Classic Review: Return of the Jedi (1983)

“Return of the Jedi” (aka “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi”) stars Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, David Prowse, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew, and Frank Oz.  Released on May 25, 1983, the film has Luke Skywalker and the Rebel Alliance attempting to take down the Galactic Empire once and for all.

The film is directed by Richard Marquand, who also directed films such as The Legacy, Eye of the Needle, Until September, and Hearts of Fire.  It is the third installment in the original Star Wars trilogy and the sixth film in chronological order.  Well, this is it.  My short quest to review the original Star Wars trilogy is nearly complete.  We’re just a day away from seeing The Last Jedi on the big screen, so it’s time for me to bring Luke Skywalker’s three-film journey to a close.  While the reviews for this film weren’t as extremely positive as the last two, it is still receiving praise for being a fitting conclusion to the well-made trilogy.  So, how does this one make me feel compared to my thoughts on the last two Star Wars films?  Pretty much the same way as everybody else felt.

All of the main cast members once again reprised their roles from the last two films, including Hamill as Luke, Ford as Han Solo, and Fisher as Leia.  As expected, they delivered some very solid performances, although there were a couple of scenes where their acting can come off as either stiff or underwhelming.  The main highlight of the cast has to be Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor, the supreme leader of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader’s master.  There are multiple ways I can describe his performance: menacing, brilliant, the list goes on…if I can remember the rest of them.  Most people think that this film is the weakest in the trilogy.  Well, I can somehow agree that some moments could’ve been portrayed better, but I think the story is still great for what it is.  Not just because of Luke’s attempt to bring his father back to the light side of the Force, but also because of how it portrayed Darth Vader as more than just a villain in a mask, and how it deepens the relationship between Luke and Vader.  The visuals (including the use of practical effects and some CGI), the action sequences, and the set designs were very pleasing to the eyes.  However, they do feel a bit dated from time to time, especially the use of green-screen effects.  But I did enjoy the action sequences.  Those were still fun to watch.  Like the last two predecessors, John Williams once again composed the music for this film and as always, it still sounds fantastic.

Overall, “Return of the Jedi” does feel a bit dated compared to the last two installments, but it still retains the sense of imagination and adventure that the franchise is known for since its inception.  This is a well-crafted finale to the original trilogy that’s filled with a solid cast, entertaining action, and a riveting story.  If I were to rank this movie, I would place it above the prequel trilogy, but below Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.  Once again, I would highly recommend this to any Star Wars fan, whether they’re young or old.  Well, guys, I hope you enjoyed my galactic journey into the world of the original Star Wars trilogy.  It has been a blast.  If there are any other Star Wars movies or specials that you want me to look at, feel free to let me know.  Until then, I’ll see you when I get to The Last Jedi, and remember, the Force will always be with you.  Always.

A-