleet of star destroyers comes out of hyperspace as the Rebels try to escape.

Fun & Games: The Imperial troops approach and try to shut down the shield generators while Leia evacuates the remaining ground staff. Luke and the others fight the AT-ATs as the ground troops fight. Han tries to evacuate Leia, but an explosion blocks them from her transport. Han takes her and C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) to the Millennium Falcon as Darth Vader enters the base. Luke and R2-D2 set a new course for the Dagobah system.

Fun & Games (Continued): The Millennium Falcon evades the star destroyers and TIE fighters. Unable to jump into hyperspace, Han guides the group into an asteroid field and hides on the surface of one. The Millennium Falcon is located, and Vader insists that the asteroid field be swept to find it.

Luke lands on Dagobah, crashing his X-Wing into a swamp. Yoda (voice: Frank Oz) appears, leading Luke to his home and revealing his true identity. It is in this upside-down antithesis world that Luke will learn that he must free himself of darkness if he is to harness the Force.

Vader speaks with the Emperor, who feels a great disturbance in the Force. The Emperor does not want Luke to become a Jedi, but would rather see Vader corrupt Luke, turning him to the Dark Side and making him their ally.

Midpoint: Yoda communicates with Obi-Wan, concerned with the anger he senses in Luke, just as he had sensed in Anakin. He refuses to train Luke at first, revealing that he has watched Luke all his life, noting that Luke has always looked to the future instead of where he was. However, there is a false victory as Yoda agrees to train Luke. The A Story, confronting Vader, and the B Story, learning to use the Force as an ally, cross paths.

All Is Lost: While practicing, Luke senses Han and Leia in great pain in a city in the clouds. Yoda tells him that he has seen the future. The whiff of death is in the air as Luke asks if they will die.

Dark Night of the Soul: Luke continues to be haunted by his vision and wants to aid Han and Leia, but Obi-Wan tells him he cannot control the Force yet, telling him that the Emperor wants him and his abilities. Luke promises to return to finish his training and will not turn to the Dark Side. Yoda reminds him that only a Jedi with the Force as an ally will defeat Vader and the Emperor; if he takes the easy way out, he will end up like Vader.

Luke lands as Vader tests out the freezing carbonite process on Han, ensuring that it is safe for when he uses it on Luke. As the team is taken away, Luke confronts Vader, who encourages him to release his anger. Lando double-crosses the Stormtroopers and escapes with Leia, Chewbacca, and the droids.

Hi Cory, thanks for your beat sheets! I respectfully agree with Sean that there is something structurally different in TESB, and it is that it seems to be a reactive superhero story about surviving an onslaught of attacks (military, spiritual, psychological, environmental, familial, romantic, emotional) from the antagonist, Papa Vader. If Star Wars is the story of how Luke joined the wars, i feel that The Empire Strikes Back answers the question of whether he will survive the return volley.

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