MadCap's Reel Thoughts - "Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi"

Well, here it is. The last Star Wars movie, at least at the time of writing.  As of this review, only four days remain before we can no longer call the Star Wars saga complete.  This was a film that was written to be the epic ending of a saga.  Audiences in 1983 thought so, and it's considered one of the three good Star Wars movies, though admittedly it's the least highly regarded of the Original Trilogy...and even I have to admit that I see why, but I'll get into that.

The film picks up much where Empire left off, though with Han Solo (Harrison Ford) still in carbonite as Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) spearhead a brave campaign to try and rescue him from the evil Jabba the Hutt. This plan involves them and their friends C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), and Chewbacca (Peter Mayhem) all showing up one or two at a time.

...brilliant plan.

Needless to say the actual plot picks up with the construction of a brand new Death Star over the forest moon of Endor, which is being overseen by Darth Vader (James Earl Jones, David Prowse) and the Emperor (Ian McDiarmid), who plan to use it as a final blow against the Rebel Alliance whilst turning Luke to the dark side of the Force.

Now, as for the main plot, we have Luke accepting the truth that his father once owned a sled named Rosebud and is now the Sith Lord known as Darth Vader, and trying to redeem him.  Despite the beliefs of both Obi-Wan (Alec Guinness) and Yoda (Frank Oz), Luke still believes that Anakin Skywalker can be brought back to the light side of the Force.  And, as we all know, Luke is correct and he ultimate succeeds in this venture - redeeming Anakin and seeing that the greatest evil the galaxy had until then known was destroyed, as well as proving himself worthy of carrying on the legacy of the Jedi Knights.

For Anakin, this brings about the end of his character arc. From a youth on Tatooine who Obi-Wan was surprised that the Force flowed so strongly through (remember, I don't consider the prequels canon) to a Jedi who fought in the Clone Wars to a scion of the Dark Side to ultimately finding his redemption through love for his son.  This has technically been in play since Empire, and it's been made abundantly clear that Vader has had some conflict in his interactions with Luke, his son stirring the good man he once was in him and making his decisions all the more difficulty.

The scene where Vader is stuck with a choice between his evil mentor and his dying son is one of the most beautifully done scenes in all of fiction.  Anyone who has ever worked in a theatrical production knows the hindrance that masks give, particularly ones that completely hide the face. It doesn't seem like much, certainly, but when one's face is covered it takes away all ability to show expression besides in tone.  Admittedly, with Vader, this is circumvented with the powerful voice of James Earl Jones.  However, in this scene, Vader doesn't speak.

At all.

He looks between the man who aided him on the road to damning his soul, and to his dying son begging him for help as he's roasted alive by electricity.  In that scene, in the black Plexiglas of Vader's eye lenses, you can see a myriad of emotions flow through him - confusion, sorrow, regret, rage.  And then, in a single moment, clarity as he lurches towards the Emperor, lifts him up, and casts him down the reactor shaft of the Death Star, choosing love for his son over the darkness.  It is a poignant moment, and it's all the better by the fact that Vader never has to say a word to express what he's thinking to the audience.  We can see it in that moment of indecision, and his actions immediately after. It's pretty much absolutely perfect.

So, of course, Lucas had to fuck it up by having him scream "NOOOOOO!!!!" in an incredibly hammy and unnecessary fashion.

Way to go, George. Way to go.  It's stuff like this that makes the internet hate you.

Though that's not the only problem with this film, and not even one that can be traced back to the original film.  That's right, there's actually just one major problem that people have with this film and it's a simple one - Ewoks.

I get it.  I do. They're all furry and cute and marketable and not the badass Wookiee warriors that were the original plan (that idea being relegated to Revenge of the Sith and really kinda sucking there, oddly enough).  But you know what they aren't?  Gungans. And I think we can all be very, very happy about that fact.

Still, that one major and one minor issue aside, I love this movie.  It brings a tone of finality to the entire Saga that is worthy of what it is and what it means to so many.  The final scenes of the Rebels partying with the Ewoks on Endor and - in one of the few edits I do like that Lucas made - the montage of various worlds celebrating the downfall of the Empire is the very definition of triumphant.  And as before he goes to join his friends in the celebration, Luke has one last look to Obi-Wan, Yoda, and a restored Anakin, and while they are gone, they will always be with him.  The future looks bright and, as the first of the new Jedi Knights, Luke Skywalker will be ready for whatever comes next.

...so, see you all in four days to find out just what comes next.

Star Wars Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi is now available from 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilms.

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