Veteran of the Star Wars: "Episode Five: The Empire Strikes Back" (1980)

It's Wednesday- which means it's time to get back in the trenches again as we continue to explore the Rebel's battle against the Empire...

It's a dark time for the Rebel Alliance as the Empire dogs their trail. As they hunker down to regroup on Hoth, the Empire searches for them relentlessly. Lord Vader has two desires: destroy the Rebel Alliance... and capture the young Luke Skywalker...

Of the "Original Trilogy", the second film is often considered to be the best one- and a fan favourite. I really can't argue with that. I remember when I first watched it, I was enthralled by it. More so than when I watched "A New Hope". Everything was amped up: the action, the suspense, the drama, mood, atmosphere- everything.

The story moved along quick and evenly- building smoothly and tightly up to the climax, and the big reveal. It was beautiful. The main plot line wasn't the only story arc that was emotionally engaging and satisfying. The story line with Han and Leia's budding relationship, while not as grandiose as Luke and Vader's, was still enjoyable and well crafted.

The character development in this instalment was pretty good too. Naturally, Luke and Vader get the most of it in order to make the reveal all the more impactful. It was nice to see Han and Leia get some as well apart from the main story- though Leia did get a bit of the "damsel in distress" treatment in this one.

I'd have to say that- for me, "The Empire Strikes Back" is my favourite one of the whole franchise (with "Rogue One" in second). A firm "Good".

Comments

#CocktailHour: Slushtail

Summer approaches, inspiring thoughts of sunshine, backyard parties, and having a tip and sip with friends. With that in mind, I bring you this week sunny beverage. To make a slushtail, mix a can of frozen orange juice, a can of frozen lemonade (or limeade), a can of pineapple juice, a couple cups of black tea (or English Breakfast), and two cups of bourbon- such as Southern Comfort, in a pitcher. When it's all nicely mixed, put it in the freezer until it's a nice slushy consistency. Scoop the slush into a cocktail glass, and pour in some Sprite or 7-Up. Add a little umbrella for some frivolous fun, and a straw. Voila! Ready to enjoy. This is a very refreshing drink. The fruit juices, Sprite, and bourbon- when chilled makes for a great punch-like drink. The bourbon doesn't overwhelm juices. In fact, they are all nicely balanced in terms of flavors. The sourness of the citrus fruits contrasts well with the slightly sweeter Southern Comfort. It was refreshing enou

Unlock your fate with The Puzzle

When my dad wasn't working, building stuff or being my dad, he was making puzzles. It was a guaranteed way for him to unwind. So it was with great interest that I sat down to watch Italian filmmaker Davide Melini's award-winning short The Puzzle. You see, the mother in the five-minute film likes to relax with puzzles just like my dad. Unfortunately, her good-for-nothing son keeps harassing her for money. Losing herself in her favourite passtime, the mother soon discovers that completing this puzzle might unlock a nightmare. The Puzzle has been an official selection at more European film festivals than you can shake a stick at, and was voted Third Best Italian Film at the Rome International Film Festival in 2008. Having watched it, I'm not surprised. It's a tight little film that hits you hard in the final few seconds. You can tell Melini cut his teeth as an assistant director for legendary Italian filmmaker Dario Argento. But enough chit chat on my part. See if yo

The Animated Addict: "The Adventures of Tintin" (2011)

If you're a 40 + white dude, like myself, you may remember a comic series called " The Adventures of Tintin ". I know I remember them. This series, dating back to 1929, got turned into a animated feature film by Steven Spielberg in 2011. After buying a model of ship called The Unicorn, teenaged journalist Tintin finds himself on adventure that will take him from the high seas, to the low deserts, and from the distant past to the present. With his trusty dog, Snowy, by his side, Tintin uncovers a story connecting two men across the centuries.. . The story is really quite good. It's well crafted, and high paced- with just enough slow moments to build and develop the world and the characters. This is the sort of adventure story you'd find in the old serials of the 1930's and '40's. In fact, it felt like it was the sort of tale that you'd find Indiana Jones undertaking. I found myself swept up, and swept along as our hero swung from one e

Search This Blog