An Epic Conclusion To An Iconic Trilogy

Rating: 9/10 (19 August 2016)

"Return of the Jedi" is often regarded as the worst film of the original trilogy. I've never quite understood why the film gained its reputation as the relative "black sheep" of the original trilogy, as it's leaps and bounds better than "A New Hope" from a filmmaking standpoint. Maybe part of my love for "Jedi" is that I'm a sucker for trilogy conclusions, but even pushing that aside, this is not even CLOSE to a bad film in my eyes.
The one legitimate criticism that I can understand for "Jedi" is that as good as it is, it could have been much better. It's a film oozing with potential, and I'd be lying if I said it didn't waste at least some of it. Killing "Empire" fan favorite Boba Fett practically immediately after his first appearance in "Jedi" along with giving him such an anticlimactic, lame and downright disrespectful demise is incredibly disappointing. We're told that Han's freezing in carbonite is dangerous enough to kill him, but when he's finally thawed out, he's at the worst slightly delirious. Wouldn't it be more dramatic and suspenseful to have him in wounded or even critical condition? And while I don't actually mind the Ewoks (I recognize they only exist to sell toys but...They're just so damn cute, I can't be mad at them!), the subplot with Han and Leia on Endor is somewhat distracting from the main redemption story of Darth Vader, and provides for some fairly jarring tonal shifts.
However, apart from wasted potential and slightly off tone, "Return of the Jedi" is still a really good film. For starters, it's easily the best acted of the original trilogy. Mark Hamill brings an emotional depth and inner conflict to Luke only seen in small doses in "Empire" and "Return", with a script that really allows him to shine in the more emotional scenes with his father, Darth Vader. All in all, its a very passionate and intense performance and shows Hamill's growth as an actor over the course of the trilogy.
Ian McDiarmid is positively perfect as the sinister and demented Emperor Palpatine. Like some of the best villains, McDiarmid is not only terrifying in his portrayal as the twisted intergalactic tyrant, he also has surprisingly good comedic timing when the film requires it of him. McDiramid is just having a blast playing this character as pure evil incarnate, nailing the infamous villain's insanity, vileness, charm and seductive nature. He's proof that sometimes bad can be oh so good. Palpatine as a character is a near perfect villain, by the way. His desire to defile and corrupt all that is good runs so deep, he's actually willing to DIE for the sake of evil. This makes for an excellent contrast of character for Luke, a character willing to die for the redemption and salvation of the fallen.
James Earl Jones once again does phenomenal work as Darth Vader, getting to show Vader's human and loving side much more here than he did in "Empire." That said, he never loses the subtlety that made his performance in that movie so impressive, and does an excellent job masking his broken heart and painful regret with the a seemingly ruthless and inhuman facade; directed not only at Luke, but at himself. The scene where he regretfully laments to his son Luke that it is "too late" for im is, in my opinion, the best acted scene from any actor in the entire original trilogy.
The characters arcs here are concluded extremely well. It's extremely satisfying seeing Luke finally grown into a mature, fearless hero willing to suffer the ultimate sacrifice for his convictions and loved ones. The film also does an excellent job playing with the possibility of Luke's passion, much like his father, becoming his one-way trip to the Dark Side. Vader's character development is done perfectly as we see his inner conflict and desire for redemption grow stronger and stronger over the course of the movie. His self sacrifice in the film's climax to save his son is both immensely satisfying and painfully tragic. The Star Wars Original Trilogy has always had a consistent theme of hope and self sacrifice, so it is fitting for it to end in both themes' ultimate gesture. It is head and shoulders the most emotional scene of "Episodes IV-VI".
The action scenes are among the most exciting of the trilogy. Suitably grand and laden with excellent special effects, the scale and weight of the action sequences and battles in this movie is as big as it gets for the original trilogy. They are all quite suspenseful and filled with tension as we desperately hope for our heroes to make it out alive. More than anything, this FEELS like the final installment of a trilogy.
"Return of the Jedi" may not be the best "Star Wars" film. It may not be the best original trilogy film. It may have wasted some very large potential. But, regardless of its flaws, it is still an excellent, emotional, and above all satisfying movie that has aged like a fine wine over time.