4 of 1001 Return of the Jedi

I figured since all 3 of the original trilogy were on the list I should do 3 separate reviews.

"Return of the Jedi" starts off with the audience following the 2 droids as they enter a strange enclosure and meet up with a huge green slug called Jabba the Hut. The droids bring a message for Jabba from their master Luke. After the hologram plays Jabba laughs and the droids are hired into indentured servitude. Later another person comes in with a Wookie on a chain and later we realize that Leia is back to help save Han from his frozen state.

The film draws us in and we hold on for the ride. We know that this is the final segment and all bets are off. We lose some players in the game yet they are redeemed in death. We meet new friends and enemies we thought were bad turn out to actually be good guys all along.

I personally loved "Return of the Jedi" when I was a kid. I remember sitting in the theatre and being completely mesmerized by the film. I don't think I stopped talking for a couple hours afterward. I was in heaven.

What gets me in this film is that Luke who wears white in the first two films wears black for most of this film. It's interesting seeing Luke grow up from the innocent young boy to the man who will lead the new Jedi Order. We also see that not all evil is pure. Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker redeems himself and is able to join the Force. The most memorable scene for me is the funeral pyre with Luke standing there under the stars watching his father's body burn. The audience feels his grief and can relate to him saying "goodbye" to someone he thought was an enemy but was in truth family.

Overall a good film that stays with you. It ties up the other two films nicely with no loose ends. Do I wish the story would continue, yes. Will George Lucas grant me my wish..no. I can live with that and that's OK.

-A-