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Revisiting Star Wars: "Return of the Jedi"
This week, in preparation for the premiere of The Rise of Skywalker, I'm rewatching all of the live-action Star Wars films. Some for the first time in years. As I go along I'm collecting some of my thoughts on how each film has changed in my own estimation, and how well I think they hold up overall in the story as it stands.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi leans further into the fantasy elements of the franchise than any of the other films, an element I found slightly off-putting the first time I watched it. However, upon each viewing I gain more of an appreciation for the decision to go this route, not to mention the way it resolved its central conflict is key to shaping what Star Wars would become possibly more than anything else. It's impact is felt all the way from The Phantom Menace to The Last Jedi, where the idea of humanity and redemption for the villains is given it's due. Sorry guys, Luke Skywalker is the original woobifier of your problematic faves.
The Ewoks may be divisive among fans, but their presence and the Forest Moon of Endor as a setting goes a long way to reinfornce the idea that, at the end of the day, Star Wars is a fairy tale. A science fiction space opera, sure, but also a fairy tale. The princess who lost her family at the beginning of the story finds a new one and reunites with her love. The "prince" faces his father and saves his very soul from the forces of evil. The reformed scoundrel returns from metaphorical death through the efforts of his friends and the woman he loves. Palpatine is basically the devil tempting Luke, but overplays his hand and loses the one he'd already successfully ensnared. I could go on.
The fantasy elements also manifest in the aesthetics of this movie. Endor is the obvious example of this, with Leia's costume change feeling more like something out of Middle Earth than a sci-fi space adventure. However, the other acts of the movie also deliver on this in spades. Jabba's palace, despite being set on Tatooine as well, feels completely different from Mos Eisley or even the much closer Mos Espa. It feels like the boss's palace in some kind of fairy tale about an evil creature who kidnaps children, complete with trapdoors, a large monster to slay, and a caravan ready and waiting to throw the heroes into a magic evil pit. The second Death Star, likewise, feels much different from any of the other spaceships shown before in that it is much more open. Panels that would previously have been open are now glass, and the atmosphere feels less militaristic and more dark magic just by virtue of Palpatine and his demon face being there radiating magical evil energy.
Honestly, my only major criticism is that my eyes tend to glaze over during giant space battles, and the long sequence at the end only felt watchable because it was intercut with the much more entertaining and easier to follow ground battle and the confrontation between Luke and Palpatine. Granted, as far as space battles go, this is easily one of the least difficult to get through because of that (I remember The Force Awakens' aerial assault as essentially static), but I also wouldn't classify this as a flaw since its more a matter of personal taste. Expecting Star Wars not to have major space battles is unreasonably psychotic. Lando Calrissian, Nien Nunb, and Admiral Ackbar are also much more entertaining and recognizable players than the essentially interchangeable white men that were in the assault on the Death Star in A New Hope.
Considering my personal taste, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out how similar chunks of this film are to The Last Jedi. The throne room scene borrows many of the same beats, including dialog from the Emperor about how Vader can't be turned and taunting Luke about the destruction of his fleet. Where it differs from The Last Jedi is instead of trying to kill Rey and reaffirm Kylo Ren's commitment to the Dark Side, Palpatine is actively trying to turn Luke to the dark side in much the same manner he turned Anakin in Revenge of the Sith. This film in a lot of ways feels like a retroactive answer to Revenge of the Sith, which only makes me more curious to see if they'll be further linked through The Rise of Skywalker. Honestly, that whole sequence is just such a perfectly executed emotional high point for the franchise, I don't blame them for continuously chasing it.
I also watched the movie's deleted scenes for the first time, courtesy of Disney+. The alts for the pilots were interesting but kind of a slog to get through, and even though it didn't have sound the rebel troopers moving through the hallways with equipment and manning the gun on the Falcon was more visually interesting. The fact that there was originally supposed to be a whole other rebel ship with featured interiors is wild considering how overstuffed that sequence is to begin with. The cut scenes featuring Moff Jerjerrod add another dimension to the Emperor's evil machinations that would have been interesting if it had been left in, but for pacing's sake I get why it was cut. The sandstorm scene was also neat but I completely get why they changed that because it was very impractical story-wise. The scene where Vader reaches out to Luke with the force as he's completing his lightsaber is also neat, but lessens the impact of Luke's first appearance in the holo at Jabba's Palace.
I'd already grown to like this film more upon rewatch, but I was honestly blown away by how much I loved it, maybe more than either of the other two original trilogy films that I've usually ranked above it. Maybe it's all about timing, because I could sure use a hopeful message right now, but I think it's beyond that. When you tell a story genuinely and unapologetically extols the inherent goodness of people, it's going to generate good will towards it. Even if it takes some time to truly appreciate that.
