the climax of the greatest space saga ever

Rating: 9/10 (21 January 2008)

Star Wars episode 6-Return of the Jedi is the last of an original nine part story. Producer Gary Kurtz left the series when George Lucas decided to wrap up the story in six films, originally three. Franky I don't think Jedi could be any better.
Out story starts where five left off, they have to rescue Han from the slimy Jabba. A well-handled if slightly silly Jabba's Palace does feature princess Leia at her sexiest, in fact its about as sexy as Star Wars gets. Once Han is saved its off to the plot, Luke has accepted that Darth is his father once a dying Yoda confirms it. Hamill (Luke) is so good in these scenes that it still amazes me, Yoda's death is just so sad! And Yoda tells him there is another Skywalker, he's not alone! Luke uses the force to divine that Leia is his sister. Still how to tell her, and obviously reveal to her that Vader is her father too, is delicate to do.
Luke, Han and the rest of the rebels hook up on Endor to take out the Emperor once and for all. He is building a new Death star and the galaxy will not be safe till this dark lord of the Sith is dead. But to do that Luke must kill Vader. It's something he cannot do. On Endor we are introduce to fuzzy, cuddly Ewoks, lovable teddy bears who make up in courage what they lack in size. I loved the Ewoks, Wickett was just great! It sup to Han and Laie, no rather deeply in love, to clear the way for the assault on the Death Star. In the lovely tree top village of the Ewoks Luke tells Leia the truth, Darth is their father, she his sister and he must try to bring Vader back to the good side of the Force. This is the great theme of Star WArs and most fantasy, Good redeems its own, evil turns upon itself.
Aboard the Death STar, Luke tries to find the good left in his Father, even Obi-Wan thinks its too late. "He's more machine than man now, twisted and evil" But Luke knows he was Annakin Skywalker, a great Jedi and only the evil of the Emperor Palpatine has turned him cold. The final battle between Luke and Darth is epic and emotional and only Luke's refusal to give in to the dark side, so well personified by Ian MacDiarmid as Palpatine, his eyes glow red!, gives Darth the strength to save his son and kill the Sith. Wowza!
Of course Han has succeeded too and the Death STar is about to blow, Luke is trying to save his battered and dying Father when in one of the most tearful scenes ever for me, DArth says, "Its too late for me, my son. Luke, help me take this mask off." Luke-"but you'll die" "Nothing can stop that now, just for once, let me look on you with my own eyes." "Luke, tell your sister you were right, you were right about me." "I'll not leave you here I've got to save you!" "You already have my son" If you don't cry your'e legally dead. Luke gets Annakin's body off and then in a the old Jedi way, for Luke is a Jedi now, like his father before him, he cremates Darth as the galaxy celebrates the death of the Emperor.
John Williams original score for this film was great, the celebratory final scene is a fitting cap to the six films and I loved seeing Obi-Wan, Yoda and Annakin reunited in the Force, Luke sees them and winks, its like a wink to the audience too, we did it! Good triumphed and evil is gone. Jedi is a great flick with characters we've all come to love. Well worth watching again and again.