Star Wars: Return of the Jedi

A Jedi grows up. A scoundrel is rescued. A Happy Ending for all. Well, except for the Emperor.

Some people don't like this movie, and I'm not sure why. The happy ending? The Ewoks? The death of the Bad Guy?

I loved this movie. The good guys won, things were right with the universe. So what if there were Ewok toys?

Luke has matured into a true Jedi, inexperienced maybe, but he's learned how to handle his fears, but maybe not his emotions. I do love his manly act in Jabba's palace. That calm serenity, the certainty that he and his friends will survive, is quite compelling.

Han is a little down at first, certain they're going to die, but he gets back to his old roughish self. Nice trick in impressing Leia by volunteering to lead the Endor strike team. But it's also a sign of his maturity, perhaps brought on by his brush with death. All of them.

Leia is amazing here. From sneaking into Jabba's palace, (I thought that was Lando in the helmet the first time), to accepting Luke's revelations with such serenity. And she's a great shot with a blaster pistol. I definitely want her on my side of the war!

Lando turns out to be a good guy after all, as we suspected in TESB. He just had to be shamed into doing the right thing. I think seeing his buddy Han in the carbonite block woke him up! He finally becomes "responsible".

Yoda dies. Sniff. But hey, when 900 years old you reach, you'll already be dead! It was his time. He lived long enough to see the last of the Jedi trained. I suppose he could have asked Luke to take him to a Medical Center, but I think he was ready to go. "That is the way of things, the way of the Force!"

Obi-Wan appears again, and he's become strong enough in the netherworld of the Force that he can hold a conversation with Luke! No cryptic messages this time. I hope I'm as wise and talkative when I've been dead for a few years.

He's convinced that Luke needs to kill Vader, and I tend to agree. But Luke is more forgiving, and willing to try to save him. He's a little hung up on the father thing, you see. I can't say I'd be as loyal had my father tried to kill me before I was born, but that's just me.

Ewoks. Some people love them, some hate them, and some don't care. I don't care. Lucas said he had always wanted to do a great battle of a primitive culture versus the high tech one. Man vs. the machine. My hubby loves the two logs hitting the walker scene.

The lightsaber duel. Yeah, it was awesome. Again, Luke is a little pacifistic for my taste, but he's so strong emotionally that it works for me. (He's a better Jedi than I am)

I'm not so certain that one last act redeems Anakin, but it was a good start. Had he lived, he would have MUCH to answer for and it's probably better that he dies.

The Emperor gets his just desserts! On a side note, in "Robot Chicken" that's the day he says, "Could this day get any worse?"

This movie is full of rich details that take several watchings to notice. The Rancor keeper's tears, Yoda's blanket, the ships out the window of the Death Star, snakes on Dagobah, the Ewoks playing the drums on the helmets, etc.

I have split feelings on the appearance of the young Anakin at the end of the Special Edition. Where I think the original actor was too old, Hayden Christensen is too young. He might have looked better had they digitally aged him to 45 or so, more realistic. I know the theory that really dies when he falls to the dark side, but he turned back at the end, so he should look like that.

Up next? I have no idea!