Country: U.S.A.
Genre(s): Action /
Adventure / Fantasy / Sci-Fi
Director: Richard
Marquand
Cast: Mark Hamill /
Carrie Fisher / Harrison Ford
Plot
Learning of the
construction of a new Death Star, the rebels mount a new offensive strike,
while Luke Skywalker prepares for a final confrontation with his father.
Thoughts
*So I am done separating these entries into “What I Liked”
and “What I Didn’t Like” sections and will be changing it to a more inclusive,
cohesive section concerning my overall thoughts about the film.*
When I was a kid,
“Return of the Jedi” was my favorite of the “Star Wars” trilogy, for several
reasons. First was the Rancor, one of
the most frighteningly cool creatures in the George Lucas/Jim Henson
menagerie. I liked all the forest fun
(ropes, bows and arrows, slings, and speeder bikes) on Endor. Also, Jabba the Hut and the Emperor made nice
additions as repulsive baddies. For the
most part, though, it just seemed that I watched “Return of the Jedi” much more
often than the other two entrants in the series that were out at the time. I was never the “Star Wars” nut that a lot of
other kids of my generation were, but I liked all three movies, this one the
most; back then, anyway.
Many say that the
ewoks ruined this film. I enjoyed them
as a kid and even remember watching the Saturday morning cartoon (I still have
the first issue of the “Ewoks” comic book series). Now, I understand why some die-hard fans find
them annoying or childish. Nonetheless,
they are an important reminder not to take these movies too damn seriously, a
reminder many people could use.
Setting the ewoks
issue aside, “Jedi” has a lot going for it.
The effects are improved even over the already impressive “Empire
Strikes Back,” allowing the sets to get more elaborate and detailed. The characters, machines, and space ships
move more fluidly and with more thrilling variety and speed through these sets. Thus the action in this film is much more
dense, fun, and impressive than in either of its predecessors. Of course, the visuals aren’t quite
comparable with the breakthroughs CGI would give us in the following two
decades, but they were nonetheless stunning and convincing for viewers in the
early 1980s.
The improved look and
action thankfully helps distract the viewer for musing too long on just how
horrendous the films dialogue can be.
One cliché or trite line follows another in almost every scene where
anyone does any talking. At least many
of the comedic lines are given to Han Solo, which allows Harrison Ford’s acting
ability to soften the blow of some of the movie’s more cringe-worthy
moments. But Mark Hamill is still an
absolute hack who should’ve have never been cast as the lead in the first
film. Any shot meant to capture Luke’s
emotional turmoil in this movie is almost as unbearable as Chewbacca’s
incessant whining was in “Empire.”
I know that many
consider “Jedi” to be the worst of the original trilogy. But if I’m being honest, I can’t really pick
my favorite or least favorite among the original trilogy. Despite Hamill, they all accomplish what they
set out to do pretty impressively. “Jedi”
may not end on the down note that so many admire about “Empire,” but the
closing entry in a trilogy like this simply can’t end that way. And “Jedi” is every bit the escapist popcorn
flick, if not moreso, that its predecessors was.
Most Memorable Scene
The rancor. Loved that beast.
My Rating: 5 out of 5
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