Star rating: 3 out of 5

Rating: 5/10 (12 January 2003)

Star Wars - Episode VI, Return of the Jedi, is an improvement on its insipid predecessor, The Empire Strikes Back. This is largely because it makes greater use of exciting and suspenseful action sequences, and has less of the verbosity that bogged down The Empire Strikes Back.
Luke Skywalker is now a fully trained Jedi Knight and, in a stretching of credibility, has transformed from a petulant youth into a master of Zen-like tranquility. However, he is soon thrust back into the action when he is called on to rescue his friends from the clutches of the infamous mercenary, Jabba the Hutt. Luke manages to outwit and kill Jabba's resident monster, but is not in time to save Carrie Fisher from being forced to don revealing underwear and chains. Yes, really. After narrowly avoiding death-by-Sarlacc (in whose belly one would "find a new definition of pain and suffering as you are slowly digested over a thousand years") the group of friends race off to engage in warfare with their ultimate enemy - the Emperor - and his deputy Darth Vader.
In the event though, Luke's most difficult battle is with himself, because as Vader tells him, ad infinitum, it is impossible to resist the power of the Dark Side. Meanwhile Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, C3PO, R2D2 and assorted others are attempting to destroy the impressive and aptly named Death Star before the Imperial forces crush the Rebel Alliance. In the end, the viewer will be caught up in the euphoria of the enthusiastic celebration party thrown by the rebels and the cute 'n' fuzzy ewoks, but they may also find themselves with a sneaking suspicion of relief that the epic saga is finally finished.