TV Review: *****Andor Season 2 (2025)

 Andor Season 1

Andor Seson 2 dropped 12 episodes, in a month, 3 a week for four consecutive weeks.  They are now all available on Disney +.  

This series has been great fun.  The character of Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is very intriguing and conflicted.  Added to this is Luthen Rael (Stellan Starsgård) who is the master spy.  Dedra Meero (Denise Gough) is with the empire and trying to catch them.  In the end it turns on her head and she becomes the scapegoat.Her helper is Syril Karn (Kyle Soller).  And of course Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) who says what she has to say to the Senate and is able to escape to become the leader of the rebellion.  This show has many other interesting characters.  It tells the story leading up to Rogue One and A New Hope.  It is vrery well done and the feel of the show is just right.  This is Star Wars without light sabers.  Not everyone is s Jedi.

Disney + Star Wars mini series Review: ****^Ahsoka

 Rosario Dawson stars as Ahsoka, continuing from Clone Wars, Rebels, and Mandalorian.  This is the period after the Empire has been defeated, but Ahsoka is worried about the return of Thrawn.  Sabine Wren (Natasha Liu Bordizzo), was her intern, and becomes that again.  She is also accompanied by a droid, Huyang (David Tennant)a who served at the Jedi temple and help many Jedi construct their light sabers.  Other characters who help them are Hera (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly)

Thos who are pursuing the return of Thrawn (Lars Mikkelson)  are Morgan Elsbeth (Diana Lee Inosanto) of the witches, Baylon Skol (Ray Stevenson), former Jedi knight turned to the dark side and his apprentice Shin Hati (Ivanna Sakhno).  Skol appears to be helping, but is more interested in getting to Peridea where he can continue his studies of the dark side of the force.

The first few episodes revolve around finding thrawn and/or Ezra Bridger (Eman Esfandi).  There is a dilemma, in finding Bridger, you also find Thrawn, who can make things very difficult for the New Republic.  The New Republic government however does not believe Thrawn is coming back, as he has been gone for some time.  Consequently Ahsoka and Wren have to solve this on their own.  However they actually get separated, and it appears Ahsoka has been killed.  Wren is taken captive by those looking for Thrawn, and thereby meets Thrawn, and is released to look for Bridger.  And Skol and Hati are sent after her to kill both her and Bridger.  In the meantime, Ahsoka is on her way having traveled by purrgil.

This show is very enjoyable.  It ends with Wren and Ahoska in a terrible fix, and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) watching over them.  There is plenty of action, Skol vs Ahsoka, Ahsoka vs Morgan Elsbeth, Shin Hati vs Sabine Wren.  There is a bit too much witchiness for my taste, but in flows into the show.  

Star Wars Disney + TV Review: ****The Skeleton Crew (2024-2025)

 This is an exciting Star Wars show.  There are eight episodes.  The premise is a group of four children enter a space ship, not realizing it is a space ship, and end up launching themselves into space.  Turns out the ship they are on is connected with pirates, and manned by a robot, SM33.  SM33 is programed with the pirate code, but a great part of his memory is missing.  At any rate when the kids ask him to take them home, he takes them to a pirate port.  This is where they meet Jod Na Nawood, who has Jedi traits; including a light saber and ability to use telekinesis.  

The kids are from the planet At Attin, a mythical planet where there gold credits are manufactured.  However it is also a hidden world.  The kids hold the key to finding the planet, and are much wanted.  When Nawood befriends them, does he want to help them, or exploit them.  

In the meantime the parents of the children are determined to find their children as the local government is not helping.  Government is totally droid, and the administrator is a large computer.

I would recommend this ride for anyone into Star Wars.

Jude Law as Jod Na Nawood, a mysterious pirate/Jedi?

Ravi Cabot-Conyers as Wim. Youth from At Attin and discovers what he thinks might be a Jedi temple

Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Fern. A youth whose mother is an administrator,  She races scooters and is up for a good adventure

Kyriana Kratter as KB. Fern's friend who has a cyborg implant due to an accident

Robert Timothy Smith as Neel. A Myykian boy (elephant like being) who is Wim's best friend.  

Nick Frost as SM33. A pirate robot who is voiced by Frost.  He is discovered on the ship which use to belong to a pirate captain that had discovered to location of At Attin.  

