Featured Movies
Partners
Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi
The third instalment in the Star Wars saga comes loaded with epic battles, rousing themes and fantastic special effects
With the Empire rapidly nearing completion of a second Death Star, the race is on to mount another Rebel assault. This time Emperor Palpatine (McDiarmid) is overseeing the construction personally, providing an opportunity for the rebels to wipe out the Empire once and for all. But before that, Han needs to be rescued from Jabba the Hutt and Luke needs to keep a promise to 'an old friend'... Directed by ex-BBC documentary-maker Richard Marquand (who died in 1987) Return Of The Jedi is the weakest of the original 'middle' trilogy. The heroes' camaraderie is often embarrassing, and the chemistry between Han (Harrison Ford) and Leia (Carrie Fisher) is forced and unnatural. While much of this is down to the script (Lucas once again adding his dialogue skills to the mix), Ford is also to blame, turning in a performance so wooden that it shows Mark 'Hammy' Hamill in a good light. Plus, the revelations about Luke and Leia's family ties cast an unsavoury incestuous cloud over the previous films (did Lucas really have this whole storyline planned from the outset?). That said, the loose ends are all neatly tied up and Return Of The Jedi gives over its final hour to a thrilling, climactic showdown between good and evil. The Rebel assault on the Death Star, the battle on Endor to disable the deflector shield and Luke's confrontation with Vader and Emperor Palpatine are well paced and expertly intercut. Verdict The finale to the saga's first chapter wobbles from time to time and the mythology grows a little woolly, but that spectacular conclusion is hard to resist. |
