Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi

UK Release Date. 2 June 1983
Certification. U

Running Time. 2 hours 11 mins
Director. Richard Marquand
Cast. Carrie Fisher, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Ian McDiarmid, Billy Dee Williams. 
Rating. 53%

Review.

Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi, the final instalment of the original trilogy, is easily the least impressive of the three.

The darker, sinister undercurrent of The Empire Strikes Back is gone. Instead, Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi surrenders to an over-sentimental need for resolution and redemption. 

Even Darth Vader doesn't seem as menacing in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi. A disappointing, and abrupt, character arc sees one of the most iconic villains in popular culture unveiled as a sacrificial pawn in Emperor Palpatine's (Ian McDiarmid) endgame. This cunning Sith Lord is nowhere near as imposing as Darth Vader's character was in Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back. More annoying, yes.

Much of the adventure takes place on the planet, Endor where the audience is introduced to an indigenous race of walking teddy bears, Ewoks (presumably at the behest of the marketing department to generate merchandise revenue). It is here, perhaps for the first time in the original trilogy, that a film is let down by dated special effects, particularly the speeder chase through the forest and the stop motion AT-ST walkers. But from a technical point of the view, the spacecraft and dogfights have been significantly elevated in comparison to the two previous films.

Despite the obvious flaws with Star Wars: Episode VI - Return Of The Jedi, if you have invested time in Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back then by mere position in the trilogy the film is mandatory viewing. If for nothing else, to spend time with characters many of us grew up with and have gotten to know and love over the years, potentially for the final time.