Star Wars Reviews

***** Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977)  

****^ Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

***** Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

** The Ewok Adventure TV Movie (1984)

**^ Ewoks: The Battle for Endor TV Movie (1985)

****^ Star Wars: Episode I - Phantom Menace (1999)

***^ Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones (2002)

**** Star Wars: Clone Wars (2003-2005) animated for TV

**** Star Wars: Episode III - The Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Star Wars: The Clone Wars ( 2008-2020)

Star Wars: Rebels (2014-2018)

**** Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015)

****^ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) 

**** Star Wars Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017)

**** Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

Star Wars: Resistance (2018-2020)

Star Wars: ***** Mandalorian (2019 - )

****^ Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019)

***^ The Book of Boba Fett (2021-2022)

****^. Star Wars: The Bad Batch. (2021-2024)

**** TV animated Star Wars: Tales of the Jedi (2022)

****^ TV Star Wars: Obi Wan Kenobi (2022)

****^TV Star Wars: Andor (2022)

****^ Ahsoka (2023)

 **^ TV Star Wars: The Acolyte (2024)

**** TV Star Wars: Skeleton Crew (2025)

***** TV Star Wars: Andor Season Two (2025). This is Star Wars at its best.  prequel to Rogue One

Star Wars Disney + TV Review: **^The Acolyte

 I did not like this series as much as other Star Wars projects.  They went to great lengths to make the Jedi look bad and be the villains, and the witches the good people.  Also too much "woke" for my tastes.  (The witches conceive the twins without benefit of a man.)  But then they do have light sabers and light saber duels; but the final goal is to kill a Jedi without a weapon.  

Lee Jung-Jae as Master Sol

Amandla Stenberg as twins Mae and Osha Aniseya

Manny Jacinto as The Stranger and Qimir

TV miniseries Review: Marvel Disney+: ****The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021)

 This is wonderful extension of the Captain America saga, as the title changes hands.  At first Sam Wilson isn't sure if he can take up the mantle of Captain America, so gives up the shield.  Bucky, who was the Captain's best friend is disappointed.  The government gives the shield and title to John Walker.  

Our heroes are confronted by a group of super soldiers called the Flag Smashers.  They are feeling life was better off during the period of the blip, when resources weren't spread so thin.  Now there are millions of people who have reappeared and are basically homeless, or putting others out.  Karli Morgenthau is the leader of this group.  With their super strength they are formidable combatants. The Falcon and Bucky are out to track them down.  They are joined in the hunt by Zemo and Sharon Carter.  John Walker, Captain America tracks them down by following The Falcon.   

After taking the last dosage of super soldier serum, John Walker disgraces the shield.  This leads to a major confrontation between he, and The Falcon and Bucky.  The Falcon is now ready to take up the mantl of Captain America.  

Subplots include Isaiah Bradley, who was given serum some 30 years prior, but his African American status lead to his incarceration for 30 years while the experimented on him.  Joaquin Torres is The Falcon's liaison in the military.  Another subplot is Sam Wilson's family's struggling business, and Bucky coming to terms with his past as The Winter Soldier, where under mind control he killed many people.  In the end the government is going to. do better to reconcile with the ideas of the Flag Smashers.

Anthony Mackie as The Falcon, Captain America, Sam Wilson.

Sebastian Stan as Bucky Barnes, The Winter Soldier.

Erin Kellyman as Karli Morgenthau, leader of the Flag Smashers.

Wyatt Russell as John Walker, Captain America, U.S.Agent.

Daniel Brühl as Baron Helmut Zemo.

Danny Ramirez as Joaquin Torres.

Emily VanCamp as Sharon Carter, Power Broker, a former SHIELD agent.

Carl Lumbly as Isaiah Bradley

Disney+ TV Review: ****^Star Wars: Andor 2022

 Andor is incredibly good as it keeps building until we hit the climax in the last episode.  Cassian Andor (Diego Luna) is nothing more than a mercenary or thief.  He is recruited by a rebel organizer, Luthen Rael (Stellen Skarsgärd) He and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) work together in funding the rebellion.  Andor and some other reels carry out a successful heist of an imperial payroll, thus getting needed money for the rebellion.  Cassian hangs low, but in doing so is unjustly imprisoned.  He is set to work on some unknown device.  Escape is impossible as the floor is wired with electricity in it which is turned on at any hint of escape.  But when we realize that any sentence is a life sentence in this prison (a whole floor was killed when one was due to be released) escape becomes the goal.  

