Joss Whedon's Problem With THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

Joss Whedon's Problem With THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK

As part of EW's massive interview with the director of The Avengers, Whedon is quizzed about which sequels he feels "get it right". One movie he lists is arguably the most popular of the Star Wars flicks, although he does have a big problem with the ending..or lack of one!

News
By MarkCassidy - Aug 22, 2013 09:08 AM EST
Filed Under: Avengers
Source: Entertainment Weekly



Whenever a sequel to a big, effects heavy type movie is in the works The Empire Strikes Back is always brought up as an example of a movie that improved in pretty much every way over its predecessor, and exeeded expectations. Joss Whedon will soon get to work on The Avengers: Age Of Ultron, and he doesn't break the trend when asked which sequels he thinks got it right..but he does have something to add! It seems Whedon wasn't a big fan of Empire's cliffhanger ending, which saw Han Solo taken by Bobba Fett and Chewie and Lando give chase. “Empire committed the cardinal sin of not actually ending, which at the time I was appalled by and I still think it was a terrible idea.” Admits the director. EW then ask Whedon if he feels the movie has a bad ending. "Well, it’s not an ending, it’s a Come Back Next Week, or in three years. And that upsets me," he replies. "I go to movies expecting to have a whole experience. If I want a movie that doesn’t end I’ll go to a French movie. That’s a betrayal of trust to me. A movie has to be complete within itself, it can’t just build off the first one or play variations.” What do you think? Was Empire's ending...and ending? Click on the link below for Whedon's thoughts on the Twilight movies.


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ezio619
ezio619 - 8/22/2013, 9:21 AM
he kinda has a point, movies should be a whole experience but it the cliffhangers are SO good
3DWitchHunt
3DWitchHunt - 8/22/2013, 9:23 AM
Disagree
I thought the ending was great
Reminiscent of the serials which inspired Star Wars
But... it is Whedon so anyone who disagrees is wrong
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 8/22/2013, 9:24 AM
such traditional storytelling way of thinking.
invalensname5
invalensname5 - 8/22/2013, 9:26 AM
It did end. The bad guys won. GREAT ending!

Yes, we knew there was another coming, and yes, the good guys won in the end. But the movie is "complete within itself" as Whedon puts it. Just not in the same manner as always. It subverted expectations. It's not called The Empire Strikes Back for nothing
Pheezmatic
Pheezmatic - 8/22/2013, 9:31 AM
Im curious to hear how he would have ended it.
JayJayCAW
JayJayCAW - 8/22/2013, 9:32 AM
He makes one decent film and now he thinks his opinion actually matters, [frick] off Joss, not everyone has your....."vision" and thank god for that.
JDUKE25
JDUKE25 - 8/22/2013, 9:36 AM
What a dumba**. It ended and set up what was to come in the final installment of that trilogy. It got people thinking and anticipating what was to come. Empire Strikes Back is 10 times better than Avengers.
Mrsinister
Mrsinister - 8/22/2013, 9:37 AM
I disagree.
TheDpool
TheDpool - 8/22/2013, 9:37 AM
The only thing that I still cant understand about Empire is WHY THE HELL IS LANDO WEARING HAN'S CLOTHES IN THE END????? Jesus it frustrates me that its a pointless question haha.
Greengo
Greengo - 8/22/2013, 9:37 AM
He must hate LOTR & HOBBIT.
gmoney0505
gmoney0505 - 8/22/2013, 9:38 AM
Kinda wished his villain were a threat to the heroes like in Empire Strike Back. I mean that's what I go to see movies with villains in it being a threat to the heroes and not a punching bag sitting there waiting to get hit.
Narosian
Narosian - 8/22/2013, 9:38 AM
By his definition, the first two lord of the rings movies dont have an ending either.
MarkCassidy
MarkCassidy - 8/22/2013, 9:38 AM
Actually he's made 2 GREAT movies..,but I digress..

