text:
The Empire Strikes Back
|The Empire Strikes Back
Theatrical release poster by Roger Kastel
|Directed by
|Irvin Kershner
|Produced by
|Gary Kurtz
|Screenplay by
|Story by
|George Lucas
|Music by
|John Williams
|Peter Suschitzky
|Edited by
|Distributed by
|20th Century Fox1
Release dates
Running time
|124 minutes[1]
|United States
|$18–33 million[2][3]
|Box office
|$534.1–538.4 million[2][4]
The Empire Strikes Back (also known as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back) is a 1980 American epic space opera film directed by Irvin Kershner. Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan wrote the screenplay, with George Lucas writing the film's story and serving as executive producer. The second installment in the original Star Wars trilogy, it was produced by Gary Kurtz for Lucasfilm Ltd. and stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and Frank Oz.
The film is set three years after Star Wars. The Galactic Empire, under the leadership of the villainous Darth Vader and the Emperor, is in pursuit of Luke Skywalker and the rest of the Rebel Alliance. While Vader chases a small band of Luke's friends—Han Solo, Princess Leia Organa, and others—across the galaxy, Luke studies the Force under Jedi Master Yoda. When Vader captures Luke's friends, Luke must decide whether to complete his training and become a full Jedi Knight or to confront Vader and save them.
Following a difficult production, The Empire Strikes Back was released on May 21, 1980. It received mixed reviews from critics initially but has since grown in esteem, becoming the most critically acclaimed chapter in the Star Wars saga; it is now widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time.[5][6][7][8] The film ranks #3 on Empire's 2008 list of the 500 greatest movies of all time.[9] It became the highest-grossing film of 1980 and, to date, has earned more than $538 million worldwide from its original run and several re-releases. When adjusted for inflation, it is the second-highest-grossing sequel of all time and the 13th-highest-grossing film in North America.[10] The film was followed by a sequel, titled Return of the Jedi, which was released in 1983.
In 2010, the film was selected for preservation in the United States' National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being "culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant."
Three years after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance has been driven from their former base on Yavin IV by the Galactic Empire. The Rebels, led by Princess Leia, have set up their new base on the ice planet Hoth. The Imperial fleet, led by Darth Vader, continues to hunt for the Rebels' new base by dispatching probe droids across the galaxy.
While investigating a potential meteor strike, Luke Skywalker is injured and captured by a wampa, a yeti-like creature. He manages to escape from its cave with his lightsaber, but soon succumbs to the brutally cold temperatures and collapses. The ghost of his late mentor, Obi-Wan Kenobi, instructs him to go to the Dagobah system to train under Jedi Master Yoda. He is found by Han Solo, who uses the warmth of his dead tauntaun to keep Luke warm while he sets up a shelter. Han and Luke make it through the night and are rescued by a search party.
On patrol, Han and Chewbacca discover the meteor Luke had planned to investigate is actually a probe droid, which alerts the Empire to the Rebels' location. The Empire launches a large-scale attack, using AT-AT Walkers to capture the base. Han and Leia escape on the Millennium Falcon with C-3PO and Chewbacca, but their hyperdrive malfunctions. They hide in an asteroid field, where Han and Leia grow closer, and eventually, kiss. Vader summons bounty hunters, including the notorious Boba Fett, to assist in finding the Falcon. Luke, meanwhile, escapes with R2-D2 in his X-wing fighter and crash-lands on the swamp planet Dagobah. He meets a diminutive creature who is revealed to be Yoda; after conferring with Obi-Wan's spirit, Yoda reluctantly accepts Luke as his pupil. Yoda trains Luke as a Jedi and raises his sunken ship from the swamp, to Luke's shock.
After evading the Empire, Han sets a course for Cloud City, a floating colony in the skies of the gas giant planet Bespin. Cloud City is run by Han's old friend, Lando Calrissian. Unknowingly, the Millennium Falcon has been tracked for the Empire by Boba Fett; shortly after they arrive, Lando leads the group into a trap and they are handed over to Darth Vader. Vader plans to use the group as bait to lure out Luke, intending to capture him alive and take him to the Emperor. During his training on Dagobah, Luke sees a premonition of Han and Leia in pain in a city in the clouds and, against Yoda's wishes, leaves to save them.
Vader goes back on his agreement with Lando to let Leia and Chewbacca stay in Cloud City and instead, takes them into custody. He intends to hold Luke in suspended animation for delivery to the Emperor, and as a test to ensure he will live after the process, freezes Han alive in a block of carbonite. Vader hands the frozen Han over to Fett, who intends to leave for Tatooine to deliver Han to Jabba the Hutt and claim the bounty on Solo. Lando, who was forced into cooperating with the Empire, initiates an escape and frees Leia and the others. They then try to save Han but are unable to stop Fett as he departs. They fight their way back to the Falcon and flee Cloud City.
After arriving at Cloud City, Luke falls into Vader's trap. The two engage in a lightsaber duel that leads them over the city's central air shaft where, as his mentors warned, Luke proves to be no match for Vader who severs Luke's right hand, causing him to lose his weapon. After Luke refuses to join Vader against the Emperor, Vader reveals that he is Luke's father. Horrified, Luke falls off the bridge and is pulled into an air shaft. He is ejected beneath the floating city but is able to grab onto an antenna. He makes a desperate telepathic plea to Leia, who senses it and persuades Lando to return for him in the Falcon. After Luke is brought on-board, they are chased by tie fighters but R2-D2 repairs the Falcon's hyperdrive, allowing them to escape the Empire.
Later, aboard a Rebel medical frigate, Luke's amputated hand is replaced with a robotic prosthetic. Lando and Chewbacca set off for Tatooine in the Falcon in order to save Han. As the Falcon departs, Luke, Leia, R2-D2, and C-3PO gaze out on the galaxy and await word from Lando.
- Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker: A Jedi in training, who is powerfully connected with the Force. Luke is the son of Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala, as well as the twin-brother to Leia.
- Harrison Ford as Han Solo: A smuggler and Captain of the Millennium Falcon.
- Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa: A leader of the Rebel Alliance, the former Princess of the destroyed planet Alderaan; Luke's sister, and Han's love interest.
- Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian: Administrator of Cloud City and an old friend to Han Solo.
- Anthony Daniels as C-3PO: A humanoid protocol droid who was bought by Luke.
- David Prowse as Darth Vader: A Sith Lord, who is Luke and Leia's father.
- James Earl Jones as the voice of Darth Vader
- Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca: A Wookiee and loyal friend to Han Solo.
- Kenny Baker as R2-D2: An astromech droid, bought by Luke; and long-time friend to C-3PO. He also portays a GONK power droid in the background.
- Frank Oz as Yoda: The wise, centuries-old Grand Master of the Jedi, who is Luke's self-exiled Jedi Master living on Dagobah. Oz was assisted by several other performers, including Kathryn Mullen, David Barclay, Wendy Froud, Wendy Midener and Deep Roy.[11]
- Jeremy Bulloch portrays Boba Fett: A bounty hunter, hired by the Galactic Empire. Jason Wingreen provided Fett's voice in the film's original theatrical cut and the 1997 Special Edition. In the 2004 and 2011 special editions, Temuera Morrison, who played Jango Fett in Attack of the Clones and all his clones including Commander Cody in Revenge of the Sith, replaced Wingreen as Fett's voice. Bulloch also makes a cameo appearance as the Imperial officer who grabs Leia when she tells Luke to avoid Vader's trap with John Morton doubling as Fett in this scene.
- Several different actors portray the Emperor: The evil ruler of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader's powerful Sith Master , who appears via hologram. Clive Revill originally provided the voice of the Emperor, while Marjorie Eaton portrayed the Emperor's physical form,[12][13] filmed under heavy makeup with superimposed chimpanzee eyes.[14][15] Ultimately they were replaced by Ian McDiarmid, who portrayed the character in later films, for the 2004 Special Edition and subsequent releases.[16][17]
- Alec Guinness appears briefly as Obi-Wan Kenobi's Force-ghost: Luke's deceased mentor, who guides him to Yoda.
Denis Lawson reprises his role as Wedge Antilles from the first film. John Hollis plays 'Lobot', Lando's personal aide. Julian Glover appears as General Veers, a general who leads the Empire in the battle of Hoth; Kenneth Colley portrays Admiral Piett, the Empire's top admiral; Michael Sheard as Admiral Ozzel, Vader's previous admiral; Michael Culver appears as Captain Needa, one of the Empire's captains who failed to catch the Millennium Falcon; John Ratzenberger portrays Major Derlin, one of the officers who led the rebels in the battle of Hoth; Bruce Boa appears as General Rieekan, Princess Leia's military advisor on Hoth; Christopher Malcolm plays Rebel snowspeeder pilot Zev Senesca, who finds Skywalker and Solo on the surface of Hoth; and John Morton portrays Dak, Luke's gunner in the battle of Hoth who was killed by an AT-AT.
Alan Austen, Jim Dowdall, Ian Durrant, Tom Egeland, Stuart Fell, Alan Flyng, Ian Liston, Chris Parsons, Doug Robinson, Tony Smart, Peter Diamond, Richard Bonehill, Ralph Morse, Trevor Butterfield, Chris Bunn, Quentin Pierre and Keith Swaden portays Stormtroopers and Snowtroopers. Des Webb and Howie Weed portays The Wampa. Morris Bush portays the bounty hunter Dengar, Alan Harris portays the bounty hunter Bossk and Chris Parsons portays the robo bounty hunter 4-LOM.