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi leans further into the fantasy elements of the franchise than any of the other films, an element I found slightly off-putting the first time I watched it. However, upon each viewing I gain more of an appreciation for the decision to go this route, not to mention the way it resolved its central conflict is key to shaping what Star Wars would become possibly more than anything else. It's impact is felt all the way from The Phantom Menace to The Last Jedi, where the idea of humanity and redemption for the villains is given it's due. Sorry guys, Luke Skywalker is the original woobifier of your problematic faves.
The Ewoks may be divisive among fans, but their presence and the Forest Moon of Endor as a setting goes a long way to reinfornce the idea that, at the end of the day, Star Wars is a fairy tale. A science fiction space opera, sure, but also a fairy tale. The princess who lost her family at the beginning of the story finds a new one and reunites with her love. The "prince" faces his father and saves his very soul from the forces of evil. The reformed scoundrel returns from metaphorical death through the efforts of his friends and the woman he loves. Palpatine is basically the devil tempting Luke, but overplays his hand and loses the one he'd already successfully ensnared. I could go on.
The fantasy elements also manifest in the aesthetics of this movie. Endor is the obvious example of this, with Leia's costume change feeling more like something out of Middle Earth than a sci-fi space adventure. However, the other acts of the movie also deliver on this in spades. Jabba's palace, despite being set on Tatooine as well, feels completely different from Mos Eisley or even the much closer Mos Espa. It feels like the boss's palace in some kind of fairy tale about an evil creature who kidnaps children, complete with trapdoors, a large monster to slay, and a caravan ready and waiting to throw the heroes into a magic evil pit. The second Death Star, likewise, feels much different from any of the other spaceships shown before in that it is much more open. Panels that would previously have been open are now glass, and the atmosphere feels less militaristic and more dark magic just by virtue of Palpatine and his demon face being there radiating magical evil energy.
Honestly, my only major criticism is that my eyes tend to glaze over during giant space battles, and the long sequence at the end only felt watchable because it was intercut with the much more entertaining and easier to follow ground battle and the confrontation between Luke and Palpatine. Granted, as far as space battles go, this is easily one of the least difficult to get through because of that (I remember The Force Awakens' aerial assault as essentially static), but I also wouldn't classify this as a flaw since its more a matter of personal taste. Expecting Star Wars not to have major space battles is unreasonably psychotic. Lando Calrissian, Nien Nunb, and Admiral Ackbar are also much more entertaining and recognizable players than the essentially interchangeable white men that were in the assault on the Death Star in A New Hope.
Considering my personal taste, I'd be remiss if I didn't point out how similar chunks of this film are to The Last Jedi. The throne room scene borrows many of the same beats, including dialog from the Emperor about how Vader can't be turned and taunting Luke about the destruction of his fleet. Where it differs from The Last Jedi is instead of trying to kill Rey and reaffirm Kylo Ren's commitment to the Dark Side, Palpatine is actively trying to turn Luke to the dark side in much the same manner he turned Anakin in Revenge of the Sith. This film in a lot of ways feels like a retroactive answer to Revenge of the Sith, which only makes me more curious to see if they'll be further linked through The Rise of Skywalker. Honestly, that whole sequence is just such a perfectly executed emotional high point for the franchise, I don't blame them for continuously chasing it.
I also watched the movie's deleted scenes for the first time, courtesy of Disney+. The alts for the pilots were interesting but kind of a slog to get through, and even though it didn't have sound the rebel troopers moving through the hallways with equipment and manning the gun on the Falcon was more visually interesting. The fact that there was originally supposed to be a whole other rebel ship with featured interiors is wild considering how overstuffed that sequence is to begin with. The cut scenes featuring Moff Jerjerrod add another dimension to the Emperor's evil machinations that would have been interesting if it had been left in, but for pacing's sake I get why it was cut. The sandstorm scene was also neat but I completely get why they changed that because it was very impractical story-wise. The scene where Vader reaches out to Luke with the force as he's completing his lightsaber is also neat, but lessens the impact of Luke's first appearance in the holo at Jabba's Palace.
I'd already grown to like this film more upon rewatch, but I was honestly blown away by how much I loved it, maybe more than either of the other two original trilogy films that I've usually ranked above it. Maybe it's all about timing, because I could sure use a hopeful message right now, but I think it's beyond that. When you tell a story genuinely and unapologetically extols the inherent goodness of people, it's going to generate good will towards it. Even if it takes some time to truly appreciate that.