Countdown to 'Star Wars' Day: 'Episode VI Return of the Jedi' is a mixed bag of iconic myth and silliness
With May, the 4th celebrations getting closer, MEA WorldWide (MEAWW) is counting down to what's come to be known around the world as 'Star Wars' Day by taking a look at each one of the main nine 'Star Wars' movies, in chronological order of release.
Today, we cover 'Episode VI The Return of the Jedi' — the movie that brought the original trilogy to a close, and would be the last anyone saw of the 'Star Wars' film franchise for quite a while.
Perhaps you've watched 'A New Hope' and 'An Empire Strikes Back' and are now looking for initial impressions before heading off to the third movie. Maybe you want to see Carrie Fisher's Princess Leia in a golden bikini.
Perhaps this is your first 'Star Wars' movie ever, and you're diving right in to 'Return of the Jedi' because you've heard it come highly recommended, or you have a DVD lying around, or you just want to find out if the Ewoks are really as bad as everyone says they are.
Whatever your reasons for being here, this will be a spoiler-free review that comes with a single warning: whatever you do, for the love of the Force, do not watch 2004's Special Edition of the film.
'Return of the Jedi' is a very mixed movie, that in some ways can feel like three separate, smaller episodes of a long-running TV series. We open with the rebels attempting to save Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from Jabba the Hutt (Michael Carter).
It's a showcase of Luke Skywalker's (Mark Hamill) new abilities, as between movies he has graduated from Jedi trainee to almost a fully realized Jedi Knight. It's a far cry from the idealistic young moisture farmer we met in 'A New Hope.'
Luke carries himself with an all-new gravitas and solemnity — you can almost see the forces of destiny wrap themselves around him.
'Return of the Jedi' also sees the rebels make their final move against the Empire, making one final stand on Endor — home of the Eworks, a species of cute, tribal bears with surprising inventiveness in their methods of fighting back against the Empire.
Where 'Empire Strikes Back' leaned more heavily into science-fiction, 'Return of the Jedi' brought 'Star Wars' back to its genre fantasy roots with all the trappings that come with that.
For every scene of epic myth, there is a scene with cutesy animals designed to sell toys and make kids laugh in theaters. For every dramatic performance that sells the struggle of darkness versus the light, there's a seasoned actor having to make serious conversation with creatures that only grunt, growl, or communicate through sassy beeps and boops.
The film does a masterful telling of the conflict, both internal and external, of hope against the all-encompassing shadow of the Dark Side, and of compassion's triumph over hatred — but it's also the 'Star Wars' movie with more silly creatures each minute than any other 'Star Wars' film to date — including the ones featuring Jar Jar Binks.
It's a lesson in how it's not important to take a movie too seriously to be able to enjoy it. Some moments are charming, some are silly, and if you're unfortunate enough to be watching the Special Edition, some moments are just downright strange, but none of it can take away from one of the most iconic scenes in cinematic history — Luke's confrontation with his father, Darth Vader (James Earl Jones/Sebastian Shaw).
For all its ridiculous aspects, the movie has adventure, intrigue, some highly enjoyable action scenes and mythic drama. It brings the original trilogy to a satisfying conclusion.
'Return of the Jedi' is a mixed bag, but there's a reason it's some people's favorite. The 'Star Wars' story would not be the same without it, and it's absolutely worth a watch — just so long as you never have to suffer through the Special Edition's 'Jedi Rocks.'
'Star Wars Episode VI Return of the Jedi' is available to stream on Disney+.