Empire Strikes Back vividly captures love, loss, pain, and fear—even for a kid who knew nothing these emotions. (Lines like “I know” and “I am your father” have stuck with me through life.) Characters like Han, Leia, and Luke represented the best of us. They weren’t just heroes, they were, for so many millions of people, real-life people that could feel heartbreak, fear, or uncertainty. This movie put these characters through incredibly difficult challenges, yet there was always hope, right down to the stunning final image of Luke, Leia, R2-D2, and C-3P0 watching the Millennium Falcon fly off in search of Han. Sure, Luke kisses his sister for a second time, but this film represents what a perfect Star Wars movie can do.