George Lucas' 1977 film Star Wars exceeded all expectations in terms of profit, had a revolutionary effect on the film industry, and had an unexpected resonance as a cultural phenomenon. Lucas hoped to become independent from the Hollywood film industry by financing The Empire Strikes Back himself with $33 million from loans and the previous film's earnings, going against the principles of many Hollywood producers never to invest one's own money.[18] Now fully in command of his Star Wars enterprise, Lucas chose not to direct The Empire Strikes Back because of his other production roles, including overseeing his special effects company Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) and handling of the financing. Lucas offered the role of director to Irvin Kershner, one of his former professors at the USC School of Cinematic Arts.[19]
Kershner was known for smaller-scale, character-driven films, but had more recently directed the true-life drama Raid on Entebbe (1977) and the thriller Eyes of Laura Mars (1978). Kershner initially turned Lucas down, citing his belief that a sequel would never meet the quality or originality of Star Wars. He called his agent, who immediately demanded that he take the job.[18]
Lucas hired science fiction author Leigh Brackett to write Star Wars II with him.[18] They held story conferences and, by late November 1977, Lucas had produced a handwritten treatment called The Empire Strikes Back. The treatment is similar to the final film, except that Darth Vader does not reveal he is Luke's father. In the first draft that Brackett would write from this, Luke's father appears as a ghost to instruct Luke.[20]
Brackett finished her first draft in early 1978; Lucas has said he was disappointed with it, but before he could discuss it with her, she died of cancer.[21] With no writer available, Lucas had to write his next draft himself. It was this draft in which Lucas first made use of the "Episode" numbering for the films; Empire Strikes Back was listed as Episode II.[22] As Michael Kaminski argues in The Secret History of Star Wars, the disappointment with the first draft probably made Lucas consider different directions in which to take the story.[23] He made use of a new plot twist: Darth Vader claims to be Luke's father. According to Lucas, he found this draft enjoyable to write, as opposed to the yearlong struggles writing the first film, and quickly wrote two more drafts,[24] both in April 1978. He also took the script to a darker extreme by having Han Solo imprisoned in carbonite and left in limbo.[25]
This new story point of Darth Vader being Luke's father had drastic effects on the series. Michael Kaminski argues in his book that it is unlikely that the plot point had ever seriously been considered or even conceived of before 1978, and that the first film was clearly operating under an alternate storyline where Vader was separate from Luke's father;[26] there is not a single reference to this plot point before 1978. After writing the second and third drafts of Empire Strikes Back in which the point was introduced, Lucas reviewed the new backstory he had created: Anakin Skywalker was Ben Kenobi's brilliant student and had a child named Luke, but was swayed to the dark side by The Emperor (who was really a Sith Lord and not simply just a politician). Anakin battled Ben Kenobi on the site of a volcano and was wounded, but then resurrected as Darth Vader. Meanwhile, Kenobi hid Luke on Tatooine while the Republic became the Empire and Vader systematically hunted down and killed the Jedi.[27]
With this new backstory in place, Lucas decided that the series would be a trilogy, changing Empire Strikes Back from Episode II to Episode V in the next draft.[24] Lawrence Kasdan had just completed writing Raiders of the Lost Ark, and the screenplay impressed Lucas,[28] who hired him to write the next drafts with additional input from director Irvin Kershner. Kasdan, Kershner, and producer Gary Kurtz saw the film as a more serious and adult film, which was helped by the new, darker storyline, and developed the series from the light adventure roots of the first film.[29]
After the release of Star Wars, ILM grew from being a struggling company and moved to Marin County, California.[18] The Empire Strikes Back provided the company with new challenges. Whereas Star Wars mostly featured space sequences, The Empire Strikes Back featured not only space dogfights but also an ice planet battle opening sequence and elements of cities that floated among the clouds. For the battle scenes on the ice planet Hoth, the initial intent was to use bluescreen to composite the Imperial walkers into still-shots from the original set. Instead, an artist (Michael Pangrazio) was hired to paint landscapes, resulting in the Imperial walkers being shot using stop motion animation in front of the landscape paintings.[18] The original designs for the AT-ATs were, according to Phil Tippett, "big armored vehicles with wheels". Many believe the finished design was inspired by the Port of Oakland container cranes, but Lucas denied this.[30]
In designing the Jedi Master Yoda, Stuart Freeborn used his own face as a model and added the wrinkles of Albert Einstein for the appearance of exceptional intelligence.[31] Sets for Dagobah were built five feet above the stage floor, allowing puppeteers to crawl underneath and hold up the Yoda puppet. The setup presented communication problems for Frank Oz, who portrayed Yoda, as he was underneath the stage and unable to hear the crew and Mark Hamill above.[32] Hamill later expressed his dismay at being the only human character on set for months; he felt like a trivial element on a set of animals, machines, and moving props. Kershner commended Hamill for his performance with the puppet.[18][33]
Filming began in Norway, at the Hardangerjøkulen glacier near the town of Finse, on March 5, 1979. Like the filming of Star Wars, where the production in Tunisia coincided with the area's first major rainstorm in fifty years, the weather was against the film crew. While filming in Norway, they encountered the worst winter storm in fifty years. Temperatures dropped to −20 °F (−29 °C), and 18 feet (5.5 m) of snow fell.[18] On one occasion, the crew were unable to exit their hotel. They achieved a shot involving Luke's exit of the Wampa cave by opening the hotel's doors and filming Mark Hamill running out into the snow while the crew remained warm inside.[18] Mark Hamill's face was scarred in a motor accident that occurred between filming of Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. Despite reports to the contrary, the scene in which Luke gets knocked out by the Wampa was not added specifically to explain this change to Hamill's face. Lucas admitted that the scene "helped" the situation, though he felt that Luke's time fighting in the rebellion was sufficient explanation.[33]
The production then moved to Elstree Studios in London on March 13,[28] where over 60 sets were built, more than double the number used in the previous film.[18] A fire in January on Stage 3 (during filming of Stanley Kubrick's The Shining) forced the budget to be increased from $18.5 million to $22 million, and by July the budget increased $3 million more. Filming finished by mid-September.[28]
One memorable exchange of dialogue was partially ad-libbed. Originally a scene in which Princess Leia professed her love to Han Solo, with Han replying "I love you too." Harrison Ford felt the characterization was not being used effectively, and Kershner agreed. After several takes, the director told the actor to improvise on the spot, and Ford changed Solo's line to "I know."[18]
During production, great secrecy surrounded the fact that Darth Vader was Luke's father. The film includes a brief image of Vader with his mask off, facing away from the camera. For the original viewers of the film, this scene made it clear that Vader is not a droid.[33]
Like the rest of the crew, Prowse—who spoke all of Vader's lines during filming—was given a false page that contained dialogue with the revelatory line being "Obi-Wan killed your father."[18][34][35] Hamill did not learn of the secret and he was informed just moments before cameras rolled on his close-up.[36]
To preserve the dramatic opening sequences of his films, Lucas wanted the screen credits to come at the end of the films. While this practice has become more common over the years, this was a highly unusual choice at the time. The Writers and Directors Guilds of America had no problem allowing it on Star Wars, back in 1977, because the writer-director credit (George Lucas) matched the company name, but when Lucas did the same thing for the sequel it became an issue because Lucas had his last name on the start of the film (Lucasfilm), while the director and the writers had theirs on the end. They fined him over $250,000 and attempted to pull Empire out of theaters. The DGA also attacked Kershner; to protect his director, Lucas paid all the fines to the guilds. Due to the controversy, he left the Directors and Writers Guilds, and the Motion Picture Association.[18]
The initial production budget of $18 million[2] was 50% more than that of the original. After the various increases in budget, The Empire Strikes Back became one of the most expensive films of its day and after the bank threatened to pull his loan, Lucas was forced to approach 20th Century Fox. Lucas made a deal with the studio to secure the loan in exchange for paying the studio more money, but without the loss of his sequel and merchandising rights. After the film's box office success, unhappiness at the studio over the deal's generosity to Lucas caused studio president Alan Ladd, Jr. to quit. The departure of his longtime ally caused Lucas to take Raiders of the Lost Ark to Paramount Pictures.[18]
Like its predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back draws from several mythological stories and world religions. It also includes elements of 1930s film serials such as Flash Gordon, a childhood favorite of Lucas', that similarly featured a city afloat in the sky.[37][38]
The world premiere of The Empire Strikes Back was held on May 17, 1980, at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. (as a special Children's World Premiere event). The film had a Royal Charity Premiere in London at the Odeon Cinema in Leicester Square on May 20. The special event was dubbed "Empire Day", a playful take the British Commonwealth Day holiday (known as Empire Day prior to 1958), where legions of stormtroopers were unleashed across the city.[39] A series of other charity benefit premieres were held in numerous locations on May 19 and 20. The film went on to official general release in North America and the U.K. on May 21, 1980. The first wave of release included 126 70 mm prints, before a wider release in June 1980 (which were mostly 35 mm prints).[40] During the initial theatrical run in Europe and Australia, the short film Black Angel by Star Wars art director Roger Christian was shown before the feature.[41]
Though the film was simply titled The Empire Strikes Back in its original promotional materials, the film still started with the title Star Wars on-screen which was followed by the opening crawl that gave the film's subtitle as Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, causing some surprise among cinema goers at the time as the original Star Wars film had not been given an episode number or subtitle for its first release in 1977.[42] However, Episode IV: A New Hope was added to its opening crawl from its 1981 re-release onwards. Like A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back was rated PG by the Motion Picture Association of America, and certificate U in the United Kingdom. This original version was released on CED in 1984[43][44] and on VHS and Laserdisc several times during the 1980s and 1990s.
Special Edition
As part of Star Wars's 20th anniversary celebration in 1997, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were digitally remastered and re-released along with the original Star Wars under the campaign title Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition. Lucas took this opportunity to make several minor changes to the film. These included explicitly showing the Wampa creature on Hoth in full form, creating a more complex flight path for the Falcon as it approaches Cloud City, digitally replacing some of the interior walls of Cloud City with vistas of Bespin, and replacing certain lines of dialogue. A short sequence was also added depicting Vader's return to his Super Star Destroyer after dueling with Luke, created from alternate angles of a scene from Return of the Jedi. Most of the changes were small and aesthetic; however, some fans believe that they detract from the film.[16] The film was also resubmitted to the MPAA for rating; it was again rated PG, but under the Association's new description nomenclature, the reason given was for "sci-fi action/violence".[45] This version of the film runs 127 minutes.
Home media
- DVD release
The Empire Strikes Back was released on DVD in September 2004, bundled in a box set with A New Hope, Return of the Jedi, and a bonus disc of extra features. The films were digitally restored and remastered, with additional changes made by George Lucas.[16] The bonus features include a commentary by George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren, and Carrie Fisher, as well as an extensive documentary called Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy. Also included are featurettes, teasers, trailers, TV spots, still galleries, video game demos, and a preview of Revenge of the Sith.
