MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) Discussion > what was the point of the cave test?

what was the point of the cave test?

posted 2 years ago by rateater (9228)
13 replies | jump to latest

i'm guessing many training jedi have gone into that cave. what is the purpose of the test? only what you take with you? was it just facing your fears? or how you react to your fears?

[–] TheGreatBambino (207) 2 years ago

And why did Yoda later refer to Luke's "failure at the cave?"
Luke defeated the Force phantasm or whatever you want to call it. Was he acting out of aggression because he drew his saber first? Or did the vision only appear because Luke had too much fear in him, and if he had better control of his feelings then it would not have happened at all? What if he had decided not to take his weapons into the cave with him, but he still felt fear?

[–] moviechatterer (13270) 2 years ago

well , he wasnt supposed to take weapons at all , so thats a downmark , if not a fail "off the bat"

[–] Seperatrix (1087) 2 years ago

My read is that his "failure at the cave" was that he took his fear into the cave, the fear that he would become like Vader.

First, he took his gun with him (after being told it wasn't needed), reflecting fear. Second, once Luke defeated the Vader-in- the cave, the exposed face of Luke in the Vader helmet spells it out for us.

[–] millsey72 (9547) 2 years ago

The Empire sent a clone of Darth Vader out to search for Luke. They met in the cave and Luke destroyed it. It was a very important point in the movie and one of the best overall scenes in the OT

[–] aavfreak (2861) 2 years ago

Except when the mask exploded and we get the cutaway, it is clearly a clone of Luke, not Anakin. I think you've found a plot hole.

[–] millsey72 (9547) 2 years ago

You found the plot hole, not me. Good job

[–] aavfreak (2861) 2 years ago

I hate to overuse the term, but I think it fits here.

[–] millsey72 (9547) 2 years ago

Was it ever explained why the phony Darth Vader was hanging out on Degobah? Did he ever encounter Yoda prior to Luke seeing him in the cave?

[–] aavfreak (2861) 2 years ago

Now that you mention it, I don't believe it ever was. I think you may have found another plot hole.

[–] millsey72 (9547) 2 years ago

I can't stand plot holes in movies. It just reflects lazy writing

[–] TheGreatBambino (207) 2 years ago

They had all that cloning technology left from the Clone Wars, or something.
Speaking of which, I always thought that "the Clone Wars" was one of the more silly-sounding things in the first movie, and I kind of hoped that the concept would just get quietly buried and that we would never hear anything more about it. Alas...

[–] Seperatrix (1087) 2 years ago

So much has come out with Star Wars since this films release, so maybe there's something out there people can tap into for a better explanation than mine. But when I saw this film the first time I didn't take the Vader that Luke encountered literally, but as something projected into his mind by the dark side of the Force. What Luke took into the cave (which Yoda explained had a strong Dark Force presence) was his fear of confronting Vader, failing, and becoming like Vader. I think that's also why we get the slow-mo effect. But that's me.

[–] ElizabethJoestar (930) 2 years ago

It's about Luke realizing he's still ruled by his aggression and therefore vulnerable to the dark side. When he faces the Vader figure in the cave and strikes it down, he's doing so out of rage-- that's why the helmet reveals Luke's face, he's in danger of becoming what he most hates. Yoda wants him to realize that. It's also why Yoda does not want him going to Bespin-- he feels Luke is immature and easy prey for Vader's manipulation.