Andor's adoptive mother, Maarva (Fiona Shaw) passes away.  He must return to the funeral.  However the epire want him captured so they can torture him and learn secrets of the rebellion, particularly the identity of Luthen Rael.  Luthen Rael also wants to kill Andor so as to prevent being exposed.  It seems there is not much hope for him.  The highlight of the whole series is when Luthen's mother, through a droid, gives her own eulogy and calls for rebellion.  The tension just builds and builds to this point and finally pops.  In the chaos, Andor gives his life to Luthen.

The sage of Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly) is weaved into the other stories.  However this story did not reach its head yet.

season two

TV Review: Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi

 Obi Wan Kenobi is available through Disney+.  It stars Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan and Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader.  Darth Vader has spent the last ten years brewing his hate for and searching for Obi-Wan Kenobi.  Obi-Wan has spent the same ten years feeling sorry for himself because of the way things turned out in Revenge of the Sith.  He says the Jedi are finished and he has buried his light saber in the sand and works as a meat packer.  He does keep an eye on Luke Skywalker.  However, when he is finally called back into service by Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) as Leia Organ (Vivien Lyra Blair) has been kidnapped.  We see Obi-Wan make a transition from hiding, to returning to be a Jedi.  At first he is overwhelmed by Darth Vader, but he grows and becomes more powerful in the force.  Leia is wise beyond her years (ten).  Another party involved in this scenario is is Inquisitor Reva, Third Sister (Moses Ingram). She is hoping to lure Darth Vader into a position where she can kill him.  She was a youngling at the Jedi temple when Darth Vader attacked.  She was able to run away.  

This mini series worked better when I watched it all the way through rather than a weekly episode.  I enjoyed the character of Leia, precocious and running into danger.  Obi-Wan has always been a favorite.  And Darth Vader, who says himself that he killed Anakin Skywalker. 

Lots of neat light saber battles in this show; and also the use of fire and rocks in the battles.  Great fun.

TV review: Star Wars: The Book of Bobba Fett

 I think this series might be a bit below the quality of some of the other Star Wars fare, but it does entertain and advance the Star Wars story.  My complaint center around the use of so much flash back to catch us up on the history of Bobba Fett (Temuera Morrison).  This is mostly through reminiscences while Bobba Fett is in the bacta tank.  This is a bit slow.  The Mandalorian Pedro Pascual) scenes are my favorite as well as the Grogu scenes.  Grogu has to deide if he will continue his Jedi training with Luke Skywalker (Mark Hammill) or go back with the Mandalorian.  In the end they set up the next Mandalorian series with Grogu and the Mandalorian traveling toether.  

In the end, Bobba Fett faces off against the Pykes and is terrible undermanned.  He is also betrayed by many of the other crime bosses on Tatooine.  However Fett's side kick, Fennec Shand (Ming-Na Wen) infiltrates the Pyke leadership and kills them.  Fett's rancor destroys a Scorpenek droid, but goes on a rampage.  However Grogu is able to calm the rancor.  

TV Review: ****Tales of the Jedi

 There are six animated stories available on Disney Plus, Tales of the Jedi.  Each story gives some further hint or story about different Jedi.  Episode 1 Life and Death: We start with Ahsoka as a baby, and discover how she first manifested her Jedi power.  Episode 2 Justice: Next we see Dooku and Qui Gon Jinn with Qui Gon as the Padawan.  They are sent to resolve a hostage situation; and find more than the bargained for.  It is Qui Gon's fast thinking that prevents them from a situation that would evolve to to something much worse.  Episode 3 Choices: Mace Windu and Dooku are dispatched to investigate the death of a Jedi.  Again we learn there is more going on than first meets the eye.  And again there is a situation where Dooku is justified in doubting the senate.  Windu becomes a grand master as a result of the death of the Jedi.  Episode 4 The Sith Lord: This episode takes place after the deaths of Qui Gon and Darth Maul.  Dooku is lead to the dark side and becomes Darth Sidious' next apprentice.  Yaddle, of the same race as Yoda, discovers the treachery and she and Dooku have a light saber battle.  Dooku lowers the door on her, but she is able to repel the door.  However the effort leaves her weakened and defenseless.  Dooku gives her peace.  Episode 5 Practice Makes Perfect: Anakin is overseeing the training of Ahsoka.  He uses Clone Troopers after seeing the practice droids do not give a worth challenge.  This results in Ahsoka practicing over and over.  This would save her life when Order 66 is issued.  Did Anakin have some premonition? Episode 6 Resolve deals with Ahsoka's decisions after Order 66.  In this episode she confronts an inquisitor.  It becomes apparent to Ahsoka she cannot be what she is not as it puts others in danger.  