For the DVD release, Lucas and his team made changes that were mostly implemented to ensure continuity between The Empire Strikes Back and the recently released prequel trilogy films. The most noticeable of these changes was replacing the stand-in used in the holographic image of the Emperor (with Clive Revill providing the voice) with actor Ian McDiarmid providing some slightly altered dialogue. With this release, Lucas also supervised the creation of a high-definition digital print of The Empire Strikes Back and the original trilogy's other films. It was reissued in December 2005 as part of a three-disc "limited edition" boxed set that did not feature the bonus disc.[46]
The film was reissued again on a separate two-disc Limited Edition DVD for a brief time from September 12, 2006, to December 31, 2006, this time with the film's original, unaltered version as bonus material. It was also re-released in a trilogy box set on November 4, 2008.[47] There was controversy surrounding the initial release, because the DVDs featured non-anamorphic versions of the original films based on LaserDisc releases from 1993 (as opposed to newly remastered, film-based high definition transfers). Since non-anamorphic transfers fail to make full use of the resolution available on widescreen televisions, many fans were disappointed with this choice.[48]
- Blu-ray release
On August 14, 2010, George Lucas announced that all six Star Wars films in their Special Edition form would be released on Blu-ray Disc in Fall 2011.[49] On January 6, 2011, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment announced the Blu-ray release for September 2011 in three different editions.[50]
- Digital release
On April 7, 2015, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six released Star Wars films. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment released The Empire Strikes Back through the iTunes Store, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 10, 2015.[51]
Box office
Within three months of the release of The Empire Strikes Back, Lucas had recovered his $33 million investment and distributed $5 million in bonuses to employees.[18] The film grossed $10,840,307 on its opening weekend in limited release. It earned $209,398,025 during its first 1980 run in the United States and about 450million worldwide. Box Office Mojo estimates that the film sold more than 70 million tickets in the US in its initial theatrical run.[52] When The Empire Strikes Back returned to cinemas in 1997, it grossed $21,975,993 on its first weekend of re-release. As of 2007, the film has grossed $290,475,750 domestically and $538,375,067 worldwide.[2] 35 years after the film's initial release, it re-entered the UK box office at number 9 grossing $470,000 from June 4–7, 2015.[53]
Critical response
The Empire Strikes Back received mixed reviews from critics upon its initial release. For example, Vincent Canby of The New York Times wrote a largely negative review.[54] David Denby of New York magazine called the film "a Wagnerian pop movie—grandiose, thrilling, imperiously generous in scale, and also a bit ponderous".[55] Judith Martin of The Washington Post criticized the film's "middle-of-the-story" plot, which she claimed had no particular beginning or end.[56] However, this was a concept that Lucas had intended.[33]
On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, The Empire Strikes Back currently holds a 94% approval rating, based on 87 reviews, with an average rating of 8.9/10.[57] Rotten Tomatoes summarizes: "Dark, sinister, but ultimately even more involving than A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back defies viewer expectations and takes the series to heightened emotional levels."[57] Bob Stephens of The San Francisco Examiner described The Empire Strikes Back as "the greatest episode of the Star Wars Trilogy" in 1997.[58] In 2016, James Charisma of Playboy ranked the film number three on a list of 15 Sequels That Are Way Better Than The Originals.[59] Roger Ebert described the film as the strongest and "most thought-provoking" film of the original trilogy.[60]
Chuck Klosterman suggested that while "movies like Easy Rider and Saturday Night Fever painted living portraits for generations they represented in the present tense, The Empire Strikes Back might be the only example of a movie that set the social aesthetic for a generation coming in the future."[61]
At the Academy Awards in 1981, The Empire Strikes Back won the Academy Award for Best Sound Mixing, which was awarded to Bill Varney, Steve Maslow, Greg Landaker, and Peter Sutton.[62] In addition, this film received the Special Achievement Academy Award for Best Visual Effects that was awarded to Brian Johnson, Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren, and Bruce Nicholson. Composer John Williams was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Score, and Norman Reynolds, Leslie Dilley, Harry Lange, Alan Tomkins, and Michael Ford were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Production Design.[63]
In addition, John Williams was awarded the British Academy Film Award for his compositions: the Anthony Asquith Award for Film Music. The Empire Strikes Back also received British Academy Film Award nominations for Best Sound and Best Production Design.
Williams was also nominated for a Grammy Award and a Golden Globe Award for his musical score of the film.[64]
The Empire Strikes Back received four Saturn Awards, for Mark Hamill as Best Actor, Irvin Kershner for Best Director, Brian Johnson and Richard Edlund for Best Special Effects, and the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film.
The Empire Strikes Back won the Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation. The film was nominated for the Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay.[65]
The Empire Strikes Back was awarded the Golden Screen Award in Germany.
Darth Vader was ranked as the third-greatest film villain of all time in the American Film Institute's 2003 list of the 100 greatest heroes and villains,[66] and Wizard magazine selected the ending of The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest cliffhanger of all time.[67]
The line "No, I am your father" is often misquoted as "Luke, I am your father."[68] The line was selected as one of the 400 nominees for the American Film Institute's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes, a list of the greatest American film quotes.[69] Yoda's statement to Luke Skywalker, "Try not! Do, or do not. There is no try", was also a nominee for the same list by the AFI.[69]
The film was selected in 2010 to be preserved by the Library of Congress as part of its National Film Registry.[70][71] It is unclear whether a copy of the 1980 theatrical version or the 1997 Special Edition has been archived by the NFR, or indeed if any copy has been provided by Lucasfilm and accepted by the Registry.[72][73]
In the 2014 Empire Magazine list, "The 301 Greatest Movies of All Time" voted by fans, The Empire Strikes Back was named as the greatest film ever made.[74]
American Film Institute lists
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies – Nominated
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Thrills – Nominated
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Heroes and Villains:
- Darth Vader – No. 3 Villain
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes:
- "I am your father." – Nominated
- "Do, or do not. There is no try." – Nominated
- AFI's 100 Years...100 Movies (10th Anniversary Edition) – Nominated
The musical score of The Empire Strikes Back was composed and conducted by John Williams, and it was performed by the London Symphony Orchestra at a cost of about $250,000.[75] In 1980, the company RSO Records published this film's original musical score as both a double LP album and as an 8-track cartridge in the United States. Its front cover artwork features the mask of Darth Vader against a backdrop of outer space,[76] as seen on the advance theatrical poster for the film.
In 1985, the first Compact disc (CD) issue of the film score was made by the company Polydor Records, which had absorbed both RSO Records and its music catalog. Polydor Records used a shorter, one compact-disc edition of the music as their master. In 1993, 20th Century Fox Film Scores released a special boxed set of four compact discs: the Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology. This anthology included the film scores of all three members of the original Star Wars Trilogy in separate CDs, even though there was significant overlap between the three (such as the Star Wars theme music).[77]
In 1997, the record company RCA Victor released a definitive two-CD set to accompany the publications of all three of the Special Editions of the films of the Star Wars Trilogy. This original limited-edition set of CDs featured a 32-page black booklet that was enclosed within a protective outer slip-case. The covers of the booklet and of the slip-case have selections from the poster art of the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition. All of the tracks have been digitally re-mastered supposedly for superior clarity of sound.
RCA Victor next re-packaged the Special Edition set later on in 1997, offering it in slim-line jewel case packaging as an unlimited edition, but without the packaging that the original "black booklet" version offered.[78]
In 2004, the Sony Classical Records company purchased the sales rights of the original trilogy's musical scores—primarily because it already had the sales rights of the music from the trilogy of prequels: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and Revenge of the Sith. Hence in 2004, the Sony Classical company began manufacturing copies of the film-score CDs that RCA Victor had been making since 1997, including the one for The Empire Strikes Back. This set was made with new cover artwork similar to that of the film's first publication on DVD. Despite the digital re-mastering by Sony Classical, their CD version made and sold since 2004 is essentially the same as the version by RCA Victor.[79]
Other media
A novelization of the film was released on April 12, 1980, and published by the company Del Rey Books. The novelization was written by Donald F. Glut, and it was based on the screenplay by Lawrence Kasdan, Leigh Brackett, and George Lucas.[80]
This novelization was originally published as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. However, the later editions have been renamed Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back to conform with the change in the titles of the Star Wars saga. Like the other novelizations of the Star Wars Trilogy, background information is added to explain the happenings of the story beyond that which is depicted on-screen.
Comic book adaptation
Marvel Comics published a comic book adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back which was written by Archie Goodwin and illustrated by Al Williamson and Carlos Garzon. It was published simultaneously in four formats: as a magazine (Marvel Super Special #16),[81] an oversized tabloid edition (Marvel Special Edition Featuring Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back),[82] as part of a serialized comic book series, and as a paperback pocket book.[83] In the paperback and tabloid versions, which were published first and for which early concept designs were the only available art reference, Yoda was given a quite different appearance than in the films: Yoda is thinner, he has long white hair, and he has purple skin, rather than green skin. For the magazine and serialized comic book editions, there was enough time for the artwork featuring Yoda to be revised extensively, and his appearance was changed to match that in the film.
Comic book historians and industry professionals have remarked that Marvel's Star Wars comics published in the years before The Empire Strikes Back include plot points similar to those later used in the film. However, the film's makers have not acknowledged receiving any inspiration from the comic books.[84]
Book-and-record set
Lucasfilm adapted the story for a children's book-and-record set. Released in 1980, the 24-page Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back read-along book was accompanied by a 33⅓ rpm 7-inch gramophone record. Each page of the book contained a cropped frame from the film with an abridged and condensed version of the story. The record was produced by Buena Vista Records.
