Irvin Kershner - May the Force be with you

While a big fan of Star Wars, I did not know that somebody other than George Lucas directed an installment of the series. I had repeatedly watched the trilogy in my youth but never really took note of the end credits. It was only much later on, when somebody pointed it out did I find out.

They say that the Empire Strikes Back is the best in all the series, and overall I agree. Admittedly, I would tend to play the space battle scenes in Return of the Jedi (my favourite segment) over and over, but when it comes to overall impact the Empire Strikes Back is definitely the top.

The story starts with the Hoth System, in a cold and isolated ice planet.  This immediately gave us the impression that times have been hard with the Rebel Alliance since their victory over the Death Star.  The story then progresses through a chase into space, into asteroid fields, Dagobah System, the mining colony in Bespin.  We experience the character development of Han Solo, the introduction of key characters Yoda, Boba Fett, and Lando Calrissian, C3PO and R2D2 gets lots of airtime, and who could forget the climactic twist to the story when Luke is revealed to be Darth Vader's son?  Whoops... you'd know that by now, wouldn't you?

Irvin Kershner truly did the Star Wars universe proud.  I am very lucky to have seen his work at such an impressionable age and time.  May the Force be with you, Irvin Kershner (1923-2010).

Photo credit: Green Tea movie

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