Empire Strikes Back,The MPAA Rating: PG Entertainment: +3 Content: -1

This second of the "Special Edition" releases of the Star Wars trilogy will likely be another big box office winner. Although this science fiction film has a futuristic setting, it's really just an exciting, old-fashioned adventure in which the action, battles and intriguing drama never let up. It picks up where the first movie left off, as rebel pilot Luke Skywalker is lost in a blizzard while his comrades are under siege by the evil forces of Darth Vader. Luke is rescued, but Vader is determined to capture him and win him over to his evil Imperial Empire. While Han Solo and Princess Leia continue their fight for the rebellion, Luke crash lands his small space ship on another planet in search of Yoda, the mystical mentor for a group of men known as the Jedi Knights. When he does encounter Yoda, he's thoroughly indoctrinated in the eastern mystical concept of "The Force." Later he's captured by Vader's forces and must fight his way out with the help of Solo and Leia. The story is full of daring space ship and hand battles and is just as thrilling and entertaining as when it was first released in 1980.

One of the film's most appealing characteristics is the lack of foul language, sex, nudity or significant sexually suggestive content. Even though space and hand battles rage throughout, they're not excessively violent or sadistic. However, the mystical, pantheistic concept of "The Force" is still a major theme of this sequel. It's the eastern mystical idea of a spiritual energy force which surrounds everyone and has both a good and bad side to it. Luke and Yoda are able to levitate objects, communicate telepathically and demonstrate great strength using this "Force." Also, a deceased Jedi mentor appears as a spirit and talks to Luke. All of this is not surprising since the film's director, Irvin Kershner, is a Zen Buddhist and has said that he wanted to introduce some Zen philosophy into the movie. George Lucas, the creative force behind "Star Wars," has also been influenced by Buddhism. We definitely do not recommend the film for young children, and if adults or older children insist on seeing it, they should be aware that "The Force" is a mixture of fantasy and eastern mysticism and is a false religion.

Preview Reviewer: John Evans
Distributor: 20th Century Fox, 10201 W. Pico Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90036