Video games
Video games based on the film have been released on several consoles. Additionally, several Star Wars video games feature or mention key events seen in the film, but are not entirely based upon the film. In 1982 Parker Brothers released Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the Atari 2600 games console, which featured the speeder attack on the AT-ATs on Hoth.[85] The arcade game Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back followed in 1985. The game features familiar battle sequences and characters played from a first-person perspective. Specific battles include the Battle of Hoth and the subsequent escape of the Millennium Falcon through an asteroid field.[86] A conversion was released in 1988 for the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Commodore 64, BBC Micro, Atari ST and Commodore Amiga.[87]
In 1992, JVC released the LucasArts-developed video game also titled Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) console.[88] The player assumes the role of Luke Skywalker and maneuvers through Skywalker's story as seen in the film. In 1992, Ubisoft released a version for the Game Boy. Like its previous incarnation, it follows the story of Luke Skywalker.[89] Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back was developed for the console Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) by LucasArts and was released by JVC in 1993. The SNES game is similar in spots to the 1991 NES release, and is on a 12-megabit cartridge.[90]
Radio adaptation
A radio play adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back was written by Brian Daley, and was produced for and broadcast on the National Public Radio network in the U.S. during 1983. It was based on characters and situations created by George Lucas, and on the screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan. Its director was John Madden, with sound mixing and post-production work done by Tom Voegeli.[91]
Mark Hamill, Billy Dee Williams, and Anthony Daniels carried forward their roles as the voices of Luke Skywalker, Lando Calrissian, and C-3PO. respectively. The actor John Lithgow presented Yoda's voice. This radio play was designed to last for five hours of radio time, usually presented in more than one part.[92] Radio agencies estimate that about 750,000 people tuned in to listen to this series radio play beginning on February 14, 1983.[93] In terms of the canonical Star Wars story, this radio drama has been given the highest designation, G-canon.[94][95]
See also
- The Story of Star Wars
- Splinter of the Mind's Eye, a science fiction novel set in the Star Wars universe
- List of films considered the best
- List of films featuring extraterrestrials
- List of Star Wars films and television series
- ^ Theatrical and home media distribution rights will be transferred from 20th Century Fox to the Walt Disney Studios in May 2020.[96] The digital distribution rights belong to Disney, as Lucasfilm retained the film's digital distribution rights prior to its acquisition by Disney.[97]
- ↑ "THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK". British Board of Film Classification. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- 1 2 3 4 "The Empire Strikes Back (1980)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ↑ Nathan, Ian (May 6, 2014). "Tales From The Dark Side: The Making Of The Empire Strikes Back". Empireonline.com. Retrieved December 20, 2014.
- ↑ "Star Wars Ep. V: The Empire Strikes Back – Box Office Data, DVD and Blu-ray Sales, Movie News, Cast and Crew Information". The Numbers. Retrieved May 13, 2013.
- ↑ Nathan, Ian. "The 500 greatest movies of all time, No. 3: Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)". Empire. Retrieved September 14, 2009.
- ↑ "Film features: 100 Greatest Movies Of All Time". Total Film. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ↑ "100 Greatest Films of All Time". AMC Filmsite.org. Retrieved June 17, 2010.
- ↑ "The 100 Best Movies of All Time by Mr. Showbiz". AMC Filmsite.org. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ↑ "The 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time". Empire.
- ↑ "Films adjusted for inflation". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 21, 2012.
- ↑ "Those Yoda Guys".
- ↑ Gourley, Matt. "I Was There Too". earwolf.com. Earwolf. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ↑ pablohidalgo (October 26, 2016). "Okay here's what I've got. It is not Elaine Baker in the movie. @PhilTippett sculpted the piece and Rick applied it." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ↑ Alasdair Wilkins (October 10, 2010). "Yoda was originally played by a monkey in a mask, and other secrets of The Empire Strikes Back". io9. Retrieved October 18, 2010.
- ↑ Rinzler, J.W. (22 Oct 2013). The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (Enhanced ed.). Ballantine Group. ISBN 9780345543363.
- 1 2 3 "Star Wars: The Changes". dvdactive. Retrieved January 13, 2007.
- ↑ "Lucasfilm Defends DVD Changes". Sci-Fi Wire. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved February 18, 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy. Star Wars Trilogy Box Set DVD documentary. [2004]
- ↑ "Behind the Scenes: The Empire Strikes Back". American Cinematographer. Retrieved March 2, 2007.
- ↑ Biodrowski, Steve. "Star Wars: The Original Trilogy – Then And Now". Hollywood Gothique. Retrieved March 28, 2008.
- ↑ Bouzereau 1997, p. 144.
- ↑ Bouzereau 1997, p. 135.
- ↑ Kaminski 2007, p. 161.
- 1 2 Bouzereau 1997, p. 123
- ↑ The Empire Strikes Back (DVD). 20th Century Fox. 2004.
- ↑ Kaminski 2007, pp. 120–21.
- ↑ Kaminski 2007, pp. 164–65.
- 1 2 3 Marcus Hearn (2005). "Cliffhanging". The Cinema of George Lucas. New York City: Harry N. Abrams Inc. pp. 122–7. ISBN 0-8109-4968-7.
- ↑ Kaminski 2007, p. 178.
- ↑ Peter Hartlaub (June 27, 2008). "Nah, dude, they weren't cranes, they were garbage trucks". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved June 27, 2008.
- ↑ Nick Maley. "A tribute to Stuart Freeborn". Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars Trilogy DVD Super-Feature". Underground Online. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- 1 2 3 4 The Empire Strikes Back DVD commentary featuring George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Ben Burtt, Dennis Muren and Carrie Fisher, [2004]
- ↑ Chris Chiarella (2004). "Mark Hamill Interview". Home Theater. Retrieved February 13, 2007.
- ↑ Dalton Ross (September 16, 2004). "Secrets and Jedis". EW.com. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ↑ http://www.ew.com/article/2004/09/16/10-things-we-learned-star-wars-dvds
- ↑ "Star Wars Origins – Flash Gordon". Star Wars Origins. Retrieved November 16, 2006.
- ↑ "Flash Gordon (1980)". The 80s Movies Rewind. Retrieved February 13, 2007.
- ↑ "An 'Empire Day' to Remember | StarWars.com". StarWars.com. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
- ↑ "Empire release". From Script To DVD.com. Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ Verrier, Richard (October 16, 2013). "Short film meant to accompany 'Empire Strikes Back' makes a comeback". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15, 2015.
- ↑ "Cinema", TIME, May 19, 1980
- ↑ "Star Wars on Ced". Amazon.com Retrieved October 6, 2010.
- ↑ Doug Smith (9 May 2011). "Yesterday's technology can be a collectible". Quad-City Times. Retrieved 26 November 2016.
- ↑ "Star Wars Episode V The Empire Strikes Back (1997)". Motion Picture Association of America. Archived from the original on January 14, 2007. Retrieved January 13, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars Trilogy (Widescreen Edition Without Bonus Disc, 1977)". Amazon.com. Retrieved February 19, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars Saga Repacked in Trilogy Sets on DVD". Lucasfilm. StarWars.com. August 28, 2008. Archived from the original on October 26, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2008.
- ↑ Ian Dawe. "Anamorphic Star Wars and Other Musings". Mindjack Film. Retrieved May 26, 2006.
- ↑ "George Lucas Announces Star Wars on Blu-Ray at Celebration V". Lucasfilm. StarWars.com. August 14, 2010. Archived from the original on August 16, 2010. Retrieved August 15, 2010.
- ↑ "Pre-order Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray Now!". StarWars.com. Lucasfilm. January 6, 2011. Archived from the original on January 9, 2011. Retrieved January 7, 2011.
- ↑ Vlessing, Etan (April 6, 2015). "'Star Wars' Movie Franchise Headed to Digital HD". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved April 7, 2015.
- ↑ "The Empire Strikes Back (1980)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved May 31, 2016.
- ↑ Alex Ritman (June 10, 2015). "U.K. Box Office: 'Empire Strikes Back' Returns to Top 10". The Hollywood Reporter. (Prometheus Global Media). Retrieved June 10, 2015.
- ↑ Canby, Vincent (June 15, 1980). "'The Empire Strikes Back' Strikes a Bland Note'". New York Times. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
- ↑ Denby, David (May 26, 1980). "Star Wars Strikes Back". New York. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
- ↑ Judith Martin (May 23, 1980). "'The Empire Strikes Back'". Washington Post. Retrieved February 12, 2007.
- 1 2 "Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back Movie Reviews". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved April 28, 2011.
- ↑ Stephens, Bob (February 21, 1997). ""Empire Strikes Back' is the best of "Star Wars' trilogy". Sfgate.com. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
- ↑ "Revenge of the Movie: 15 Sequels That Are Way Better Than The Originals". Playboy. March 15, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2016.
- ↑ Ebert, Roger (February 21, 1997). "The Empire Strikes Back". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
- ↑ Klosterman, Chuck (June 22, 2004). Sex, Drugs, and Cocoa Puffs: A Low Culture Manifesto. Scribner. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-7432-3601-0.
- ↑ "The 53rd Academy Awards (1981) Nominees and Winners". oscars.org. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
- ↑ "The Empire Strikes Back—Awards & Nominations". Yahoo! Movies. Archived from the original on May 26, 2006. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ↑ "How Many Academy Awards Did The Empire Strikes Back Win In 1980?". AtThaMovies. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
- ↑ "Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back (1980) – Awards". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved July 29, 2006.
- ↑ "AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Heroes & Villains". American Film Institute. Archived from the original on December 4, 2003. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
- ↑ Jake Rossen (August 5, 2007). "The Top 25 Cliffhangers of All Time!". Wizard. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007. Retrieved August 5, 2007.
- ↑ Michael French (2003). "The Common Concept of Indiana Jones". TheRaider.net. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
- 1 2 "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: Official Ballot" (PDF). AFI.com. Retrieved July 2, 2010.
- ↑ "Hollywood Blockbusters, Independent Films and Shorts Selected for 2010 National Film Registry". Library of Congress. December 28, 2010. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
- ↑ Barnes, Mike (December 28, 2010). "'Empire Strikes Back,' 'Airplane!' Among 25 Movies Named to National Film Registry". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 28, 2010.
- ↑ Andrews, Mallory (July 21, 2014). "A 'New' New Hope: Film Preservation and the Problem with 'Star Wars'". soundonsight.org. Sound on Sight. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
the NFR does not possess workable copies of the original versions...Government-mandated agencies such as the National Film Registry are unable to preserve (or even possess) working copies of the films on their list without the consent of the author and/or copyright holder.
- ↑ "Request Denied: Lucas Refuses to Co-Operate with Government Film Preservation Organizations". savestarwars.com. Saving Star Wars. 2011. Retrieved July 27, 2014.
When the request was made for STAR WARS, Lucasfilm offered us the Special Edition version. The offer was declined as this was obviously not the version that had been selected for the Registry.
- ↑ "Empire Magazine - 301 Greatest Movies of All Time", empireonline.com, Retrieved December 1, 2015
- ↑ Arnold 1980, p. 266.
- ↑ "The Original Soundtrack from the Film The Empire Strikes Back". Star Wars Collectors Archive. Retrieved October 26, 2006.
- ↑ "Star Wars Trilogy: The Original Soundtrack Anthology [BOX SET] [SOUNDTRACK]". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
- ↑ "The Empire Strikes Back: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Special Edition) SOUNDTRACK". Amazon.com. Retrieved January 20, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars / The Empire Strikes Back / Return of the Jedi (Original Soundtracks – 2004 reissue)". Retrieved January 20, 2007.
- ↑ Star Wars, Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (Mass Market Paperback). Amazon.com. ISBN 0345283929.
