EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Hoth Battle 1 - ground assault

In preparation for the evacuation we see Luke giving priortizing instructions to his medical robot. I can't decypher this cryptic conversation fragment. The robot seems to be telling him about evacuating the snowspeeders (T-47's), and Luke says to load the smaller modules first. So what the fuck are the smaller modules? And why is he telling this to the medical droid? Is this actually a set of instructions about his personal baggage?

We also see Leia giving last minute combat instructions to the transport escort pilots. These two scenes are a good comparison for Leia's and Luke's command authority. Further evidence that it is not Luke who is leading the Rebels, despite the opening scroll.

Luke's gunner is Dak (spelled DACK in the screenplay but DAK in the movie credits). Now, let's all take a moment here for Dak. He said he felt like he could take on the whole Empire himself. Well son, do you feel like you can throw your life away for the Rebels? Cuz that's what the poor slob does. Dak's big mistake is flying with Luke. Luke is fueled by an aspiring despot's frenzied mania and Kenobi's hypnotic suggestions. A dangerous man to be around. Sorry, Dak. You aren't the first person to die because of Luke. Nor, sadly, are you the last.

Soon the Imperial Walkers show up. Bar none, the best mechs on screen yet (Voltron's lions come in a close second). They look good. They look damn good. No, they don't look like they'd be worth a shit, except as a scare tactic, but they pack a punch. And they're supposed to be troop carriers. Wha...? I don't think I would've ever figured that out without that great Star Wars cross sections book. We never get to see inside the body, just the cockpit. Nor do we get to see just how the troops are supposed to disembark - do the bloody Walkers kneel down like circus elephants?

This giant sprawling climatic battle happens near the very begining of the film, further evidence that these are historical documents - a normal movie couldn't support such a contrivance ;)

This is a spectacular battle, too. Decades and millions of dollars have been spent trying to re-play this battle in video games and they have yet to capture the lovely flavor, though 'Rogue Squadron' for the Gamecube comes close.

See? Not bad.