There's a fan's anti-cheese edit (available on Bi-tchewt) of that series. It edits out 80% of Binks. The remaining 20% was new voice work: alien with subtitles. It also redid the kid and lots more. Way better and well worth a watch, even for those who hate the Prequel.
If ebert thought chewie's growls were tiresome, he would have loved the holiday special where you get about 10 minutes straight of chewie's wife and son bickering back and forth! 😄
“You can blow things up all you want in today’s Hollywood. But to create these worlds and creatures…takes genius.” This is even more true today with the amazing CGI used today but that tells ZERO story.
"The Empire Strikes Back" is the best "Star Wars" movie and one of the greatest movies of all time. I remember seeing this movie in theaters back in 1980, I was 6 years old. Absolutely AWESOME. Definitely my favorite John Williams scores.
I had just graduated high school. A friend and I drove from a small city to Indianapolis to watch it on a huge curved screen. We sat in the front row. This was almost like watching in 3D. At one point I had to turn my head 90 degrees to watch a ship fly across the screen. For me, it was an intense experience and a momentous occasion. This remains my favorite movie. The big reveal hit like a ton of bricks. There was much discussion among my friends and I about whether it was true. People spent three years talking about it.
Yes it does. I’ve made moves towards recreating the simple times but it’s only superficial because those around me are so incredibly busy and most are terribly cynical. the news/ media/ makes everything worse
@@shelbyseelbach9568 Lol obviously that was apple spell check boo boo ! I meant reviewer and did not check it somehow lol - so right you are! Thanks- just changed it!
@@shelbyseelbach9568 I called the ERROR a boo boo! Yikes you are taking this way too seriously lol ! Siskel and Ebert were brilliant and far ahead of their time - used to watch them every week!
I watched “The Empire Strikes Back” on opening day, only to have the film break just after Darth Vader told Luke that he’s his father. I sat in a packed audience with my friends for what seemed like hours for the movie to restart. Thankfully they backed it up to just before Darth Vader made his announcement so that we could be certain that he actually did say that.
Wow! Awesome story. That doesn't happen anymore with digital. As disrupting as it would be, I think it would have been neat to witness a film break and/or burnout and have to wait for the projectionist to repair the film! So neat! :D
I went and saw Star Wars on the opening day when I live in California at the Grauman's Chinese Theater got to C-3PO Darth Vader R2D2 put their hands in the cement on the pavement also a film student at the time and got to load the projector at the Grauman's Chinese with a 70 mm film
One other thing 2 ad I was on the Warner Brothers lot and we got to go into the Sound Studio and see the audio mixing people for Star Wars working and saw Star Wars the segment were there in the crawler with a little creatures on the planet where they picked up the robots saw in black-and-white in an unedited cut
For a second, I thought “Aren’t they a little too late to review The Empire Strikes Back?” Then I remembered 1997 was the year of the Star Wars special editions.
When I want to feel old I remind myself it was 17 years before the original release and the special edition, but it's been 24 years since the special edition and now.
I realized pretty quickly what was going on with this clip if only because I remember how much anticipation we all had to see what had been added or altered. By 97 the original cast of Star Trek was gone and TNG was off the air and making movies and as somebody else said it had been 17 years since Return of the Jedi had come out. I only mention the greatest rival of Star Trek because there was literally nothing else to compare with Star Wars at the time. It would be another 20 years before Iron Man hit the big screen and even the Toby McGuire Spiderman movies were still years away. There was quite literally a vacuum in SciFil blockbusters when these movies were re released and we were all starved for more.
They made seeing movies not only fun, but important. They were astute critics, knew direction, cinematography, etc., but they could discuss it like laymen too. It was a show I looked forward to every week. Movies mattered then in a way they don't quite now. We can't replace these two giants, but wish we had a show somehow like it today.
“...from a cheerful space opera down to the very depths of its mythology.” - Roger Ebert. THAT, i believe, sums up how the SW franchise was elevated from a simple popcorn movie to one that has been ingrained in people’s hearts and minds.
No, just this film in comparison with its predecessor. "Return of the Jedi" and "Rogue One" are okay. The other half dozen flicks in the canon are overproduced, overstuffed claptrap with an overly expositional narrative that leaves little to the viewer's imagination.
You posted this on a website which hosts literally dozens, if not hundreds, of people who to top notch movie reviews and not just in three minute bits like Siskel and Ebert.
It's fun to see them actually excited in a review about how they were able to pull off Yoda. Imagine their reactions to Baby Yoda! These guys were a big part of my introduction to film appreciation and despite all the RU-vid reaction channels that exist now, their like will never be seen again.
