Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi finished up the original trilogy on May 25, 1983. It focused on Luke finishing his training, becoming a fully-fledged Jedi and the end of the Galactic Empire. It’s a story of family, hope, and redemption. The movie also confuses fans when it’s revealed Leia is actually Luke’s twin sister.
Return of the Jedi shows love and family is stronger than evil when Darth Vader sacrifices his life for his son and defeats Emperor Palpatine.
The Good
The opening of Return of the Jedi answers one of the biggest questions to The Empire Strikes Back: what happens to Han Solo? The question is quickly answered and we’re treated to a great sequence. It also gives Leia a fun-espionage angle and develops who she is even more. There’s also something gratifying about Leia killing her captor with his own chains.
The universe, and the Rebellion, becomes more diverse. Before Return of the Jedi there’s hardly any non-human, non-white and non-male members of the Rebellion. Leia appears to be the only woman at the top. This entry changes that though as it introduces Mon Mothma as a leader of the Rebellion. There’s also the inclusion of Admiral Ackbar and Nien Numb.
The final fight between Luke and Darth Vader makes up for the one between Ben Kenobi and Vader. It adds in the layer of hero son against villain father and shows the love of a family is stronger than the evil of the Empire.
Watching teddy bear-like characters beating down on bully Stormtroopers might be one of the funniest sequences in Star Wars history. The Ewoks are divisive amongst the fans but ultimately it was them who help save Han, Leia, and Chewbacca from certain death.
The Bad
Finding out Luke and Leia are siblings. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not a bad choice to make them twins. However, having them kiss in the previous movie and have Leia confirming she always suspected they were family makes it all strange. It shows poor planning on the part of George Lucas, who has even said Leia was never originally meant to be his sister.
Boba Fett is a wasted character. A lot of people talk about Boba as if he’s this amazingly well-written 3D character but there isn’t much to him. His look is the only cool thing about him and unfortunately, his apparent death ruins him. There’s potential with Boba Fett that isn’t lived up to. His early demise also makes it worse, especially since his death was an unintended consequence.
