Long, long ago, in a theater far, far away...

(h/t Miss Cellania)

30 years ago today, a young George Lucas reached once again into our collective, cinematic memories to release "The Empire Strikes Back". The best movie of the original SW trilogy, it was both as perfect a "middle act" as you will find in movie history, as well as a tonic that washed the horror that was "The Star Wars Holiday Special" out of our collective mouths.

Sitting there in the dark, gasping equally at the socko CGI and the emotional depth and power of the story of the Dark Father at war with his son, little did we know that, 19 years later, the same George Lucas who had brought us such wonders would take a big, steaming "Phantom Menace" on his own creation and break it forever and ever.