My bother and I saw The Empire Strikes Back twice on opening day. 1st show in the morning and the 7 PM show that night. There was a line that wrapped around the building. The crowd was so excited you could feel it in the air. Everyone applauded at the end of each show.
Roger never said that. Don't misquote him. That's how people get upset over things that aren't true. Trump won the election by a landslide? That's what he says.
Chewbacca’s howls “growing tiresome” is the epitome of digging deep to find something to critique the film on- and no, Roger, due respect, but Chewie’s howls perfectly reflect how we all felt late in Empire realizing that Han was betrayed by Lando, Vader had recaptured Leia, and Luke was walking right into his trap. Rrrrrrrrraaaaaaaahhhhhh!!!!
I remember finally getting to see this on the big screen in 97 with special edition releases and there was only a 2 week window for each of them and I watched them over and over lol
He was great at conveying emotion with limited lines. "Grrr!" vs "Rrrrooooaaarrrr!" I thought he did a great job. Lay off the sasquatch, er, I mean the wookie.
Listen to what Roger says at 3:45 , I can't help but think that Fran Walsh and Peter Jackson were inspired by the Star Wars reissue because around this time they were developing Lord of the Rings. Who knows?
Sometimes it's not possible to research everything. Back before the internet we used to use Leonard Maltin's Movie Guide. But Siskel did mention Kershner's movie, _Loving(1970)._
It’s just too awesome to watch this review, during a time when Star Wars consisted of just three movies knowing that a few years later, the prequels would be released.
I actually used to go by Siskel & Ebert when they recommended movies. I sometimes always didn't agree with their reviews. But miss them coming on. There's so many movies these days. All different kinds. I sometimes even like the independent ones. No one could do a movie review like Gene & Roger.
And how right he was. I always thought the walkers looked silly. Let's attack with these huge lumbering vehicles that move so slowly, the Rebels have plenty of time to prepare for a battle and escape.
@@joeyday576 i know, right?! I mean they can only fire straight on... so all the fighters have to do is attack from literally ANY OTHER DIRECTION, which of course they DON'T, which is why Luke gets hit.
The role of Darth Vader is really beefed up in this. At the end of the first film Vader is in a tiny fighter ship and us lucky not to get blown up when the Death Star is destroyed. The first time we seem him in this he's on the bridge of the largest Ship we've ever seen surrounded by a huge fleet.
"Chewbacca's howls are tiresome" funny in all the times I've seen this film this was never even remotely on the radar. It's hard to believe these guys have been gone as long as they have. I can remember their show when it was on PBS
I miss this show! I wish they would bring it back with two new Hosts. I enjoyed their arguments as well when they disagreed on a film. That was entertaining, too! I usually agreed with Ebert. Siskel came off as a film snob generally and he panned certain films that I actually enjoyed. The format is great! You get a preview and then a review! This was good marketing for films! You give the public a sample and then they want more. So they go see the movie. Now I have no idea what is coming out or when, so I don’t anticipate anything or care. This show gave you the Heads up! And made you look forward to seeing the films! RIP Siskel and Ebert
I always felt that the " Prequel" movies ruined Vader, AND Boba Fett. The myth, and mystique, of the characters was in not truly knowing everything about them, that there was a great deal of fun in the speculation, and imagination of who they truly were under the helmets. Sure, we know Vader was once good, and friends with Obi Wan, but turned evil, but that was fairly vague. Once they defined him as an annoying little kid, then an annoying, and arrogant 20 something, etc. ( and fairly unlikeable the whole time) Vaders dark, evil, scary bad assery were tarnished. And as for Boba Fett? His mysterious history was everything to the character, and now we know who he is, and where hes been. Total mystique killer...
“And now, the re-re-rerelease of The Empire Strikes Back! In this version the word Wookie has been changed to “hair-challenged animal” and the entire cast has been replaced by Ewoks.”
On Empire Strikes Back, I realized that as a kid that was one of the most serious Adult storyline movies that I watched and loved as a kid. There was frequent death, torture, Love affairs and just loved it as a 10 year old child.
The music, those battle scenes on Hoth and in space, the writing and direction were all top-notch. This is the best _Star Wars_ film and one of the best films ever made.
I think it's a tribute to the strength of _The Empire Strikes Back_ that it stands up without changes. I did look at some scenes from its trailer that didn't make it into the film: Lando marching toward the camera and Han, instead of the overhead shot of Han with his arms wide was one.
When they went to the CG Yoda in the prequels, they asked the digital artist at Industrial Light & Magic if they could go back to ESB and matte in a digital Yoda. The ILM guy had a cow! NO! He said Puppet Yoda is sacred at ILM!
