Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983)

 

So here it is, the culmination of one of the most beloved trilogies of all time. 

Yes, I know that there are a lot more films nowadays, but for most of my childhood and adult life, this has been a trilogy, nothing more. Sure, there were the prequels, but in truth: they didn't really matter all that much as they didn't have such a profound impact on yours truly. 

So, how does this one hold up compared to 1 and 2? Or 4 and 5, if you like.

Well, it's a bit of a mixed bag at times, even if it is still immensely entertaining. 

Han Solo is now a wall ornament in the lair of Jabba the Hutt and his friends all try to infiltrate his mansion/castle in order to rescue him. Things don't all go neatly according to plan, as eventually Luke is dropped below the throne room into the Rancor pit. He manages to slay the beast, yet then our gang is condemned to die in the belly of the Sarlacc, out in the desert. Yet with some cunning and Luke who has increased his powers by now, they manage to kill Jabba and escape. 

Luke returns to Dagobah to finish his training with Yoda, who tells him he is ready, but he has to face Vader. Even bigger reveal: Luke has a twin sister... 

The Rebellion in the meantime has learned that the Empire is building another Death Star and they want to destroy it before it becomes operational. Even more importantly: the Emperor himself is present during the final stages of completion and now the Rebellion obviously wants this double whammy. So everyone gears up for a last effort. Lando will lead the spatial assault, and Han will go down to the forest moon of Endor in order to shut down the shield that is protecting the Death Star. 

But things don't go to plan. Luke surrenders to Vader in order to keep his friends safe, but the Emperor reveals that this has all been a setup to crush the Rebellion once and for all. Even more: the Emperor wants Luke to replace Vader, which leads to one of the most emotional battles in the entirety of the saga between father and son. Luke stops short of killing his father, which pisses off the Emperor who proceeds to torture Luke in order to finish him off. 

Well, let's just say you get some excellent closure in this film in every respect, and there is a particular moment you will undoubtedly cheer for when it happens. Maybe not out loud, but your heart will swell and the most expressive version of: "YES!" will reverberate throughout the room. 

So why is this one a little uneven at times? Well, there is a lot of action, some horror elements and they work very well, but some of the humour comes across as just a little too silly. You get gags, and they stand out like a sore thumb. Yes, this happens quite a lot when the Ewoks are introduced. I don't hate the Ewoks as much as some people, but they do behave in certain ways that just feels a little off. Fearless pint-sized hunters, yet when Han grabs a spear, they don't immediately kill him? I know that would have made for quite a different film, but it's weird when you see their dedication during the battle with the Empire. 

The first part with Jabba is great. Especially the Rancor battle is hugely memorable and it scared the giblets out of me as a young child. Also: the Gamorrean guards gave me nightmares. I know they look like green pigs wearing fluffy speedos, but you don't see it that way when you're 6. 

Then we get an extremely emotional goodbye when Yoda passes on. It is handled well, although his raspy death rattle voice is a little forced. Also: why the heck does he tell Luke he has a sister just before dying? Subtle, Jedi Master, real subtle. 

On Endor, the speeder bike chase is another highlight and a lot of fun to watch. But near the end, you get three fights going on at the same time: the space battle, the forest battle and Luke's fight with Vader. You won't care about the space battle, in all honesty. Yes, it gave us Admiral Ackbar's famous line that has been quoted and parodied to death, but that's it. The forest battle is a lot of shenanigans and at times a little too silly, which clashes with the deaths of some of the Ewoks. Yes, you're supposed to care, but it doesn't always work that way. 

No, the real focal point is the duel between Luke, Vader and the Emperor, which is not only the most emotional of the entire film, but which is also brilliantly completed thanks to the music by John Williams. You can feel the emotions rising, every lightsabre swing has power behind it... In short: this showdown matters, for everyone. The redemption moment is postponed just long enough for maximum impact and when it comes, it hits home.

So, 'Return of the Jedi' might not be the best of the original trilogy. But that doesn't matter: this is still a great film and a fitting end to the story arcs of this setup. You can easily forgive the silly moments, because when the serious ones come along, they hit all the harder.