I recommend this series for any one interesting in Star Wars.  It gives further detail as to the motivations of Count Dooku and Ahsoka Tano.   It provides reactions for deaths of Qui Gon Jinn and Queen Amidala.  

TV Review: ****^Star Wars: The Bad Batch

 I thoroughly enjoyed Star War: The Bad Batch, as I generally enjoy anything Star Wars.  This is a new animated series.  The original premise we have about the Bad Batch, is they are just that, clones who were mismade some how.  However it has been an advantage to them as they are generally more aggressive and they fight outside the general mode of the other clones, which makes them a more formidable fighter.  However, as this series progresses we find that perhaps their differences were not accidental.  Each has special skills.  Hunter is the leader and has intuitive insight, Cross Hair is a superior marksman, Wrecker has great strength and also a reinforced skeletal system, Tech is a Tech genius, Echo was a regular droid but captured by the drones and hooked up to a computer and so can now access any computer. And then we add a fifth member to the Bad Batch, a young girl.  She too has her own special abilities and by the end of the series we begin to figure out what those are.  

Conflict is created when one member of the Bad Batch is very intense on following orders, and as such leaves the group and joins the empire.  However we are never sure how much the empire actually appreciates him, or are they just using him.  All of the episodes from the first season are now available through Disney+.  

A few years later all of the Bad Batch Seasons are available.  There are three seasons in total.  Omega, the young girl mentioned is vital the the Empire as they want to utilize her in making more clines.  She is a force sensitive clone.  She is captured and held prisoner.  The emperor wants to use her blood to be able to make force sensitive clones.  The rest of the Bad Batch is determined to rescue her.  This puts them all in harms way; but they are a team.

From season to season this series only gets better.  As in all dangerous situations; they are in great peril and not all survive.

The Primary cast:

Omega, Michelle Ang

The Bad Batch; Cross Hair, Wrecker, Hunter, Tech and Echo, Dee Bradley Baker. Baker also voices most of the other clones.

There are three seasons with 47 episodes.  This is great Star Wars fun.

Movie Review: ****^Star Wars The Rise of Skywalker

This review is very late. Only a couple years after the movie do i realize I had neglected to right a review for this movie. I actually watched this in theaters, several time, when it first came out. Over the months, there have been those who have expressed opinion about this episode, the final of the original ning episodes. Many want to trach the final three altogether, while others are the opposite and love them. I would put myself in the group that loves them. I must admit, "The Last Jedi" was a disappointment to me. This movie had to fix so many things--such as Luke Skywalker throwing a light saber over his shoulder. That was just too out of character for me. Anyway, this movie attempts to repair the damage with a different director. It also brings us to Exegol. This is a fitting environment for the last battle. Palpatine has returned, and Rey is his off spring. But Rey is not a Palpatine. The interaction between she and Kylo Ren is very well done. The story comes full circle. This movie keeps you on the edge of your seat to the end. Is was fantastic to see a cameo of Han Solo, and Luke Skywalker who had both passed away in previous episodes.

TV Review: *****The Mandalorian

 I have really enjoyed the first two seasons of Mandalorian.  It was genius on the part of Disney to introduce the little Yoda from the very first episode.  I think after that introduction everyone was hooked.  And then to bring Ahsoka Tano to the screen in season two.  She is so hard core.  The return of Luke Skywalker was just the most.  I love the Star Wars universe and characters; and this film reintroduced old characters but also brought to the screen new intriguing characters.  I wait for the next season and hope Disney politics don't ruin it.  Great fun.  Pedro Pascal as the Mandalorian, Gina Carano as Cara Dune, Giancarlo as Moff Gideon (the bad guy) and Rosario Dawson and Ahsoka Tano.  

