“I have a really bad feeling about this.” —Han Solo
Today’s quick review: Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi. Now trained in the Jedi arts, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) returns to Tatooine with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) to rescue Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from the clutches of Jabba the Hutt. Reunited, the group rejoins the Rebellion for its final battle against the Empire: an attack on the newly reconstructed Death Star and a chance for Luke to confront Darth Vader (James Earl Jones).
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a classic sci-fi adventure and the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy. Return of the Jedi brings the war between the Rebellion and the Empire to a head, as well as concluding the character arcs of Luke, Leia, and Han. The film continues the series’ tradition of excellent characters and high-quality special effects, but parts of its story are a slight step down from Episodes IV and V.
The greatest strength of Return of the Jedi is the way its characters come into their own. Luke and his friends have been through a lot over the course of three movies, and Return of the Jedi gives them a chance to show how much they have grown. The story is a satisfying conclusion to all of the major character arcs, especially the conflict between Luke and Darth Vader. Along the way, the film delivers more than its share of sci-fi action.
Still, Return of the Jedi has a few weaknesses not found in its predecessors. The rebuilt Death Star is less compelling of a threat than the original in A New Hope, and the plot is not as organic as the plot of The Empire Strikes Back. There are also tonal inconsistencies where Return of the Jedi tries too hard to be comedic, robbing a few scenes of their full impact. These issues are relatively minor, but they will affect some viewers’ enjoyment.
Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi is a high-quality science fiction adventure and a fitting end to the Star Wars trilogy. Although the film makes a handful of missteps, the characters, setting, special effects, and overarching story are just as engaging as ever. Anyone who enjoyed the last two films would do well to finish up the trilogy. Those who disliked A New Hope or The Empire Strikes Back will want to steer clear.
8.3 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it an 8.0 for high all-around quality with a few minor flaws.