The Empire Strikes Back (1980)

While the evil Galactic Empire continues to suppress any resistance to its rule, the rebel alliance headed by Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) continues to fight against the tyranny. But the Empire has the upper hand and the resistance is met with a furious might. But the "hope" of the rebels, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) trains with the Jedi master Yoda (Frank Oz). Directed by Irvin Kershner (EYES OF LAURA MARS), this is considered the jewel of the original STAR WARS trilogy and justifiably so. This is a great epic in which everything falls perfectly into place. From the intelligent script by Leigh Brackett (RIO BRAVO) and Lawrence Kasdan (BODY HEAT) which allows for some detailed characterization to Kershner's concise direction (helped by Paul Hirsch's editing, of course). Of course, the trilogy's creator George Lucas' hand is all over this though uncredited for the most part. The film is the most operatic in scope of the trilogy and unlike the other two, it ends so many ends hanging (intentionally) unresolved. One of the genuinely great films of the 1980s decade. With Harrison Ford, Billy Dee Williams, James Earl Jones, Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker.