The Empire Strikes Back

• STAR WARS JOHN WILLIAMS

Amazon.co.uk As the bridging film of the original Star Wars trilogy, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) topped its predecessor in terms of story, character development, and special effects. Directed by Irvin Kershner, the sequel documents the relentless pursuit of the rebels by Darth Vader, a burgeoning romance between Han Solo and Princess Leia, and the training of Luke by the mystical Yoda. Taking advantage of his elaborate leitmotif design, composer John Williams introduces a wise, spiritual theme for Yoda and a delicate love theme that assumes a more dramatic profile after Han is betrayed and frozen into sculpture. The score is also an imaginative inventory of self-contained settings, whether it be the chilly Hoth soundscapes, the otherworldly choruses of Cloud City, or the intricate gymnastics written for "The Asteroid Field". Discarding the heroic optimism of his previous score, Williams enforces the film's overriding dark tone through the ominous, brassy "Imperial March". Appearing in virtually every cue, the march accompanies Vader's obsessive quest to kidnap and convert Luke to the dark side. A definitive accounting of the finest science-fiction score ever written, this remastered two-disc set (released concurrently with the special edition of The Empire Strikes Back in 1997) presents the complete score in its full glory. --Kevin Mulhall Product description 2CD - EMPIRE STRIKES BACK - 1997 - STAR WARS - JOHN WILLIAMS - EAN 090266877324