- ↑ "GCD :: Issue :: Marvel Super Special #16". comics.org.
- ↑ Marvel Special Edition Featuring Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back at the Grand Comics Database
- ↑ Edwards, Ted (1999). "Adventures in the Comics". The Unauthorized Star Wars Compendium. Little, Brown and Company. p. 82. ISBN 9780316329293.
In 1980 The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters and Marvel published their adaptation of the movie in a few different formats. The earliest version appeared in a paperback-size book followed by the magazine-size Marvel Super Special No. 16, and then in regular comic book form in six parts.
- ↑ Keane, Mike (June 2009). "Bob Wiacek". Back Issue!. TwoMorrows Publishing (34): 53.
- ↑ "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". GameSpot.
- ↑ "Empire Strikes Back, The". The Killer List of Videogames. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
- ↑ Advertising poster
- ↑ "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for NES". Moby Games. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back for Game Boy". Moby Games. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
- ↑ "Super Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on March 17, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2007.
- ↑ Robb, Brian J. (2012). A Brief Guide to Star Wars. London: Hachette. ISBN 9781780335834. Retrieved 21 July 2016.
- ↑ "Empire Strikes Back Produced by NPR". HighBridge Audio. Archived from the original on November 5, 2006. Retrieved December 10, 2006.
- ↑ "Star Wars Radiodrama". NPR Shop. Archived from the original on May 28, 2007. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
- ↑ "Keeper of the Holocron". Star Wars: Blogs. Retrieved May 29, 2007.
- ↑ "Star Wars Canon". Canon Wars. Retrieved February 22, 2007.
- ↑ Masters, Kim (October 30, 2012). "Tangled Rights Could Tie Up Ultimate 'Star Wars' Box Set (Analysis)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
- ↑ "The Walt Disney Company FY 2013 SEC Form 10-K Filing" (PDF). The Walt Disney Company. November 20, 2013. p. 13. Retrieved April 17, 2015.
Prior to the Company's acquisition, Lucasfilm produced six Star Wars films (Episodes 1 through 6). Lucasfilm retained the rights to consumer products related to all of the films and the rights related to television and electronic distribution formats for all of the films, with the exception of the rights for Episode 4, which are owned by a third-party studio. All of the films are distributed by a third-party studio in the theatrical and home video markets. The theatrical and home video distribution rights for these films revert to Lucasfilm in May 2020 with the exception of Episode 4, for which these distribution rights are retained in perpetuity by the third-party studio.
Works cited
- ——— (2008) [2007]. "The Secret History of Star Wars" (3.0 ed.).
- Bouzereau, Laurent (1997). The Annotated Screenplays. Del Rey. ISBN 0-345-40981-7.
Arnold, Alan. Once Upon a Galaxy: A Journal of Making the Empire Strikes Back. Sphere Books, London. 1980. ISBN 978-0-345-29075-5
External links
|Wikiquote has quotations related to: The Empire Strikes Back
- The Empire Strikes Back at starwars
- The Empire Strikes Back at Lucasfilm
- The Empire Strikes Back on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki
- The Empire Strikes Back at the Internet Movie Database
- The Empire Strikes Back at the TCM Movie Database
- The Empire Strikes Back at AllMovie
- The Empire Strikes Back at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Empire Strikes Back at Box Office Mojo
- The Empire Strikes Back at Metacritic
- The Empire Strikes Back on YouTube
- The Empire Strikes Back at The Numbers
- The Empire Strikes Back at Filmsite.org
- The Empire Strikes Back at the American Film Institute Catalog


text:
Remember back 20 years when Mercedes and BMW scoffed at the idea of a Japanese luxury competitor? They weren't alone; basically everyone did. Well, we guarantee those companies are doing anything but scoffing now. This time around, with Lexus going after the Germans' most profitable niche - hottie factory tuners - those old hands and relative newcomer Audi are doing everything but scoffing. We bet they're wishing they've been doing what we've been up to for the past week. That is, driving the holy hell out of a Lexus IS-F prototype to gauge the threat. Well friends, we know the answer, while M, AMG and Audi's RS are (for now) left guessing. But first, let's look at what makes an IS-F more than a just an average IS, starting with what's under the hood.
Pull back the engine cover and you're looking at Darth Vader's chest plate, an expansive jumble of wires, black boxes and even more wires. Despite all that, or perhaps because of it, the IS-F gets ultra-low-emissions vehicle (ULEV) status, and won't be slapped with a gas-guzzler penalty. Dig deeper beneath that electrical matrix, and there beats the heart of a brute. It's a 5.0-liter V8 dubbed 2UR-GSE, related to the 4.6-liter 1UR-FSE found in both the GS and the LS. According to company figures, this bored out, free-breathing version of the Lexus family eight-banger puts out 416 gnarly horsepower at 6,600 rpm and cranks out a mighty 371 ft-lb of torque at a fairly lofty 5,200 rpm (though 80% is available at 2,000 rpm).
It's Japanese whiz-bangery to the extreme. Each cylinder gets two fuel injectors, one in the port and one directly in the chamber. The chamber injector is used most of the time, facilitating direct injection, while the low-pressure port injector helps with start-ups in cold weather and to heighten fuel economy under light loads. There's a head scavenge oil pump that ensures lubricant is forced through the engine during hoonatic sideways maneuvers. Likewise, the fuel delivery system uses a similar pump that draws from a sub-tank. There's even a water-cooled oil radiator.
If the IS-F was only a stonkin' engine, we'd have a lot less to talk about. As it is, the car is packed with all sorts of go-faster, hoon-harder kit. Like the eight-speed automatic slushbox that packs a very significant twist. Unlike most other automatics with manual overrides (save dual-clutch setups) there's no stoking the coals and waiting. Activated either by the shift lever or two too-small aluminum paddles, the IS-F's tranny swaps the cogs quickly. Let me restate that. The IS-F's gearbox upshifts in 1/100th of a second. It takes a Ferrari F430 50% longer (150 milliseconds) to accomplish the same task. Yes, this Lexus is capable of upshifting as fast as a 599 GTB. Enjoy banging your passengers' heads on headrests? We've found your sedan. Downshifts are basically as quick, taking 200 milliseconds and are accompanied by an automatic throttle blip to match revs.
Of course, that's in Sport mode. The IS-F actually has three modes. Normal features an especially cruel nanny. Lexus calls this Vehicle Dynamics Integrated Management (VDIM), and it encompasses traction control, stability control, ABS, brake assist, electric brake force distribution, engine torque and the brake-based electronic limited-slip differential that can apply brake and throttle at the same time. In Normal mode, any aggressive movement is interpreted as naughty. As a result the orange idiot light flickers almost constantly. Worse, Normal mode retards the throttle response and overboosts the power steering. Lexus could have just called Normal chill-out mode. Or better yet, Lexus mode.
However, in Sport mode, not only is the throttle response dialed way up and the dual-mode power steering turned down, but if the transmission is left in drive, revs are held right up to redline. Moreover, the VDIM is dialed back to allow for more fun, something engineers call a "higher dynamic threshold," yet enough computer processing takes place to save one's bacon if the IS-F is pushed too far. If you like, you can actually switch everything off leaving only the electronic limited-slip diff and ABS to keep you out of the weeds. But with so much grunt available at all times and a back that's happy to break loose, I found Sport mode the smartest choice.
Brakes are Brembo-supplied and include huge 14.2 inchers up front, 13.6 out back. They're cross-drilled, vented, and even adorned with a Lexus brand. The front calipers contain six pistons of three different sizes. The rears are two-pistoners. The brakes are more than just fade free; they seem to get stronger the harder you stomp them. The suspension is closer to that of stock IS 350 than any other part of the car. Still, the front springs and shocks are 90 percent stiffer while the rear end rates are 50 percent more solid.
Lexus could have used lighter aluminum components and totally reworked the chassis the way BMW's M division does, but they didn't. That said, the IS-F comes in at an acceptable for the class 3,774 lbs. 0-60 takes a factory claimed 4.6 seconds, the quarter mile is over in 13 flat and the top speed is limited to 170 mph. Though, without the governor, the IS-F will do 186 mph. Lexus claims the IS-F was developed on no less than six racetracks, including the Nürburgring, Laguna Seca and Fuji Speedway. Perhaps keeping the suspension relatively stock is how the IS-F will undercut the competition. Lexus wouldn't give us a specific number, but their new wannabe giant-killer will likely zoom out of showrooms for right around $60,000.
Does all this tech, power and purported sportiness come together and form a winning package? We'll see you back here tomorrow.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
A stunning debut novel from a new voice in literary fiction, set on Lake Michigan following World War II, The Water Dancers limns the divide between the worlds of the wealthy elite summer people and the poor native population who serve them-and what happens when those worlds collide.
When Rachel Winnapee first comes to work at the March family summer home on vast and beautiful Lake Michigan, she quickly learns her place. Servants are seen and not heard as they bring the breakfast trays, wash and iron luxurious clothes, and serve gin and tonics to the wealthy family as they lounge on the deck playing bridge. Orphaned as a poverty-stricken young girl from the nearby band of Native Americans, Rachel is in awe of the Marches' glamorous life-and quite enamored of the family's son Woody.
Rachel is soon assigned the task of caring for Woody, a young man whose life has been changed utterly by his experience as a soldier in WWII. The war has cost Woody not only his leg, but, worse, the older brother he loved and admired. Now back at home, Woody cannot bear to face the obligations of his future – especially when it comes to his bride-to-be Elizabeth. Woody finds himself drawn to Rachel, who is like no one he's ever known. The love affair that unites these two lost souls in this Great Gatsby-esque portrait of class division will alter the course of their lives in ways both heartbreaking and profound.
This novel's richness is due, in part, to the author's memories of summers spent at her family's house on Lake Michigan, home to six generations of Gambles (as in Procter & Gamble). THE WATER DANCERS, told in a voice as clear and cool as lake water, is a luminescent tale of love, loss and redemption, and heralds the arrival of a remarkable new talent.
Publisher: William Morrow & Company
Pub Date: 05/2004
Format: Paperback
Weight: 0.49lbs
Size: 8.00h x 5.36w x 0.70d


text:
In a previous post I took a look at some ideas for using a genre approach to help students with IELTS writing, Task 1. In this post, I'd like to look at some ideas for Task 2, the essay. This is obviously equally applicable to anyone with students who need to write semi-academic opinion essays.
