Fantastic conclusion to legendary saga

Rating: Null/10 (5 January 1999)

Return of the Jedi is so often characterized as the "weakest" installment of the Star Wars trilogy that some of the series' finest moments and set pieces are overlooked. The entire sequence at Jabba the Hutt's palace is a tour-de-force in the grand tradition of pirate adventure films and the resolution of the Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker storyline displays some tremendously powerful emotions. Additionally, one might argue that the climactic light saber battle between Vader and Skywalker is the best duel of the whole series, combining brilliant editing, lighting design, and amazing music cues. Finally, I can hardly imagine a more exciting cinematic thrill ride than the potent Endor speeder bike chase. My favorite image, however, is the silhouette of Luke as the smoke from Vader's funeral pyre rises into the night sky.