If you had caught me a few years back and asked me what my favourite movie was, I would've answered Star Wars (or Lord of the Rings, seeing as we were in the middle of a hype). Had you been the inquisitive kind of person, you would've demanded which Star Wars movie is my favourite.

I can guarantee you that the Empire Strikes back wouldn't even come close to a mention.

Or to further illustrate the point:

My Special Edition tapes of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi are so worn down that the picture quality isn't at its best. Empire Strikes Back is still in its pristine 1997 condition.

Blasphemy you say! That's the best one of the whole series!

But that's how it is. I don't like the most popular and probably the best movie in the series. Heck, some consider it to be the best sci-fi movie of all time. Yet, here I am.

So now I guess I owe you all an explanation. Here it is:

Being a part of the middle generation (i.e. those that were born after the movies release and grew up inbetween the two trilogies) meant that I grew up with Empire already there.

And since the movie is very dark compared to the others, it kinda scared me as a kid. I even had to turn away when Motti got throttled in A New Hope, so you can understand my reactions to Needas death and Ozzels uncomfortably realistic choking. Not to mention gutting Tauntauns, Han being frozen in carbonite and Luke loosing his hand (though I have a feeling that it was the look on Lukes face during that whole scene that was more unsettling)

But the clincher was the Cave. Indeed, if all those were bad for a small kid, it's nothing compared to the Cave. Firstly, it was the ominous setting, the slow-motion Vader, the decapitation and finally Vaders mask blowing up to reveal Lukes face. That was too much for me. It all looked too real.

This put me off Empire for a long time. I would usually watch A New Hope and than after that fast forward to Return of the Jedi, because I had an idea of what happened in between. No need to go through that again.

However, it is worth mentioning that it wasn't only the unsettling feeling and dark tone of the movie that gave it little viewings. It was the total lack of space battles. I mean A New Hope and Return of the Jedi were my favourites, go figure. There was a groundbattle in the beginning and then a lightsaber duel in the end. Not compact enough. Not satisfying for me as a kid.

It wasn't really until I had the 2004 DVD set that I took a serious look at Empire, being now in my mid-teens and thus "accustomed" to the more darker tones of things. It wasn't as bad as I had remembered it. Of course, there were remnants of those uncomfortable feelings from when I was younger, but I could now more fully appreciate it all without being distracted by the tone of the movie.

I even came to enjoy some aspects of the movie that had previously scared me. Ozzels death is probably the best and most believable onscreen death ever (kudos to Mr. Michael Shears), the role the Cave plays in determining Lukes future and the dialogue during the carbon freezing scene. I started to greatly appreciate the asteroid chase, the battle for Hoth and the epic feeling of the duel. These factors made Empire different and I finally understood it and appreciated it all.

That being said, Empire still feels like the odd one out. This whole situation could best be described as Empire being that imposing uncle that looks rugged, rough and not the kind of uncle that wants to be with you like the other, more happier and playful uncles. However, whilst growing up, you gain new knowledge and understandings and you realise that this imposing uncles is simply misunderstood. Whilst looking rugged and rough on the outside, he's still as playful and happy as the other uncles on the inside (referring of course to Yodas antics and the ever present wit of Solo).

And what's kinda exciting is whilst I know pretty much every scene or little detail from A New Hope and Return of the Jedi since I've watched them so many many times, Empire doesn't hold that status yet. I've got several more viewings to make up for.

Who knows, maybe one day when I've warmed up to it like the others, this might be my favourite uncle.