The 50 Day Movie Challenge asks one question every day, to be answered by a few paragraphs and a clip, if possible. Click here for the full list of questions.

Today’s prompt: What’s your favorite sequel?

This one’s too easy and obvious, but it’s true. It’s pretty commonly believed that The Empire Strikes Back is the best of the Star Wars films, and I subscribe to that wholeheartedly. When I first watched Star Wars (as a jaded teenager), I was not suitably impressed, but I went on and watched Empire anyway. I’m a completionist, you know. Empire FLOORED me. I mean, Han and Leia, Imperial walkers, Yoda, I am your father, our heroes losing over and over, the ending that leaves them at their lowest point – it upped the ante at every turn. I loved it, and that caused me to go back and reevaluate the first one, and loved it too. So yeah. Empire not only bettered Star Wars for me, it actually helped me see what everyone else did in it and made me a fan for life.

Here’s the climax of the film: