Asteroid Field

The Empire Strikes Back

The Empire Strikes Back is often hailed as the perfect movie and I totally understand why. It’s perfectly paced, with strong performances, a consistent tone and amazing visuals. And one scene in particular ticks all of the boxes. Technically speaking, it’s one of the most awe-inspiring moments in the saga.

Han, Chewbacca, Leia and Threepio have just escaped Echo Base on Hoth but they are not out of the woods yet as an Imperial blockade dispatches Tie fighters to pursue the Millennium Falcon. And with the hyperdrive out of commission, our heroes are in danger.

Make no mistake, this 3m50s sequence is a case study in why we love Han Solo. Harrison Ford is a scene stealer here as we get all of Han Solo’s traits neatly bundled. Over-confidence, impressive piloting talents to justify the arrogance, followed by the flicker of anxiety that he quickly tries to brush away with more bravado.

As the Falcon’s woes begin to surface, Han delivers on the “well we can still out-manoeuvre them,” as he pulls off a nose dive to draw the Tie’s away from the Star Destroyers and thus begins the chase. Then comes the “watch this” followed by the sound of the hyperdrive failing to boot up, (which is funnily enough the sound I hear when I hit snooze for the second time of a morning.)

There is a flicker of anxiety with a well-delivered, “I think we’re in trouble.” Han Solo doesn’t panic, at least on the exterior. Threepio, in contrast, has found a higher octave and, let’s be fair, is lucky not to have been shut down already.

If he had been deactivated during the panic hurried Falcon repair work, we wouldn’t have had been graced with another iconic Han Solo response. As Threepio rattles off the impossibly unlikely odds of navigating an asteroid field – approximately 3,720-1 for anybody keeping score – Solo rebuttals with his “never tell me the odds” line and spawning thousands of t-shirts, mugs, and keyrings in the process.

As Han defies the odds and successfully begins to navigate the asteroids, John Williams’ score picks up. This is swashbuckling Star Wars and clearly the inspiration for #17 on the list – the Falcon’s evasive manoeuvres in the Crait crystal mines in The Last Jedi. Part of the reason I love that sequence is because of how it reminds me of Han Solo’s asteroid field exploits.

The practical effects used in 1980 still hold up today. The asteroid’s feel tangible, the shots from the cockpit showcase the peril that our heroes face as huge rocks fill the Falcon’s windows. The exterior shots and Tie explosions are equally as impressive.

It really is the perfect Star Wars scene. I could watch it on loop and never fall out of love. We get great character moments, brilliant action, great effects and a kick-ass soundtrack to create a perfect 3m50s of cinema.