Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983)

User Rating:

8.3/10   

Director:

Richard Marquand

Writers:

George Lucas (story)
Lawrence Kasdan (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

25 May 1983 (USA)

Genre:

Action | Adventure | Fantasy | Sci-Fi | Thriller

Tagline:

Coming May 25, 1983 to your galaxy. [Second Advance poster]

Plot:

After rescuing Han Solo from the palace of Jabba the Hutt, the Rebels attempt to destroy the Second Death Star, while Luke Skywalker tries to bring his father back to the Light Side of the Force.

Plot Keywords:

Rebel | Death Star | Empire | Jabba The Hutt | Princess

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 11 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Mark Hamill	...	Luke Skywalker
Harrison Ford	...	Han Solo
Carrie Fisher	...	Princess Leia
Billy Dee Williams	...	Lando Calrissian
Anthony Daniels	...	C-3PO
Peter Mayhew	...	Chewbacca
Sebastian Shaw	...	Anakin Skywalker
Ian McDiarmid	...	The Emperor
Frank Oz	...	Yoda (voice)
James Earl Jones	...	Voice of Darth Vader (voice)
David Prowse	...	Darth Vader
Alec Guinness	...	Ben 'Obi-Wan' Kenobi
Kenny Baker	...	R2-D2 / Paploo
Michael Pennington	...	Moff Jerjerrod
Kenneth Colley	...	Admiral Piett

Also Known As:

Blue Harvest (USA) (fake working title)
Revenge of the Jedi (USA) (working title)
Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi (USA) (video box title)
Star Wars: Episode VI - Revenge of the Jedi (USA) (working title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for sci-fi action violence. (special edition, DVD version)

Runtime:

134 min | 135 min (special edition)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.20 : 1

Sound Mix:

70 mm 6-Track (70 mm prints) | DTS (special edition) | Dolby Digital (special edition) | Dolby (35 mm prints) | SDDS (special edition)

Certification:

Iceland:L (original rating) | Malaysia:U | Iceland:10 (special edition) | Iceland:12 (special edition) (video release) | Canada:G (British Columbia/Quebec) | South Korea:All | Brazil:Livre | Hong Kong:I | South Africa:PG | Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Canada:G (Nova Scotia) (original rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:PG (Nova Scotia) (special edition) | Chile:TE | Denmark:11 (special edition) | Denmark:12 (original rating) | Finland:K-12 (original rating) | Finland:K-8 (special edition) | France:U | Ireland:G | Netherlands:AL | New Zealand:PG | Norway:11 (re-rating) | Norway:12 (original rating) | Portugal:M/12 | Singapore:PG (special edition) | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:U | USA:PG | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Buttercup Valley, California, USA

Company:

Lucasfilm

Trivia:

WILHELM SCREAM: Ewok killed while taking cover from the Imperial Walker turret fire.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: After Luke kills the Rancor and Han is brought out, Han asks where Leia is, and an off-screen voice says, "I'm here." but it is not Leia's own voice. In fact, her lips aren't even moving. There isn't even any indication that she is speaking. It sounds as if it was dubbed in by another actress in another audio level afterward.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Shuttle captain: Command station, this is ST321, code clearance blue. We're starting our approach; deactivate the security shield.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003)

Soundtrack:

Jedi Rocks

"You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookie to me."

Episode VI- Return of the Jedi, although never reaching the heights of Empire or A New Hope, ends the trilogy on a strong note. The first 37 minutes are terrific. Back on Tatooine, Luke and his buddies make a daring attempt to rescue Han from Jabba the Hutt. All the scenes at his palace and the Sarlaac pit are great stuff and prove to be offer the film's best moments. Once Jabba is done away with, the actual plot involves the Empire (Microsoft) building another Death Star. Wanting to avoid another Alderaan, the Rebels decide to attack before it's completion. Lando leads the attack in the Falcon, while Han and the Usual suspects plan to destroy the shield generator on Endor. Luke, now pretty much a Jedi, must deal with his daddy. For those who thought Vader was evil, The Emperor is much worse.

As where Episode V was dark in nature, ROTJ is more kid-friendly. Prime example would be the Ewoks, cuddly teddy bears who help defeat the Empire (Blasters are no match for rocks). This is where one can find fault with the movie: cutesy bears contrasted with Luke fighting the dark side. To quote Johnny Cochrane's Chewbacca defense: "It does not make sense!!". Still, ROTJ has much to offer. The battle of Endor is exciting stuff, and those speeder bikes sure look fun (although using them in such a dense forest ain't too bright).

Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)