0:01 I've Seen Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back The 40th Anniversary Edition At Vue Cinema Theatre In Bromley In Kent Near Southeast London Just Outside The Capital City Of London In England Last Year Back In August 2020 And It Was Super Awesome And This Will Beat Disney's Star Wars The Force Awakens's Box Office Records In 2015 In The 21st Century. This One Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Was Released In Theatres On May 21st 1980 By The Beginning Of The Late 1980's In The 20th Century And This Is The Squall To Star Wars Episode IV A New Hope In 1977 And This One Is Now Owned By 20th Century Fox. Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back Is My All Time Favourite 20th Century Fox And Lucasfilm Ltd Children's Live Action Science Fiction Action Adventure Family Blockbuster Movie Of All Time. Thanks Mate. PS I'm Also A Huge Big Super Awesome Star Wars Fan As Well Too. May The Force Be With You. X
George Lucas Star Wars > Disney/Lucasfilm Star Wars The old expanded universe is better, too. Kylo Ren is just a weak amalgamation of Jacen Solo and Kyp Durron. Plus they ripped the name from a villain from the 80s Droids cartoon: Kybo Ren.
@@TheDylandProductions interesting, I didn't know that but of course I'm not surprised that disney/jar Jar Abrams didn't have a creative bone in their bodies. the prequels were mostly garbage but atleast there were some good interesting ideas and it's soul purpose wasn't to meet some diversity quota.
It’s so funny that they gush about the ending not tying up things with a bow. It seems every movie these days ends without completely finishing and starts out with a franchise in mind. The funniest being The Last Airbender.
I hated ESB at first. The rebels lose, Han is frozen, Luke lost a hand, what the hell is going on? Over time I appreciated this is the greatest sequel of all time. Survival is the victory despite the odds. Never tell me...😂
@@philipsheppard4815 Which is EXACTLY why Luke got his ass handed to him by Vader. His Training was not complete. It was not until AFTER ESB that Luke completed his full training. #TRUTHBOMB
In the prequels (and expanded media) young padawans are shown to be using *some force abilities. Luke Skywalker was barely trained (and left training part-way through). Rey didn't do anything (before TLJ) that would have "required" training necessarily. Gosh I hate both sides so much. Rey wasn't a Mary Sue (well, at least not until the ending of TLJ and/or RoS). And Luke's training on Dagobah was retconned several times to be differing lengths. Give it up! If your suspension of disbelief is broken on a nit-pick like that, you shouldn't be watching escapism. The sequels suck and Rey IS a bad character, though. Just, you don't help the case when people like you obnoxiously wine like this!
Mr. Plinkett (RedLetterMedia): "I Love Empire Strikes Back so much, I F*ck It." This proves that Mr. Plinkett of RedLetterMedia will always be a way much better movie reviewer than Vincent Canby of The New York Times. I never agree more with Mr. Plinkett that The Empire Strikes Back was the greatest Star Wars sequel ever made, I really admire The Empire Strikes Back as one of my absolute favorite sci-fi films, and The Empire Strikes Back is the second best Star Wars film along with Star Wars 1977. Vincent Canby of The New York Times was a pretentious piece of garbage reviewer for giving The Empire Strikes Back a bad review in 1980.
I'd like to hear what they thought of it when it actually came out, rather than years later when they know how revered the movies have become. Wonder if they said the same thing then.
Well, you can find on the web an old episode of Nightline from 1980 where both Gene and Roger both defend Star Wars and Empire in a spirited debate against New York magazine film critic John Simon who thought the Star Wars films were childish and that any adult who liked them must have a childish mind.
Siskel & Ebert reviews was the best of its kind, if not only one in its day. There was no social media or internet.. just these reviews, when people still read news papers ... and word of mouth.. ahh.. the good ole days.. now it is all crap woke shit with no tallent hacks running shit.
Imagine Sickel & Ebert would not like many or most of the blockbuster action films nowadays with so much emphasis on action & special effects and less so on story & character development - like Rise of Skywalker
*Siskel wondering if another big hit movie could be made that ends on a somber note and doesn't conclude the story* *Avengers Infinity War enters the chat*
Rian (ruin?) Johnson said of The Empire Strikes Back that he "just remembers being disappointed as a kid". Yeah, let's put _THAT_ guy in charge of his own Star Wars movie. What harm could it cause? ...
The script was pretty much filmed as it was written. He took the script the lady dying of cancer wrote, Leigh Brackett, based on his notes and polished it. That's when he realized that Darth Vader being Luke's father worked to solve some problems.
It was amazing, in a bad way, that the 1980 Yoda in ESB was much better than the original Yoda in Phantom Menace almost 20 years later. How did Lucas and company manage to screw that up? Of course the original Yoda in Phantom Menace was later replaced by a CGI version. With good reason.