Movie Review: ****Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018)

If you ever wondered how Chewbacca and Solo hooked up, this movie gives the answer.  They met in prison.  Chewbacca being the monster who was suppose to do away with Solo, but instead they form an alliance, and go off to a life of smuggling--very ill.
What was not expected was the serious love relationship between Solo and Qi'ra.  They are a thing at the beginning of the movie on Corellia, and then separated by circumstances.  However when they finally get back together there is still steam between them. 
This movie has plenty of futuristic adventure.  It also has an intriguing plot.  There is a major twist when at the end of the movie Darth Maul is introduced. 
Great fun here.  I must admit I prefer Harrison Ford, but this Solo does an admirable job.

	Alden Ehrenreich	...	Han Solo
	Joonas Suotamo	...	Chewbacca
	Woody Harrelson	...	Beckett
	Emilia Clarke	...	Qi'ra
	Donald Glover	...	Lando Calrissian
	Thandie Newton	...	Val
	Phoebe Waller-Bridge	...	L3-37 (voice)
	Paul Bettany	...	Dryden Vos

Dryden Vos plays the villain, smuggler who doesn't hesitate to take a life to protect his interest.  We see a card shark, younger version of Lando Calrissian.  Beckett is the head of a smuggling ring where Chewbacca and Solo land. 

Movie Review: ****Star Wars: The Last Jedi

Loved this.  There are so many plot twists that excite .  I don't want to give anything away, but you must see this.
I went late night opening day, and when an old character returned everyone would clap.  These of course include:
Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa.  Seeing her on screen made me cry knowing she has passed away.
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, An old Luke, now the wise sage.
Anthony Daniels as C3PO,  there is some humorous play between Leia and the robot.
Jimmy Vee as R2D2, happy reunion with Skywalker.
A new actor Jonas Suotomo as Chewbacca.  There is cute play between Chewbacca and some little critters.
Retuning from "The Force Awakens" are
Daisy Ridley as Rey, lots of fun between she and Skywalker, and more fun between she and
Adam Driver as Kylo Ren.   His darkness grows.
John Boyega as Finn who meets a new girl, Kelly Marie Tran as Rosa Tico.
Other new characters include:
Oscar Isaac as Poe Dameron, who has spunk but often makes the wrong decision.
Andy Serkis as Snoke, even more evil than Emperor Palpatine.
And Laura Dern as vice Admiral Holdo, who takes over after Leia goes down.
So in that, probably too many hints.  See this, it is a twist a minute.

However the director changed the character of Luke Skywalker too much which leaves a bad taste in your mouth.  This is the worse of this trilogy.  

Movie Review: ****Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)

  In this movie the whole unierse descends into chaos.  The emperor AKA Darth Sidious, (Ian McDiarmid) thrives on chaos.  He uses his influence over Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) to bring about his transformation into a powerful Sith Lord.  Anakin does unspeakable things, including the murder of children and women, the Sand People in the last movie, and the younglings in training at the Jedi temple in this movie.  He also dispenses with Count Dooku.  Sidious gives Anakin bad dreams about the demise of his wife, Padme (Natalie Portman) in childbirth.  Anakin is determined not to let her die, and is willing to delve into the dark side to save her.  He is also part of the demise of Mace Windu (Samuel Jackson) who had Sidious, until Anakin intervened.  In the end, the clones turn on the Jedi, as Sidious had planned.  Yoda (Frank Oz) and Sidious meet in a great battle.  At the same time, Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) faces Anakin in an epoch battle.  Anakin’s action do just the opposite of what he intended; he injures her instead of saving her.  The Jedi go into hiding, and the universe falls into the control of the Galactic Empire. 

I still don’t like the character of Anakin Skywalker, who is dead as Darth Vader emerges.  However I love Yoda, and Mace Windu.  And the line where Kenobi informs Anakin that he has the high ground, that further battle is pointless. 

Star Wars: Episode II: Attack of the Clones

This movie starts with an impressive explosion, and it doesn't let go.  There are the cloners, and Jenga Fett (Temuera Morrison) as the bounty hunter and gene supply for the clones.  Obi Wan (Ewan McGregor) continues in his roll of training Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen).  the most complex roll is that of Anakin, and I don't know if anyone could pull this off 100 percent, but Anakin has to go from a little boy, to Darth Vader in three easy steps.  Sometimes he comes off as a whining spoiled brat.  Padme (Natalie Portman) puts up with his antics, and in fact falls in love with him.  The wed secretly to end this episode.  Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) is here again.  He is leading the separatist, under the direction of Lord Sidious/Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).  He is such a manipulator, and in fact the Clone Army, which saves the empire, is just that, a big manipulation.  However the Clones are able to save our heroes from certain death at the hands of the drone army.  There is a cameo part of the owner of a cantina.  He is such a fascinating characters.  "Cloners!" is a line so well given.  I don't know if this character was computer generated or not but it was voiced by Ronald Falk.  After Dooku defeats Anakin and Obi Wan, we get to see Yoda in action with his light saber.  It is fun to see him bouncing around.  Story is again provided by George Lucas.

Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode 1: The Phantom Menace

In my opinion, the prequel trilogy is not near as good as the three originally made.  That being said, The Phantom Menace has lots going for it.  In this series, we are introduced to a whole new cast of characters,  The holdouts are Darth Sidious/Senator Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), Obi Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker; later Darth Vader (Jake Lloyd) as a boy; and then Yoda (Frank Oz) in a smaller roll.  Two Jedi, Obi Wan and his master, Qui-Gon Jinn (Liam Neesom) head to a planet to help with negotiations, and land in the middle of a droid army invasion.  Queen Amidala (Natalie Portman) is able to escape with the Jedi.  They end up stranded on Tatooine, the Luke Skywalker planet.  Her they meet Anakin and his mother Shmi (Pernilla August).  they are both slaves.  However Anakin has a skill which leads to his freedom, and the Jedi being able to repair their ship.  This is a racing sport, unlike any we have seen, as big chariots, pulled by two engines each, race around the sand dunes.  This race is very dangerous.  To this cast of characters, we add Darth Maul (Ray Park), a Sith Lord.  He challenges the Jedi on a couple of occasions, and Tatooine, and then back on Naboo.  There are two people that live on Naboo.  Queen Amidala only represents half.  In the ocean lives another sentient culture, and it is only with their aide, that the people of Naboo can defeat the droids.  Both peoples must overcome pride to except help from the other.  Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best) befriends the Jedi, but is not on good terms with his own people due to his clumsiness.  All tis leads to a classic battle involving Anakin, the Jedi against Darth Maul, and the people of Naboo against the droid army. 
This is a very creative film.  Especially with the sand  racers.  Star Wars keeps introducing us to new worlds and situations, and is always a good ride. 

Movie Review: *****Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

This tar Wars film again introduces us to a new world.  In this case it is the moon of Endor, where the Empire is constructing another death star super station.  The Battle of Endor then has a battle on three different levels, each with its own significance.  On the surface the Ewoks join a small group from the rebellion to battle for entrance into the station so they can destroy the generator and bring down the shield surrounding the death star.  Then there is the battle in space, as the rebellion sends a fleet of fighters to destroy the new death star.  And finally inside the death star, Luke Skywalker battles his father, Darth Vader, and then also Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid).  With battle on all these levels taking place at once, this is an amazing series of action and intrigue.  We are not introduced to new characters.  However Emperor Palpatine plays a much bigger role.

Movie Review: ****^Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

I still love this movie.  It was such a fascinating film.  From the World of Hoth, where Luke Skywalker runs into a snow creature, and Han Solo has to save him, to Han Solo being frozen, and Luke Skywalker is unable to save him, this movie jumps.  The information that Darth Vader shares as to Luke's parentage is classic, "I am your father." is in the vernacular now.  This movie also introduces us to Yoda (Frank Oz), the wise Jedi sage who completes Skywalker's training.  Again we are introduced to interesting worlds and tremendous conflicts, which makes for a great movie.  The ice planet Hoth is an inhospitable planet, Dagobah is over populated with plants and snakes, and the Cloud City of Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) is a mining community in the sky.  The other scene that is classic, is after a chase through an asteroid field and floating away with the garbage.  If not for Bobba Fett (Jeremy Bulloch) the bounty hunter, they would have gotten away.