THE FILM AND WATER PODCAST
Episode 20: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
The countdown to THE FORCE AWAKENS continues as host Rob Kelly welcomes the other half of THE FIRE AND WATER PODCAST, The Irredeemable Shag, to discuss THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK! May the Force Be With You!
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Thanks for listening! That's A Wrap!
Great episode covering a great film. Even with Shag on the show! Seriously, I can't add much. Empire definitely adds some depth to the Star Wars mythos, although having just re-watched the original film this weekend, I don't really see any bad performances. Inconsistent, maybe, but not bad.
ReplyDeletePeople give Luke flack for being whiny...but he's a kid! He's barely an adult, and at that age, you get whiny VERY quickly. I do agree that Hamill doesn't get enough credit for selling his role, especially when he carries a good chunk of Empire just working with Frank Oz's hand, and nothing else.
Going to watch Empire and Jedi this weekend to make sure my daughter is up to speed for Force Awakens!
Chris
Great episode, brought back many memories and reminded me just how long it's been since I watched the original trilogy (the updates in theaters to be exact)
ReplyDeleteI think it's pretty obvious to folks who know me, or have listened to my appearances on Film&Water and Secret Origins, I walk to the beat of my own drum. So it should be no surprise that Empire is my least favorite of the original trilogy. Of the three this always stuck me as the dark depressing one. That doesn't mean I don't love it...I just prefer the others.
That said, I do have one very positive memory of Empire. For my birthday, it had to be 1981, my mom took me to the toy store and let me have a mini shopping spree. We didn't have a ton of money growing up, so my budget wasn't huge, but the gesture made it that much more special. I left with Bespin Luke, Hoth Han, Lando, Yoda, the Twin Pod Cloud Car vehicle, a knock-off glow-in-the-dark lightsaber, and the biggest smile on my face!
I also remember that Marvel adaption, I had it as a small paperback book I think my mom bought at the grocery store, and was confused like everyone else by tiny purple Yoda.
Empire is indeed great and the only one in the franchise I don't act all grumpy about having to watch if it comes up with other people. (Like Shagg, I rate Jedi as 2nd best with New Hope only 3rd.) It was my first, had to watch it with a parent explaining what went before and translating some of the more difficult dialog, but when I think of Empire, the images that come back to me are from that original viewing in theaters. Luke and Han in the Taunt-Taunt. Yoda's little bottom. The Falcon landing inside Jonah's Sock Puppet. C-3PO as a backpack. Lando revealing the Millennium Falcon used to be HIS. The final fight in the wind tunnel and Luke's robot hand. Han getting flash frozen. All that stuff I count as childhood memories.
ReplyDeleteShagg's enthusiasm, as usual, is infectious. Great guest. (Now THAT'S drumming to a different tune, Tim.)
Favorite bit of the episode: Your Tarantino impression, Rob. You do a great one!
Thank you for a fun episode, and another thank you for not spoiling the surprise of Darth Vader being Luke's father...
ReplyDeleteOooooops.
I had never heard nor seen any of the Kenner toy commercials since I was living overseas at the time, but I am over 95% certain the kid playing with the Yoda figure in your stinger was a voice actor in the Peanuts gang. Unfortunately, I cannot confirm this in my initial Internet search for verification...