Star Wars at it's best.

Rating: 10/10 (8 November 1999)

This movie takes all the great elements of Star Wars and elevates them to something deeper and more emotionally resonant. Sure, there are cool aliens, action sequences, and all, but here the heroes have to deal with things us normal people also deal with. Along with helmeted villains, snow monsters and the like, they face sexual tension, identity crisis, spiritual yearning, betrayal, parental issues, separation from loved ones, etc... The pacing is just perfect, although there seems to be a screwed-up sense of time. (Luke seems to be with Yoda for at least weeks, but the pursuit of the Falcon seems to take only a few days.) The film is full of dreamy visuals--- a city in the clouds, a murky swamp planet, Kenobi's ghostly appearances, Luke's confrontation in the cave on Dagobah. And the best part is the uncertain ending. The bad guys seem to have won, and the heroes' fates are up in the air. Definitely the best of the series. Watch it again and again, it's worth it!