World Famous Comics: Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (Special Edition)
Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi (Special Edition)
Starring: Kenny Baker, Michael Carter, Kenneth Colley, Dermot Crowley, Anthony Daniels Average Rating: Audience Rating: PG (Parental Guidance Suggested) Binding: VHS Tape Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Original recording reissued, Original recording remastered, Special Edition, THX, NTSC Label: 20th Century Fox Number of Items: 1 Release Date: August 26, 1997 Theatrical Release Date: May 25, 1983
Amazon.com: The high-energy, special-effects-laden conclusion to George Lucas's ambitious Star Wars trilogy delivers the final confrontation between Luke Skywalker (a more confident and mature Mark Hamill) and his nemesis-father, Darth Vader (David Prowse, voice of James Earl Jones), as the rebel alliance makes its last stand against the evil Empire. The film opens with an impressive set piece in the cave of the monstrous Jabba the Hut, who holds both Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) for his decadent pleasure until Skywalker comes to the rescue. The final battle pits an enormous armada of rebel ships against the rebuilt Death Star, the planet-killing weapon of the first film, while guerrilla forces battle Empire soldiers on the planet below with the help of a cuddly army of pint-sized, teddy-bear-like creatures known as Ewoks (Lucas's one concession to merchandising) and Skywalker confronts Vader and the emperor on the Deathstar. Director Richard Marquand invests the tale with plenty of humor and a vigorous sense of adventure without losing the seriousness of Skywalker's mission. The special edition adds, among other effects, more creatures and a bouncy song-and-dance number to the Jabba the Hut scenes, and an extended celebration that literally encompasses the galaxy at the film's jubilant conclusion. --Sean Axmaker
To restore freedom to the galaxy RETURN OF THE JEDI was the STAR WARS film which thrilled me most as a kid. I loved the ewoks, though now I find them to be a bit irritating. I loved the scenes in Jabba's palace, though now I think the use of Jim Henson's Creature Workshop was a bit over the top. I loved and still love the fast paced action sequences and the climactic lightsaber duel at the end. Looking back, I now prefer EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, A NEW HOPE, and even REVENGE OF THE SITH to this one. But JEDI still ranks high in my book, if for no other reason, it was just downright fun. And it still is.
The Special Edition of this film did little more than bog it down with a lot of useless junk. I refer primarily to the musical (using that word rather loosely) interlude in Jabba's palace. I'm sure I laughed at it first time I saw it in theaters in 1997, but since then only irritated feelings have I felt for that scene. The celebration scenes at the end were fine, but I don't think anyone ever missed their absence. Superimposing Hayden Christensen's image in "spirit" next to Alec Guiness and Yoda at the end seemed to me rather bizarre. Luke "saved" his father. When this happened his father did not bear Hayden Christensen's image but that of actor Sebastian Shaw. So why do we see a young Anakin at the end of the film instead of the old, dying man who got "redeemed"?
All this to say I don't think RETURN OF THE JEDI is worth watching in the special edition format; which makes me all the gladder that it has now been presented to us as we saw it in its original form in 1983.
Ultimate movie but ...there is Grief! When I always hear the name Return of the Jedi, I always feel two INTENSE emotions which never happened with any movie nor changed over time, first: ultimate happiness and joy because im witnessing the end story and empire downfall, other is intense grief!! Sadness!!, because Star Wars and its excitements end right here and no other story after!!
However, the first trilogy (77,80,83) success because of story, one unique feature was the UNPREDICTABLE story line, for example in Empire everyone receive extreme emotion attack when Darth Vader become father of Luke!!, rebels are shattered, Han captured and humiliated harshly, Darth Vader tyranny, and Luke downfall. Return of the Jedi reveals Leia as Luke sister and finally he confronts his father in dedicate compact scene and with emperor mighty power, the fight sequence may not be SHARP as in Empire!!, but definitely richer and wider, plus stronger by its meaning (against his beloved father).
I was disappointed as some did when Lucas decides making new trilogy story goes back!! The problem is become predictable. Faithfully speaking, I was hopping and expecting Mr, Lucas make new story but following or after Return of the Jedi, probably using Mark Hamil as same Luke or new generation characters from Luke facing new threats or evil, and somehow the lines could repeated but differently, but most importantly should be a new episodes with same actors and closer style. Honestly, I like Mark Hamil very much, he has a unique voice and perfect character for Luke hero, plus he has already make real (I mean real) fans.
Sadly, the new Star wars trilogy almost has nothing new in term of story, what should be point here is concentrating largely on CG and leaving story as lower importance!!. Revenge of the Sith for example, from beginning to the end have no real out shooting? All the backgrounds made from CG and animation, the only scene look real in the end dessert when Obi carry child Luke. What I would like to know, how the photographer could win Oscar nomination for this film???
However, the unique thing in this episode is, the continuity, the scenes connect with each other so perfectly, and dramatically that it's impossible to notice any delay in time or feeling boring, the two hours span like minutes. Some reviewers here mentioned this movie particularly lowest and boring than previous which impressed me!!, honestly I felt the opposite, the movie fill with music score more, lot actions sequence and better special effects. Jabba palace and ewok might slow movie but I thought just little. The last space ships battle scene is landmark in cinema photography despite using models not CG graphics, which in my opinion proves better realistic, I could never forget when Lando drive the falcon handsomely between rebels ship and the camera follow with loud music score, such natural and magic quality only in theater!!. What really bothers me is the sound from DVD or digital general, for example, the scene in the end when falcon and some rebels ship just inter the long pipeline death star, sound rebels ships look coming or made from rubber air blower?? Too thin, lacking warmth and bass strength, even the kids noticed this.
Mr. Lucas, we really love you so much and your movie star wars, but please makes new episodes connecting with Return of the Jedi, and if you keep the CG FAR or as second important and concentrate on story, Im perfectly sure it should work better. It is not necessarily to have high budget movie to bring success. Sometimes simplicity is better.
A fine conclusion. Return of the Jedi is yet another masterpiece and a fitting conclusion to the original saga. The usual, great script, great fx, good acting. LOVE Luke's new green lightsaber. Vader truly makes his feelings known in this one. The emperor couldn't have been any better. All in all one of the best films ever. What I didn't like were the teddy bears!!! Lucas wanted Wookies originally, I agree, the Ewoks suck. Since Lucas has tinkered with the original three endlessly, why not take the teddy bears out and put Wookies in??? Just a suggestion.
Otherwise, another must see/must have.
"Pass On What You Have Learned" ~ How Not to Conclude An Epic Saga Question: What was the stupidest storyline mistake George Lucas made concerning the `Star Wars' trilogy?
Answer: Killing off Yoda and replacing him with those ridiculous Ewoks.
Yes, with the death of Yoda in the third film 'Return of the Jedi' released in '83 the best part of the storyline died with him. To make matters worse in come those furry little Ewoks to replace him. Thus ended my interest in the movie. If you're seven years old or under you'll love it, otherwise just rewatch the first two films.
My Rating: -3 Stars- and that's being generous.
2 words. NO Haden Finally we get on dvd the original film. A have been a fan of the films with new enhancements, but adding Hayden into the enhanced film, just made me sick. DON"T MESS WITH THE FILMS.
Finally we get a dvd copy of the original film I saw on screen...it will make you happy!
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