Return of the Jedi, or Star Wars VI

From LoveToKnow Sci-Fi

The Skywalkers, Reunited

Return of the Jedi was the third installment of the Star Wars saga, although chronologically the sixth, and was released in 1983. Widely anticipated, following the cliff-hanger ending of 1980's The Empire Strikes Back, it was both loved and reviled.

It is loved because it closes the outstanding issues left open with relatively happy endings all around. It was reviled because it was thought that Lucas was beginning to 'sell out' to the commercialization of his empire, with the creation of the lovable aliens, the Ewoks, who resembled feral teddy bears, living in a stone age culture.

Rescue of Han

Return of the Jedi begins with Han, still frozen in carbonite, serving as an item of decor in Jabba the Hutt's Tattooine palace. There, surrounded by synchophants, toadies (literally) and fellow smugglers, Jabba spends his time in Fall of the Roman Empire splendor, playing gladiator games with his captives.

Leia comes in disguise to effect his rescue, but the pair are halted before they can escape. Luke makes a more frontal assault, declaring himself at the door and claiming the title of Jedi Knight. Jabba has him thrown the the Raccor, a dinosaur-like beast that Luke manages to slay. In rage, Jabba decides to toss his captives to the giant sand thing; Luke, in a display of Force bravado hitherto unknown in the Star Wars films, saves his friends, defeats Jabba and destroys his court.

The Death of Yoda

Returning to resume his training, Luke finds Yoda dying. He is already a Jedi Knight, he learns, and no further training is required. Yoda confirms that he is indeed the son of Darth Vader, who was once called Anakin Skywalker before he turned to the Dark Side. He also learns that Leia, for whom he once felt romantic leanings, is his sister. Oops.

Meanwhile, back at the Empire

The Empire, meanwhile, has not been idle. Work has begun on a new Death Star, and the rebels know they must destroy it before it is completed or their rebellion is doomed.

The forcefield generator of the new station is located on the moon of Endor, so the rebellion makes its plans. They must coordinate their attacks carefully - a ground attack to disable the generator, and a space attack on the Death Star itself. Leia and Han head to Endor with the ground team, while Luke goes to confront Vader.

Vader and the Emperor have made a surprise inspection visit to the new incomplete Death Star, so a successful attack on the station could mean the end of the Empire itself.

The Ewoks of Endor

Falling into and out of captivity seems to be a habit with our heroes, who eventually are held by the stone age tribe of bear-like fuzzies called Ewoks. They manage to secure the Ewoks' assistance in their struggle.

Jedi versus Empire

Vader takes Luke to the evil Emperor, a master Force user and all-around hideous (and ugly) dude. Vader and the Emperor both try to persuade Luke that his best bet is to join them, but Luke remains firm.

As the Rebel Alliance's ships burst out of hyperspace, they are attacked by Imperial fighters. The Ewoks and rebels on Endor attack the forces protecting the field generator, and Luke battles alone against Vader and the Emperor.

The viewer's attention is tossed first to one crisis situation, then to another, then to a third and then back to the first again. This build-up of overlaying story-lines is a bit of a Lucas trademark. The three-way attention split will be beaten in his next Star Wars feature, with four competing crises all competing for our attention.

Redemption of Anakin

Of course, when the Emperor has the upper hand and is bent on killing the recalcitrant Luke, Vader changes. Unable to watch his son killed, he destroys the Emperor, at the cost of his own life. The Jedi has returned.

All the other crises resolve to our advantage; the Ewoks help the ground forces destroy the generator, the Rebels' fighters successfully take out the Death Star, and the Empire is no more.