I see his point but also disagree. The ending is a cliffhanger sure, but it's emotionally satisfying at the same time and as many have already pointed out, it was always part of a trilogy. You could say The Fellowship Of The Ring didn't have an ending either, or that it was just "two Hobbits walking over a hill".
JoshBerger
JoshBerger - 8/22/2013, 9:38 AM
LMFAO ...a french movie.....bwahahahha seriously that made me laugh out loud.
Greengo
Greengo - 8/22/2013, 9:39 AM
Serenity is just ok.
faver
faver - 8/22/2013, 9:40 AM
The movie was written as the second part of a trilogy, and actually had an ending within itself. As invalensname5 said, the ending was that the bad guys won, and that set up the final installment of the series. I think a good example of a sequel without ending is 'Matrix Reloaded', which ends in a random place and puts a cliffhanger scene just to get people to come back. That is not the case with ESB.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 8/22/2013, 9:40 AM
Epic ending. Is he for real? I guess he thought the endings to Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers were bad too?
Dmon
Dmon - 8/22/2013, 9:40 AM
It did have an ending, the Bad guys just won is all. This is my favorite out of the franchise.
kadetra
kadetra - 8/22/2013, 9:41 AM
Whedon is becoming a bit pretentious.
marvel72
marvel72 - 8/22/2013, 9:41 AM
i wonder if he has a problem with the two towers,the empire strikes back is a classic which all star wars films are measured against.

i would easily say the best sci-fi movie ever!
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 8/22/2013, 9:41 AM
Dammit, Joss... You just fell a couple of notches from greatness with those comments.

I was just a kid when this movie came out and even I knew it was the 2nd movie in a trilogy! *facepalm* AND I WAS OKAY WITH THAT!

Cardinal sin? You want to talk about cardinal sins, Joss? How about tossing Thanos up there at the end of Avengers? Yes you ended the battle of NYC, but then told us to 'hold the phone' and that the war had just begun. Way to be a hypocrite, Joss!
ezio619
ezio619 - 8/22/2013, 9:41 AM
its his taste in movie, he didnt sa he hated empire strikes back, he just was not satisfied b the ending, i disagree with him too but its his persoanl preference to have a whole experience during a movie
Greengo
Greengo - 8/22/2013, 9:41 AM
JDUKE25
JDUKE25 - 8/22/2013, 9:42 AM
The ending was satisfying and exhilarating.


Greengo
Greengo - 8/22/2013, 9:43 AM
Joss's head is getting big.

It's growing into a bulbous orb.

Oh wait, too late.

: )
JoshBerger
JoshBerger - 8/22/2013, 9:43 AM
I loved the ending in Empire, but he does have a point...it isn't as much of a cliffhanger as those atrocious Matrix movies...and I wouldn't even include LOTR since all 3 movies were actually filmed all at once,then it was just a matter of releasing them one every year...besides,LOTR always was one big movie based on three books, but like I said...the ywanted it to be one huge-ass 12-hour experience.
Dmon
Dmon - 8/22/2013, 9:43 AM
I guess Whedon's Marvel films will just be full of rainbows and sunshine. The villains will never feel like a real threat I guess.
JDUKE25
JDUKE25 - 8/22/2013, 9:43 AM
Might as well go ahead and put this on here.
THEDARKKNIGHT1939
THEDARKKNIGHT1939 - 8/22/2013, 9:44 AM
If he truly believed in that, why would he put in Thanos at the end of the credits?
kadetra
kadetra - 8/22/2013, 9:44 AM
Empire strikes back is my second favourite sequel after TDK.
BlindJustice
BlindJustice - 8/22/2013, 9:44 AM
@marvel72 - Agreed! 'Empire Strikes Back' is THE SCI-FI sequel that all others are measured up against.

Well said.
Indy
Indy - 8/22/2013, 9:44 AM
Shut up Whedon I like firefly but how dare you talk smack about Empire. What think your hot shit now because of Avengers get ego line pal Avengers made lot money but not that great. Empire Is amazing Amazing!!! Ending is Perfect!!! I am not going waste anymore time on dumb comments like this.
TheWolverine08
TheWolverine08 - 8/22/2013, 9:45 AM
Why is everybody attacking Joss like rabid dogs for having an opinion?
Berserker187
Berserker187 - 8/22/2013, 9:45 AM
Wait did i just read this correctly? Marvel does this all the time with there movies it never ends. TO funny to read.LOL...-_-
ndwwrestler2
ndwwrestler2 - 8/22/2013, 9:46 AM
I have to disagree. As a kid I hated this ending and disliked the movie. Now this is my favorite Star Wars movie.

It's an ending to a chapter. The bad guys won that round. If they had saved Han in the end, I don't think the movie as a whole would be that good.

The ending leaves you wanting more, which is what most movies should do.
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