Taking a genre approach means looking at the key features of a particular genre, and helping to raise students' awareness of these features, and thus their ability to reproduce them.
Useful headings to consider are:
Content or communicative purpose- Layout- Organisation- Grammatical structures- Lexis/formulae
Broadly speaking, all the tasks in IELTS Part 2 have the same communicative purpose- to express your opinions on a topic of general interest. The layout will also be the same, with an introduction, paragraphs for each key idea and a conclusion.
However, the organisation will vary depending on the specific type of question. It's really worth familiarising your students with the different types of question and how to approach them.
There are essentially three different types of questions in IELTS
1 Presenting your argument: Often phrased 'To what extent do you agree or disagree.'
2 Balanced argument: Often phrased 'Some people think…Others think…Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.' Or 'Discuss the advantages and disadvantages….and give your own opinion'
3 Problem/cause and solution: Phrasing varies, but could be 'What do you think are the causes of these problems and what measure could be taken to solve them?'
Each of these should probably be organised slightly differently. In the first type, I'd suggest a good way of organising it could be:
- Introduction
- State your opinion
- A paragraph for each main point you want to make.
- Conclusion
For the second type, you need to be less upfront about your opinion, so:
- Introduction
- Arguments in favour
- Arguments against (or vice versa)
- Your opinion
- Conclusion
And for problem/solution:
- Introduction
- Problems
- Solutions
- Conclusion: summary of the situation and your opinion.
Students need to be very confident about these different types and how to organise them so, rather than writing lots of essays, at least to start with, I'd suggest looking at lots of questions (and model answers).
Some possible activities once students are familiar with the three main types:
1. Look at IELTS questions (there are lots of past questions, or close facsimiles, online) and decide if they are type 1,2 or 3.
2. Take an IELTS question that is a particular type and ask students to rewrite it to make it another type.
3. Give students a model answer, and ask them to guess what the original question was.
4. Give out a model answer and get students to identify the different sections.
5. Cut up a model answer and get students to put the paragraphs in the right order (obviously this works on discourse skills as well)
6. Rewrite a model answer so that there is no paragraphing and ask them to divide it into paragraphs.
7. Rewrite a model answer so that the organisation doesn't flow anymore, and ask students to identify the problem with it.
8. Ask students to pick out the key idea in each paragraph of a model answer.
In some of these activities we started to look at the internal organisation of the paragraphs by getting students to pick out the key idea. One way of helping students to organise a paragraph is by looking at topic sentences. These are a bit of a blunt tool, because in reality, it isn't always as simple as any rules we can give them. However, while it may be oversimplified, the recipe of topic sentence, supporting ideas and examples isn't a bad start for many students.
You can practice this by:
- Getting students to identify the topic sentence, sporting ideas and examples in a model answer.
- Giving them the topic sentences for each paragraph and asking them to add supporting ideas and examples.
- Removing the topic sentences from a model answer, and asking them to write what they think they were from looking at the further ideas and examples.
As with the post on IELTS Task 1, it's worth putting in some specific practice on writing a good introduction. Careful analysis of the question will help, as we've seen, with organising the essay, but it should also help students to know how to start their essay.
Let's take an example from IELTS Foundation. A good place to start is always by getting students to underline the key words:
'People will never be willing to make the dramatic lifestyle changes needed to control climate change. For this reason, governments must force people to do so.'
To what extent do you agree or disagree?
A good introduction should explain what they understand by the question, and might give a little background information. So identifying the key words will help with pulling out what the main idea is.
Then you could ask students to choose the best introduction from a selection. Here are the choices from IELTS Foundation:
1 I think that it is very important that we should all look after our planet. After all, it is the only one we have. There are lots of small actions that we can all take such as switching off computers and televisions, rather than leaving them on standby or walking short distances rather than going in the car.
2 Nowadays, most people are aware of the threat of climate change and are willing to make small changes to the way they live. However, for the majority of people this does not include such things as giving up their car or giving up flying abroad.
3 Governments must force people to make changes or the problem of climate change will never be solved. If necessary, people who continue to pollute the planet should be sent to prison.
[The answer is 2, because it simply summarises the background situation, and students could then go on to discuss if and whether people should be forced to do these things]
Variations on this activity could include:
1 Giving a question and asking students to just write an introduction as a warmer or change of pace activity.
2 Asking students to compare these introductions in small groups and choose the best one, or make changes together to improve what they have written.
Most students seem to feel that the best way to prepare for IELTS writing is to write lots and lots of essays. However, very often there is no significant improvement from one essay to the next. Students also get very caught up in the accuracy of the language being used, when there are still some serious structural defects. Language is very important as well, and I think there's another post in that, but getting the structure right can also make a huge difference.


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Mac vs PC: The Showdown
A story in The Economist last week dropped the following facts in its lead paragraph to set the stage for an interesting article:
"Endless Love" by Diana Ross and Lionel Richie was at the top of the charts. Ronald Reagan was staring down the Soviet Union. And Princess Diana, aged 20, was on her honeymoon with Prince Charles"¦
If the summer of '81 doesn't come rushing forth from the dim recesses of your memory, that might be because The Economist forgot to mention a certain swim meet in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, where I was probably busy finishing last in the 100-meter freestyle.
Ahh, now it's all coming back to you, eh? No? Well let's continue on with some more facts from the article and see if you can guess the story:
Roughly one billion are now in use across the world In America there are 70 for every 100 people The combined stockmarket values of the firms involved exceed half a trillion dollars
Yes, they were talking about the PC -- and the one that started all the hubbub back on August 12th, 1981, was, of course, the original IBM 5150, which turns 25-years-old this week.
Clearly IBM wasn't the first PC on the market. There were many others, including the Apple II, which predates the 5150 by a few years (ding! IBM: 0, Apple: 1). And while early Apple architecture allowed cloning, that soon changed with the introduction of their Macintosh line, enabling the PC platform to proliferate and, let's face it, take over the personal computing world. (ding! IBM: 1, Apple: 1)
Over here at my house we're a multi-platform family: my wife prefers PC, while I swear by Apple. It's kind of like we've each married out of our respective faiths and we often joke about which platform we'll bring our kids up on.
While I could go on and on (and on!) about why I prefer Mac to PC, we'd rather hear which you prefer, dear reader, and why. So gloves off now, and may the best platform win!


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Ryan Gosling has returned to Cannes, this time as a director. He and several members of his Lost River cast, including Christina Hendricks and Matt Smith, were at the photo call today to represent the film. Haven't read any reviews yet. I'll do a pick up on this with the carpet shots from the Palais when critics start releasing their comments.
But right now, you only care about one thing. I'm already getting emails about it: Eva Mendes isn't there. Which is the perfect excuse for STAR Magazine to report that – yet again – they've broken up.
No idea why she's not there. There are other reasons besides breaking up though. For starters – money. A small film like this, it's a lot of financial burden on them to fly and accommodate several celebrities first class. The film centres on Hendricks, so she had to be there. Smith is the presumed villain, so he had to be there. Those with minor roles… well… they may have had to prioritise their funding. Remember, celebrities don't spend their own cash when they don't have to. And if he really just wants to focus on the filmmaking, and not his personal life, this makes it easier too.
Or, you know, we could go with a breakup, if you want it bad enough.


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Product photography and illustrations have been reproduced as accurately as print and web technologies permit. To ensure highest satisfaction, we suggest you view an actual sample from your dealer for best color, wood grain and finish representation.
Ebony cabinet glaze adds a deep, rich definitive outline to Rustic Hickory door and drawer front profiles. Ebony glaze shown on Fallow finish.


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3D Designs
34 Years
Proudly Serving North Texas and Southern Oklahoma
Welcome to Robertson Pools and the rewarding experience of pool ownership. As a custom builder, Robertson Pools, Inc. brings award-winning designs and years of swimming pool knowledge to your own backyard.
With 2 locations to serve you better!
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Renovate • Renew • Rejuvenate


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COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Animal protection groups are suing the U.S. Department of Agriculture to try to block the revival of domestic horse slaughter at commercial processing plants.
|This April 15, 2013 file photo shows Valley Meat Co., which has been sitting idle for more than a year, waiting for the Department of Agriculture to approve its plans to slaughter horses. Federal officials have granted the southeastern New Mexico company's request to open a horse slaughterhouse, adding Friday June 28,2013 that they plan to grant similar permits to operations in Iowa and Missouri. (AP Photo/Jeri Clausing, File)
The Humane Society of the United States, Front Range Equine Rescue of Larkspur, Colo., three other groups and five individuals filed a federal lawsuit Monday seeking an emergency injunction to overturn the USDA's recent permit approval for a horse meat plant in Roswell, N.M. Four of the named plaintiffs are Roswell residents; the fifth lives in Gallatin, Mo., where a Rains Natural Meats equine slaughterhouse could next receive federal approval.
On Tuesday, the federal agency approved a horse slaughter plant in Sigourney, Iowa, and expects to endorse another request later this week. The Humane Society's lawsuit named prospective processing plants in Gallatin and Rockville, Mo.; Woodbury, Tenn.; and Washington, Okla.
Horse slaughterhouses last operated in the U.S. in 2007 before Congress banned the practice by eliminating funding for plant inspections. Federal lawmakers restored those cuts in 2011, but the USDA has been slow in granting permits, citing the need to re-establish an oversight program. In a written statement Tuesday, the agency said it was legally required to approve Responsible Transportation's plant in southeast Iowa.
Congress could still cut funding for horse slaughterhouse inspections, effectively reinstating the ban. Both the House and Senate agriculture committees have endorsed such proposals, and the Obama administration's proposed budget for the next fiscal year also eliminates that funding. Another bill would ban U.S. horse slaughter facilities while prohibiting exports.
While most Americans would blanche at the prospects of eating horse burgers or steaks, the processors plan to serve overseas markets.
The 36-page petition to the U.S. District Court in San Francisco alleges the USDA did not prepare required environmental reviews for Valley Meat Co.'s horse meat plant in southeastern New Mexico or for any of the pending requests. It lawsuit cites negative environmental consequences caused by horse slaughter, including air and water pollution.
The lawsuit alleges that the animals can be fed drugs and medication not fit for human consumption because horses in the U.S. "are not raised in regulated industries conscious of public health and safety concerns, but rather in private homes, on racetracks and as working animals."
The three other groups challenging USDA and its Food Safety Inspection Service are each from California: the Marin Humane Society in Novato; Horses for Life Foundation; and Return to Freedom of Lompoc. The Humane Society and Front Range Equine Rescue had previously announced their intentions to challenge the USDA in court.
