I neeeeed that book!

Although Star Wars is my favourite of the series, I have to admit that ESB is the better film all around.

—of what’s become the fan favorite of the Star Wars series.

For those who saw them in first run, I wonder what you all thought? When I watched the movie the first time during its initial release, I thought it was a dud. A complete kneebiter. I mean, the first movie ended in triumph, the second ended in... Luke losing his hand. Ew.

Now when I watch it I agree that it is perhaps the best movie, but at the time... Ew.

What did other think of it the first time through, I wonder?

I saw it the weekend it came out in 1980 and loved it. I was 16 and was definitely into the anti-climax ending. You have to admit that it was gutsy as hell to leave the rebellion in pieces and everything unresolved at the end.

Good god, I want this. The scene where the AT-ATs show up, first as seen through grainy space binoculars, is one of my favorite images in any movie ever.

I remember seeing Star Wars (drive-in with several neighbour kids and my younger brother) and Return of the Jedi (with younger brother in Santa Barbara, Arlington Theatre, waited in a line around the block, managed to find two seats together in the middle of the theatre) for the first time, but not ESB. I probably saw it at the Cinedome (torn down in 2000).