The Empire Strikes Back headed to the Library of Congress

[sfmarine]

The film will now be immortalized for all time. I'd say this film definitely deserves the cold-storage treatment. "Original copies of films picked for the registry are kept safe and available for viewing by future generations. The library acquires copies to preserve in its cold-storage vaults among millions of other recordings at the Packard Campus of the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center near Culpeper, Va."



http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainmen...9O4nJd8meNztZM

[CYMBOL]

My favorite movie of all time and movie I've seen more than any other.

[Blu-Benny]

In my 1st ever top 15 movies, this was my favorite!!

a modern classic!!

[Al_The_Strange]

Heck, all three of the original trilogy should be in the vault. But "TESB" is definitely iconic enough for it.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Al_The_Strange

Heck, all three of the original trilogy should be in the vault. But "TESB" is definitely iconic enough for it.

The original (1977's ANH) is already there, so perhaps it's just a matter of time until they select ROTJ, as well.

Incidentally the Library of Congress also selected Lucas's student film, THX-1138 4EB (the short, not the feature film).

[sfmarine]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Incidentally the Library of Congress also selected Lucas's student film, THX-1138 4EB (the short, not the feature film).

Ya that was surprising. They must really like Lucas. I wonder if Phantom Menace will make the cut as well.

[bandit29]

Awesome news! My favorite movie of all time..the greatest movie ever made in my book.

[Scooby Blu]

Great news indeed !!!

It is hard to believe that some teenagers have not seen this movie much less the original trilogy. A sad fact to say the least.

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by Scooby Blu

Great news indeed !!!

It is hard to believe that some teenagers have not seen this movie much less the original trilogy. A sad fact to say the least.

It is sad indeed, but I myself am a teenager and love the films, but there's one person in my class at college who hasn't seen any of them.

But of course this is great news, but it should have happened a long time ago, at least it happened in the year of its 30th Anniversary, just.

[Slick Nick]

Why is this considered the best film ever made? I've always wondered.

Personally I'd rather watch Sith.

[Trekkie313]

Now could we get the Wrath Of Khan?

[Jezza]

Originally Posted by Slick Nick

Why is this considered the best film ever made? I've always wondered.

Personally I'd rather watch Sith.

I don't think it's widely regarded as the best film ever, but one of them at least. I think it's because of its dark nature and sense of peril for the main characters, and there's also no denying how great Irvin Kershner was as a director.
I personally too have never quite understood why so many so it's best Star Wars film, because there's so much cutting between the two parties, and for the best part of the film the Han/Leia party is just being chased by Vader. So it feels like you're trying to follow two stories rather than one and because of this it doesn't feel as naturally brilliant as ANH. Having said that though, it's still an epic film, as I've made clear already.

Prefering to watch ROTS is not a bad thing, and Star Wars fans need to remember this, it just shows that you have a different taste to those who like the OT.

[blufellas]

Great news for one of my top 3 movies ever.

[GLaDOS]

Well deserved for a classic film. THIS is how you make sequels, Hollywood. Now where's Superman II and the Wrath of Khan?

[Tom Hiddleston]

About fing time I say. God I love Star Wars. And ROTJ should be next in line no question.

[CYMBOL]

Originally Posted by Clone Trooper

I personally too have never quite understood why so many so it's best Star Wars film, because there's so much cutting between the two parties, and for the best part of the film the Han/Leia party is just being chased by Vader. So it feels like you're trying to follow two stories rather than one and because of this it doesn't feel as naturally brilliant as ANH.

I think everything you just mentioned is what makes it so unique. While ANH was great - it was also very formula. But with Empire - it was completely unpredictable.

The scoundrel gets the girl? The bad guys kick the good guys' butts? The hero loses? Wait, the main villian is the hero's father? Wait, we like the scroundrel? Hold on, what do you mean the movies over?!

Add to that some wonderful effects (the snow battle), a light saber battle that made the first one look like child's play, etc. Great dialouge and direction. Vader at his most wicked. Introducing Yoda. Didn't talk down to us like children, Etc. Etc. Etc. - it had the best of everything that is Star Wars.

It was just something that took a great movie and flipped it on everyone.

It has always been my favorite Star Wars films, and generally, one of my favorite films of all time.

[Gaius Marius]

My favorite movie I like it for many of the reasons mentioned before. However, I think I like it because it ends so bleakly for the heroes, and the Empire is in control for the whole movie from Hoth to Cloud City. It is a huge departure from the 'heroes always win no matter the odds' and creates a true sense of danger. I love ANH and RotJ as well, but Empire just is Star Wars at it's peak.

[BluBonnet]

Well said CYMBOL.

For people who didn't watch it when it was brand new in theaters, it may be difficult to really grasp how mind-blowing this movie was, and why it was so much better than its predecessor.

While retaining all the sense of excitement and wonder of the original 1977 film, it also added a sense of seriousness, something that told you that these characters weren't one-dimensional, cardboard characters like in a lot of cheesy sci-fi movies. These heroes had flaws, major longings and fears, and could be hurt - sometimes very badly.

And having a downbeat surprise ending totally knocked one's socks off. Having had a mindlessly cheerful conclusion in the 2nd film of the OT would have been too predictable, and probably very forgettable in the larger scheme of the SW Saga.

But having an ending that left the bad guys triumphant and the good guys still on the run (or frozen in carbonite)? That was something that really made you count every single day of the 3 years that we had to wait until Return of the Jedi.

I don't think any popcorn movie could ever capture that sense of wonder anymore, because most filmmakers aren't willing to go significantly darker in a sequel than they did in the first film (or totally over do it) and because in the age of the Internet, there are very few real surprises in the movies everyone's been waiting for years to watch.

[STARSCREAM]

Excellent news! One of the greatest movies ever made.

[Batman1980]

I wonder which cut of this film was immortalized in the Library?