Follow Alan Scher Zagier on Twitter at http://twitter.com/azagier


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There are a number of opportunities for financial assistance available for students pursuing actuarial science. A sample of these scholarships is provided below. You should also reach out to school counselors, prospective colleges and universities, local actuarial clubs or actuarial companies for more information on scholarship opportunities.
Note: High school students may not be eligible for all of the scholarships listed below. Please refer to the specific eligibility requirements for each scholarship for more information.
- Actuary of Tomorrow – Stuart A. Robertson Memorial Scholarship
- CAS Trust Scholarship Program
- D.W. Simpson Actuarial Science Scholarship Program
- Ezra Penland Actuarial Scholarship
- Curtis E Huntington Memorial Scholarship
- The Society of Actuaries James C. Hickman Scholar Program
Scholarships by Geographic Locations
- Casualty Actuaries of the Southeast Scholarship
- Casualty Actuaries Of Greater New York (CAGNY) Scholarship
- Nebraska Actuaries Club Scholarship
University Scholarships
- Ball State University
- Caribbean Actuarial Scholarship
- Drake University
- Georgia State University
- Harold W. Schloss Memorial Scholarship Fund
- Illinois State University Scholarships
- Purdue University Actuarial Scholarship
- University of Iowa Scholarships
- University of Manitoba
- University of Nebraska
- University of Texas at Austin Scholarships
- University of Waterloo
Diversity Scholarships
- Actuarial Diversity Scholarship
- International Association of Black Actuaries Scholarship
- Mutual of Omaha Actuarial Scholarship for Minorities
- Morgan State University


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Color Landscapes
Landscape photography, for me, serves as a way of more deeply experiencing the beauty of God's creation—Earth. In these images I have tried to capture and convey not just what I see, but the emotion I feel about what I see in the scene. I hope that perhaps you will feel a little bit of that emotion as you view these images. More scenic images, in color, can be viewed in the galleries for specific locations, such as in the Death Valley gallery. My monochrome (black & white) landscapes, done in the tradition of the early photography masters, can be viewed in the "Monochrome Landscapes" gallery.Read More


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Factory Direct Wholesale Only - Retail Customers PURCHASE HERE
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Brighten your day, or any room of your home, with this delightfully fun Wooden Starry Night Model Sailboat 9". Perfect nautical décor gifts for friends, children, or party guests, they also make excellent nautical decorations or sailboat centerpieces for a reception or group event. Liven your office, beach house, or sunroom with this American sailboat model today!
NOTE: This item is small, only 9". Please measure this size yourself to ensure it is appropriate for your intended purchase.
Handcrafted solid wood hull, masts and stand
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Ideal for banquets, receptions, meetings, or any other nautical party or event ---- Contact us for quantity discount
WARNING: This product can expose you to chemicals including Formaldehyde, and Styrene, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer, and Chromium and Toluene, which are known to the State of California to cause birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov


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Footprints in the Sand: A Piper Donovan Mystery (Piper Donovan/Wedding Cake Mysteries #3) (Large Print / Paperback)
It's the dead of winter and struggling actress and wedding-cake decorator Piper Donovan is thrilled to be in sunny Sarasota, Florida. She and her family are there to celebrate her cousin's wedding. Not only is Piper creating the wedding cake, she's also the maid of honor.
But a cloud hovers over the affair. Shortly after a bridesmaid disappears, a neighbor's car is run off the road and a prospective witness, an innocent Amish teenager, is threatened. Then a body is found and it falls to Piper to unmask a killer. Could it be the wedding planner with something to hide? A doctor and his wife who collect unusual Japanese figurines? The best man, an ex-drug dealer with lecherous eyes and roving hands? Or even the bride-groom himself?
As Piper gets close to figuring out who's been covering his guilty footprints in the sand, the cunning killer has already set his sights on Piper as his next victim!
Mary Jane Clark worked at CBS News for nearly three decades. Her twelve KEY News media thrillers were inspired by that experience. Envisioning the Piper Donovan/Wedding Cake mystery series, Mary Jane enrolled in cake-decorating classes and researched unique wedding locations. The daughter of an FBI agent and a mother who customized cakes for the neighborhood kids when she was growing up, Mary Jane has two grown children and splits her time between New Jersey and Florida.


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R-Car/Connected Car SDK startup guide
R-Car Connected Car SDK Outline
It's a development toolkit for connected car application, developers working with the R-Car system-on-chip (SoC) family can create applications, such as predictive safety infotainment applications that link dynamic data from the vehicle and the cloud in real time with algorithms developed based on big data in the cloud. This enables out-of-the-box development of innovative applications instead of the traditional approach of simply connecting the vehicle to the cloud, making cloud services available in the vehicle
System Architecture
Connected Car SDK consists of a simulator (PC application) that generates vehicle information, an Edge controller that integrates and manages sensor information in R-Car, a Vehicle Server (Option) that pools data, and Cloud data analysis (Option).
R-Car initial installation
Key components
- Target board : R-Car Starter Kit Premier/Pro (aka. h3ulcb/m3ulcb)
- Display : 1920 x 1080 pixel @60Hz
- Cables : HDMI cable x1, AC adopter x1(5V, >2.5A), Ethernet cable x3(R-Car Starterkit, PC and Internet), USB cable
- Storage : SD card (>8GB, Class 10)
- Target software
- AGL version : EE-5.0.3(Electric eel v5.0.3)
- Chromium version : m 67.0.3375.0
- AGL version : EE-5.0.3(Electric eel v5.0.3)
- IPL : download link
- IPL : how to write
AGL/Chromium environment(option)
- Download and Build AGL Source Code
- Building AGL & Chromium
Setting U-boot parameters
- Insert the micro SD-card to the target board. And Boot up.
- Stop auto boot hitting any key.
- set u-boot environment variable.
- For h3ulcb
=> setenv bootargs 'console=ttySC0,115200 root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rootwait rw rootfstype=ext4' => setenv bootargs 'console=ttySC0,115200 root=/dev/mmcblk1p1 rootwait rw rootfstype=ext4' => setenv bootcmd 'run load_ker; run load_dtb; booti 0x48080000 - 0x48000000' => setenv load_ker 'ext4load mmc 0:1 0x48080000 /boot/Image' => setenv load_dtb 'ext4load mmc 0:1 0x48000000 /boot/Image-r8a7796-m3ulcb.dtb' => setenv ethaddr xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx => saveenv => run bootcmd
- For m3ulcb
=> setenv bootargs 'console=ttySC0,115200 root=/dev/mmcblk0p1 rootwait rw rootfstype=ext4' => setenv bootargs 'console=ttySC0,115200 root=/dev/mmcblk1p1 rootwait rw rootfstype=ext4' => setenv bootcmd 'run load_ker; run load_dtb; booti 0x48080000 - 0x48000000' => setenv load_ker 'ext4load mmc 0:1 0x48080000 /boot/Image' => setenv load_dtb 'ext4load mmc 0:1 0x48000000 /boot/Image-r8a7796-m3ulcb.dtb' => setenv ethaddr xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx => saveenv => run bootcmd
Setting SD-card
Create a partition on a micro SD-card
Recommended environment for Creating an Image
- Tested OS: Ubuntu 14.04LTS, 16.04LTS
- 8GB/Class10 SD-card at least
- tar version: 1.28 at least
For example, if the micro SD-card is /dev/sdg:
Type the commands where you got "Command(m for help):" as below.
$ sudo fdisk /dev/sdg Welcome to fdisk (util-linux 2.27.1). Changes will remain in memory only, until you decide to write them. Be careful before using the write command. Command (m for help): o Created a new DOS disklabel with disk identifier 0x96e5850d. Command (m for help): n Partition type p primary (0 primary, 0 extended, 4 free) e extended (container for logical partitions) Select (default p): Using default response p. Partition number (1-4, default 1): First sector (2048-31291391, default 2048): Last sector, +sectors or +size{K,M,G,T,P} (2048-31291391, default 31291391): Created a new partition 1 of type 'Linux' and of size 14,9 GiB. Command (m for help): w The partition table has been altered. Calling ioctl() to
Format the micro SD-card
Initialize the ext4 partition using "mke2fs"; for example, if the micro SD-card is associated with /dev/sdg1:
Confirm whether the command is success or not. If you get "done" like following, the command is successful.
$ sudo mke2fs -t ext4 /dev/sdg1 --snip-- Allocating group tables: done Writing inode tables: done Creating journal (32768 blocks): done Writing superblocks and filesystem accounting information: done
Node installation
Download the node.js programs and extract to root folder
Refer to: https://nodejs.org/ja/download/
After extracted, command "npm install" at
/v2c-edge-1.60/ /vehicle-information-service-spec/
Network setting
In order to reproduce the situation where only the connection to the Internet is disconnected while maintaining LAN communication in the network failure area, execute a shell script that adds a virtual network interface and changes the routing table when EdgeController is executed. This shell script is assumed for that R-Car is in the LAN where the DHCP server exists, and connects to the Internet via the default gateway. Most of routers have a DHCP server function, so the R-Car is inside the router, and it corresponds to the general environment where the router is the default gateway. When the LAN where R-Car is placed is 192.168.0.0/24, the default gateway is 192.168.0.1, the IP address set for R-Car is 192.168.0.8(example), and the network interface of R-Car is eth0, use the following command: enabling set the IP address and default gateway.
ifconfig eth0 netmask 255.255.255.0 ip route add default via 192.168.0.1 dev eth0
If not connect to the internet, please confirm the setting of /etc/resolv.conf
SETUP of Edge Controller(Data management framework in R-Car)
Download Edge controller
- Coppy all of Zip files to R-Car
Extract Edge controller into R-Car
export directory path of micro SD-card
$ SDCARD=<define your sd card directory>
mount your SD to your rootfs
$ mount /dev/sdg1 $SDCARD
remove all data in SDCARD
$ sudo rm -rf ${SDCARD:-bad_dir}/*
extract all data in SDCARD
$ sudo gunzip xxx.tar.gz $ tar -xvf xxx.tar
Root have:
$ /v2c-edge-1.60/ /vehicle-information-service-spec / /node_module/
Execute Edge controller in R-Car
- Vehicle Server(option) execution
$ node vehicle-information-service-spec/visSvr.js
- Node execution for Edge controller
Make v2c-edge the current directory and then execute node program
$ cd v2c-edge-1.60 $ node index.js
+When getting an SSL error, try again with updating the date by "date" command
Edge controller setting
Edge controller configuration is as below.
