Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - Movie Review
- Red
- Mar 25, 2023
- 4 min read
Directed by Richard Marquand
RotJ is a creative and emotional whirlwind that does a fantastic job of closing out the original Star Wars trilogy. While it isn't perfect, the action-packed film certainly is a fun watch.
The movie follows Luke Skywalker and his crew of rebels on their mission to defeat the Empire once and for all. They encounter many new allies and enemies along the way, before Luke's final battle with his terrifying father, Darth Vader.
I adore the imaginativeness of this movie - it does a fantastic job of immersing the viewer into the world of Star Wars from the opening segment at Jabba's palace, right to the final battle. It's clear that this movie had a higher budget than the previous films in the trilogy (Almost 4 times more than A New Hope!). The production design is stellar, and the use of CGI was great for its time, although it feels a little dated when watching it now.
Aliens, droids and creatures are brought to life incredibly, mostly due to the work of the outstanding puppeteers and animatronic designers, as well as George Lucas' concepts, of course. The film is full of new and memorable characters, whether it's Jabba the Hutt, Salacious Crumb, Wicket the Ewok or Admiral Ackbar, one can't deny that ROTJ introduced characters that have become iconic.
The general character introductions and world-building is solid. Planets like Endor and Tatooine feel vast and lively, and the threat of the Empire looming over the galaxy has never been so intimidating!
The film kicks off with an epic rescue of Han Solo from gangster Jabba the Hutt. This memorable, action-packed sequence reintroduces the audience to beloved characters from the first two films, and makes for a very fun opening, setting the tone for the rest of the movie.
Lukę Skywalker has never been cooler, and is played by Mark Hamill once again. Watching a Jedi in his prime is incredibly entertaining, and Luke's relationships with the other characters, primarily Vader & Leia can be both tense and thrilling to watch.
Actor Ian McDiarmid portrays Emperor Palpatine masterfully. He is the personification of evil; his creepy voice and looks are truly chilling. His subtle mocking of Luke, and his consistent tempting emphasises his power, inherently making Vader's turn all the more impactful.
Han & Leia's romance is balanced well with the other aspects and character dynamics of the film. Harrison Ford & Carrie Fisher's on-screen chemistry makes the film all the more believable.
Director Richard Marquand and cinematographer Alan Hume created some of the most remarkable shots and atmospheres in the Skywalker saga. Stand outs are the symmetry used in Palpatine's throne room which conveys the Empire's yearn for order, and the dark lighting used to cast shadows on the gangsters in Jabba's palace. Colour, lighting and camera angles work together effectively, resulting in memorable locations which feel real in a sense, but simultaneously feel other-worldly.
Return of the Jedi's main purpose is to wrap up all the character arcs and to bring the Star Wars story to an end. The third act is where everything leading up to this film pays off. As a result, parts of the first two acts of the film feel like filler and many scenes could have been cut out, for example scenes on Endor, and at Jabba's Palace. The pacing isn't perfect, but the spectacle of the third act makes up for it, for sure.
Ewok are introduced too. I found them charming, and I enjoyed how they brought comedic relief to the movie. Despite that, the scene where an Ewok gets killed is heartbreaking and is likely the most saddening scene in the original trilogy.
At its core, Star Wars is a story about family and hope, and in ROTJ, this has never ringed more true. I believe that's a part of what makes Star Wars so special. Although it's set in outer space and its genre is science-fiction, its themes are relatable and its characters and their relationships are integral to the plot.
The lightsaber battles are well-choreographed and the camera compliments the action to make for visually pleasing shots. Luke and Vader's duel is full of raw emotion which keeps the viewer on the edge of their seat, and John Williams' score is excellent once again.
Darth Vader's redemption works well, and it's impossible to feel dissatisfied as Luke resists the lure of joining the dark side, and throws his lightsaber away instead, stating "I'll never turn to the dark side. You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me." This movie is a crowd-pleaser, for sure - George Lucas & Lawrence Kasdan's screenplay assures this.
A second Death Star is built, which results in the rebels having to blow it up again. It could be argued that this is unimaginative, however the movie finds ways to keep the finale fresh enough so that it doesn't feel like a repeat of A New Hope. The cutting between the space battle, and Luke, Palpatine & Vader's confrontation makes for very tense conflict.
ROTJ has a happy ending, tying all loose ends with the characters defeating the Empire and celebrating with the Ewoks. For me, this was a perfect ending to Star Wars. It's just a shame that the sequel trilogy undid all of this and ultimately spoils Vader's redemption.
Return of the Jedi is brilliant in concept, although the execution is a little off. It's full of cinematic moments, memorable sequences and excellent world-building, but the pacing and unnecessary scenes hold it back from being perfect. It closes the original trilogy very well nonetheless and goes down as one of my favourite Star Wars films.
Watch Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi on Disney Plus
Comments