A Thousand Stars: Episode V, Part 44

[matril]

We are all aware, I assume, of the startling nature of Episode V's finish. Till this point, movies tended to have complete endings. They could tease sequels, sure, but the conflicts and complications of that specific film were expected to be neatly tied up, with maybe only a small cliffhanger. Not so here. Our heroes have barely escaped with their lives, Han's fate is still uncertain, Luke has a troubling new truth to grapple with as well as a missing hand...you really can't call this a happy ending. Or any ending at all. It's firmly in the 'to be continued' category of the old serials that Lucas was inspired by. Be sure to come back for the next installment!

Let's contrast the visuals to the last film's triumphant finish. Rather than a grand throne room, we're looking at a beleaguered fleet hiding at the edge of the galaxy. Instead of a giant crowd of cheering Rebels, we have a lonely pair and two droids. Other companions, Lando and Chewie, are shown flying away, or are painfully absent like Han.

Still, this shot of Luke and Leia's face isn't despairing. There is hope still. Tentative, wistful, but still hope. Then we pull back and watch together with them, our battered but determined heroes. Interestingly, the final shot is of the Rebel fleet, perhaps as if to give a sense of impending motion and kinetic determination. We may have retreated before, but we're getting ready for the next battle, and this time we'll win.

See you for Episode VI!

Comments

[krpalmer]

I suppose I've become inclined to see some element of hope yet in this conclusion to push against all those insistences that "The Empire Strikes Back is the movie against which all other Star Wars movies fall short, in part because it's 'dark.'" Maybe these days I'm also inclined to make a certain point of Luke beginning to bounce back from his trough of defeat, as you pointed out back in "Star Words"; I admit I'm reluctant to go into further detail there because it might amount to criticizing a familiar target.

While I keep admitting I'm not providing as many comments to your posts here these days, I am glad to see them. At the same time, I am conscious the end of this series seems nigh. Should you be thinking of moving on to something else (or on from this journal), I can understand.

[matril]

I also tend to resist the notion of ‘dark’ being inherently superior. Episode V is darker simply because it’s the middle act, and that’s the natural structure of drama, to reach the nadir before the resolution of the final act. It’s a very strong middle, but without the first and third acts, it would basically collapse.