- v2c-edge-1.60/public/static/edge_config.js
* EDGE_IP: Edge IP address (ex: 192.168.0.8) * USER_ID: User name (please ask to Renesas)
- v2c-edge-1.45/public/static/js/config.js
* userId1: User name (please ask to Renesas) * edgeIP: Edge IP address (ex: 192.168.0.8) * useYardPond: When changing from the metric method to the yard method: "true", If no: "false" * useFahrenheit: When changing from Celsius to Fahrenheit: "true", If no: "false"
SETUP of Vehicle Server(Option: HTTP server in R-Car)
How to subscribe
- Connect to Vehicle (HTTP) server
Connect to the VIS server by WebSocket then connect to the following URL: IP address is the same as Edge controller. ws://XXXX:8087 (XXXX: IP address)
- Subscribe request
When receiving data from the Vehicle server server continuously, the Subscribe request is sent in JSON of the following format to the created WebSocket connection.
{ action: "subscribe", path: "Signal.Vehicle.Speed", filters: "", requestId: "reqid-facb08d1-076c-47ed-8e2e-5a9d794eb494" }
Set each item as follows.
- action
- When subscribing, specify "subscribe".
- path
- Specify the data path to subscribe. The path name specified here specifies the Genivi VSS path described in the JSON format specification.
- requestId
- A unique string for each request is generated and set as a UUID or random number so that each request can be identified. There are no particular restrictions on the format or length.
Receiving Reply Message to Subscribe Request As soon as the Subscribe request is accepted, a JSON response message will be returned
{ action: "subscribe", requestId: "reqid-facb08d1-076c-47ed-8e2e-5a9d794eb494", subscriptionId: "subid-16583f3a2be272", timestamp: "1535517106878" }
The requestId is the specified ID when sending the request. The subscriptionId is an ID determined by the Vehicle Server server to identify this Subscribe. The subscribed data will come with this subscriptionId.
Receive subscribed data For the data path registered with Subscribe, as soon as the latest value arrives at the Vehicle Server, the value is delivered to the client in the following format:
{ action: "subscription", subscriptionId: "subid-16583f3a2be272", value: 0, timestamp: 1535517561503 }
The value contains the latest value. In this example, the speed is acquired as 0 m / s. Able to stop Subscribe by using the Unsubscribe command.
Sample script code for R-Car
$ sleep 10 /sbin/ifconfig eth0 [IP address: ex:192.168.0.8] netmask 255.255.255.0 /sbin/ip route add default via [gateway address: ex: 192.168.0.1] dev eth0 date -s 20190XXXX cd /v2c-edge-1.60; node index.js & cd /vehicle-information-service-spec; node visSvr.js & sleep 10 echo "nameserver 22.214.171.124" >> /etc/resolv.conf chromium --no-sandbox --kiosk http://localhost:8088/cluster/#/
SETUP of Vehicle simulator(PC application)
Download simulator
- Download and install to your PC (Evaluation period is 1 month for trial)
- Run the unity program "SDK.exe"
- Connect Simulator to R-Car Starter Kit (Interface)
- Target board:R-Car Starter Kit Premier/Pro (aka. h3ulcb/m3ulcb)
- Peripheral interface : Ethernet
- Target board:R-Car Starter Kit Premier/Pro (aka. h3ulcb/m3ulcb)
Simulator KEY BINDING LIST
1 Fine-Rainy-Snow DAY 2 Day-Night 3 City-Oval 4 5 6 A AirBag (ON-OFF) B C D DRIVE mode E F Fine day (2nd) G H Temperature Down I J K L Light (High beam-Low beam) M N O Door (Open-Lock) P Parking Q RESET R REAR mode S T Trunk (Open-Close) U V W Wiper (non-fast) X Move right for Info display Y Z Move left for Info display ↑ ACCEL → RIGHT ← LEFT ↓ BRAKE
How to use
- IP address setting
After executing the simulator, first press the 'g' button to display the setting screen, and enter the following URL for the WebSocket connection destination in the upper left.
ws://XXXX:8088/vehicle (XXXX: IP address of R-Car M3)
- Then press the Save URL button. You need to re-launch the simulator to reflect this change
Run the simulator again and turn on the "SendVehicleParam" check in the setting item displayed with the 'g' button then start to send the running data from the simulator to the edge.
Vehicle Information (Simulator)
Vehicle format
Refer to Excel format for detailed vehicle data(json_format.xlsx). Following data is sample.
- Vehicle information
$ { "Ver":"001", "Timestamp":1515574198504, "geometry":{ "coordinates":{ "Altitude":54.6, "Longitude":139.76562, "Latitude":35.68895} }, "RunningStatus":{ "Vehicle":{"Speed":5010}, "Engine":{"Speed":1009}, "SteeringWheel":{"Angle":1} }, "Body":{ "Door":{ "FrontLeft":{"IsOpen":false}} } }
- Event data
- Simulator have Event data in addition to Vehicle information
As a signal of Genivi VSS, as an extension of the Private node or less, it was set as below Private.V2C.Events.Event1 ... 5 Defined in json_format.xlsx
Command sequence
Vehicle data
Please download the spread sheet from below link
Xen installation (Option)
Download Xen environment
Under preparation
Web Application
DataPlayer, ClusterUI, HUD are HTML application, so it can be run on the browser
- DataPlayer
- ClusterUI
- NavigationUI
(XXXX:IP address of R-Car)


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Question What are the initial experiences of older adults who are admitted to nursing homes on a planned or unplanned basis as they make the transition to nursing home life?
Grounded theory.
3 long term care facilities with religious affiliations in a large city in Midwestern USA.
15 adults ≥65 years (age range 76–97 y, all of Euro-American origin, 73% women) who were admitted to a nursing home for expected permanent residence, were able to understand and speak English, were able to give informed consent, and who passed a short mental status questionnaire. 2 of the adults had mild confusion.
Indepth semistructured interviews lasting 45–60 minutes were conducted with each participant every other day for 2 weeks and 1 month after admission. Discussion focused on adjustments to institutional life. Field notes were made during the interviews and observations of participant behaviour (eg, stayed in room) were recorded. Data saturation was reached after the 15th participant was interviewed. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed using the constant comparative method.
Main results
The transition to nursing home life had 3 phases: overwhelmed, adjustment, and initial acceptance. Participants who had planned their admission to the nursing home progressed through the phases more quickly than those who had unplanned admissions.
The overwhelmed phase consisted of the emotional response to the admission, including crying, feelings of loneliness and sadness, and longing to go home. Participants made conscious efforts to protect their families and attempted to hide their feelings. Problems included experiencing too many changes at once, adjusting to reduced personal space, and the lack of privacy.
During the adjustment phase, participants began the process of adjustment by internalising their admission. They began to think about the future and everyday living. They tried to have a positive attitude, establish new social networks, and deal with issues about control and autonomy (eg, rules and regulations of the nursing home and lack of participation in decision making).
In the initial acceptance phase, participants began to take action (eg, made new friends, got involved in activities), felt more self confident, and began to take control of their situation, realising that they had a future.
Older adults went through 3 phases of adjusting to a permanent nursing home admission: feeling overwhelmed, adjustment, and initial acceptance. Adults who had planned their admission progressed through the phases more quickly than those who had unplanned admissions.
The number of older people entering nursing homes is rising and will continue to rise for the foreseeable future. This relocation can be a traumatic event and often occurs at a time when the person is experiencing a personal crisis or physiological change. It is therefore vital for nurses to understand more about nursing home entry if they are to help make this transition a success. This study by Wilson is timely and pertinent and contributes to a growing understanding of the characteristics of entry to a nursing home. Evidence suggests that this transition is a huge challenge to the person, but that effective proaction may assist with a successful passage.1 A simple theory has emerged that will assist nurses and other professionals to assess and plan for older people during the transition to nursing home life. Wilson seems to indicate that participants can easily be classified as having planned or unplanned admissions, but has not made clear what constitutes a planned and unplanned event. Indeed, there may be varying degrees of each. The choice of a grounded theory design is appropriate, because nursing home entry is a complex social process and there may be many variations in the way people respond. This method of research never suggests generalisability and the author rightly says nothing about the results being applicable to all environments. The study simply provides an emergent theory of nursing home entry, with the expectation that others will replicate it and modify it in light of further data. Lack of replication for grounded theory studies is one of the major obstacles to their acceptance as a valid method of research. The study's failure to address specifically the role of informal carers as a central concern at nursing home entry may be an important omission, but could be addressed in an adjunct study in the future.
Source of funding: not stated.
For article reprint: Dr S A Wilson, Marquette University College of Nursing, Clark Hall, PO Box 1881, Milwaukee, WI 53201–1881, USA. Fax +1 414 288 1597.


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Why Businesses Are Outsourcing Their IT ServicesRead more
There has been a lot of talk and speculation about the future of healthcare in America in recent weeks, and the conversation has left many healthcare workers with a lot of still unanswered questions. It's important to keep in mind that whatever changes may or may not be coming won't happen all at once, or all that quickly. As far as the immediate future is concerned, things aren't as up in the air as they seem.
Take MACRA/MIPS for example. As MACRA/MIPS is legislation, any changes will take a long time to be approved and put into effect. The Quality Payment Program is still on track to be implemented in 2017-2019 as scheduled. Most, if not all of what was set into motion by the previous administration will continue on as planned.
But what exactly does all of this mean for your practice? Specifically, what does it mean for the work you've put into upgrading your healthcare IT, and overhauling your Policies and Procedures? Today, nothing. But over the next couple of years, you can likely expect:
Your best course of action at the moment is to simply carry on. Keeping working with your IT services provider to improve your infrastructure, and adopt new technology that allows you to leverage mobility and cloud-based services to enhance the quality of patient care. Invest in the new EHR system you've been considering. Leave your strategic IT plan and IT budget as-is for 2017, and focus on reaching the goals you've set for your practice.
If you have concerns or reservations about your current IT infrastructure, or the future impact regulations or legislation could have on your practice down the road, reach out to the Radius Executive IT Solutions healthcare IT experts. We can answer your questions, and help make sure your practice stays on the right track.
Want to learn more about the IT support services we offer? Contact us at email@example.com or (978) 523-2174. We're the IT professionals practices in Boston trust.