Overall Rating
  Awesome: 45.91%
Worth A Look: 18.24%
Just Average: 9.43%
Pretty Crappy: 11.95%
Sucks: 14.47%
4 reviews, 135 user ratings
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| Return of the Jedi |
by TheMole
"Why o' why are the Care-Bears in this movie?"
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The Star Wars Trilogy Special Edition was a pretty big deal for me, never having seen the first two films on a big screen. And so of course I was whet as a Catholic school girl before the altar when 'A New Hope' hit theaters.Seeing it on a big screen helped emphasize strengths and weaknesses of the film I'd never taken quite as keen notice of before. What struck me from the very beginning is how different a movie it would have been had anyone else composed the score. John Williams' composition so perfectly played up the movie's sense of grandeur and awe, whereas in lesser hands it might have played off the movie's more cornball elements, of which there are undeniably plenty. The movie still rocks, though!
Many film critics mocked 'A New Hope' for its hokey religion of ‘the force.' I fuckin' hate most critics, they're so full of shit it makes me want to learn the fine art of mailbombing. The movie isn't about having faith in any mythology or ideology or religion called The Force, it's about the human spirit triumphing over technology, it's about looking within and depending on inner-strength for guidance. These are hardly notions to be scoffed at or so easily dismissed.
'The Empire Strikes Back' is my personal favorite of the three, and seeing it on a large screen in its full aspect ratio was quite an experience. It's simply a(n almost) perfect piece of filmmaking fantasy. The fact that it isn't a complete story, that it begins shortly after the destruction of the Death Star and ends without any kind of resolution, somehow only adds to its charm. And really the story is so simple, yet its filled with so many quirky moments and details which flesh that world out in a much more convincing way than either film before or after it.
What struck me most watching 'Empire,' though, was how strongly it hinted towards many of the paths the third film could've taken but didn't.
What happens in ‘Empire?'
When Luke is leaving the Degeba system, Obi Wan says, "He was our last hope," to which Yoda responds, "No, there is another." To whom was he referring? Leai obviously, meaning that she too could have trained to be a Jedi.
What happens in 'Jedi?'
We learn that, lo and behold, Leai is Luke's sister, therefore also the daughter of Darth Vader. But that's all that's explored in this relationship, is the simple revelation of it. Leai never confronts her father or learns anything of the force. She's left in the background to befriend the Ewoks and act as Han Solo's love interest, while Luke once again confronts his father alone.
What happens in 'Empire?'
Luke confronts Vader, who urges him to give into his feelings of hate and join the dark side, and that together they could rule the galaxy as father and son.
What happens in 'Jedi?'
Luke confronts Vader and the Emperor, this time the Emperor going on and on about giving in to his feelings of hate and joining the dark side. Take the Emperor out of the picture and it's the same scene as from 'Empire,' only nowhere near as neat-o. The Emperor was a lameass character anyway--he looked like Ed McMahon after a heavy night of boozin', which isn't scary, at least not in a good way.
And since it's already hinted at in 'Empire' that "joining the dark side" is apparently not a difficult leap of emotion to make, then why not have Luke do just that, be lured to the dark side and join his father? Then Leai could have learned the ways of the force, confronted both Luke and her father, and bring them back to the good side of the force or somethin'. Shit, I don't know! I just get the feeling that 'Return of the Jedi' could have had such a better fucking plot.
What happens in 'Star Wars?'
The rebellion attacks and destroys the Death Star.
What happens in 'Jedi?'
Same thing. Was there really any need to bring back the Death Star for the final film? It was a great plot device in the first film, but, c'mon, couldn't they have come up with something more original?
As for the Ewoks, they weren't a bad idea, to show this primitive tribe help the Rebellion overthrow the Empire. But they're played for such maximum Barney-like bland cutesiness it causes me to wretch. And the ending when after destroying the Death Star (again) they celebrate by getting down with the Ewoks...? WHAT THE FUCK KIND OF CARE-BEAR ENDING IS THAT?!Despite its shortcomings, I'm giving 'Return of the Jedi' a strong recommendation, 'cause it's still a fine piece of escapist entertainment. And frankly, after the walking migraine that was Jar Jar, the Ewoks are looking more goddamned lovable every freakin' day!
link directly to this review at https://www.hollywoodbitchslap.com/review.php?movie=212&reviewer=177
originally posted: 11/11/99 08:13:35
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USA
25-May-1983 (PG)
DVD: 12-Sep-2006
UK
N/A
Australia
N/A
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