Stunning Conclusion To The Original Star Wars Science-Fiction Trilogy

Rating: 8/10 (14 August 2005)

The Star Wars saga concludes, as Luke Skywalker and his friends set out to rescue Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, whilst Darth Vader and the evil Emperor make plans against him from a new Death Star. Both Luke and Vader must confront their destinies in a climactic showdown, where the freedom of the Universe is at stake ...
Maintaining the incredibly high standards of drama, imaginative storytelling and eye-popping visuals from the previous two pictures, the concluding Star Wars movie is a masterpiece of fantasy film-making. As before, the sheer scope of the landscapes is breathtaking - Jabba's grimy palace, the sand dunes of Tatooine, the vast Imperial ships, the Emperor's mausoleum of a throne room, the Ewok village in the trees - all brilliantly realised. The movie also boasts possibly the most dazzling inventive model shots (by Richard Edlund, Dennis Muren and Ken Ralston) ever attempted - there is an amazing sequence where Lando and the rebels fly inside the Death Star and destroy it from within, in which the speed of motion through the frame is just jaw-dropping. Most importantly however, this a movie with extraordinary dramatic resonance, as all the threads of the stories come together - Luke's temptation towards the evil path, Leia's birthright and the fulfilment of her mission as rebel leader, Han's rebirth as a true hero, and Darth Vader's ultimate redemption. The cast are tremendous as before, but of particular note in this film is McDiarmid's unforgettably villainous turn as the Emperor - a creepy, piercing, vicious, truly dreadful, fear-inducing monster. The film is an amazing patchwork of both stunning action (the Sarlacc scene, the speeder-bike chase, the Ewok battle) and incredibly tender drama (Yoda's death, Luke's scene with Leia in the village, Vader's unmasking), yet is beautifully edited into a seamless adventure. Brilliantly written by George Lucas and Lawrence Kasdan, with a terrific score, dynamic photography, astounding visual effects and fine performances. Unmissable. This review is of the 1997 re-release, featuring some additional effects shots (most notably in the Sy Snootles dance band sequence in Jabba's palace) and a new piece of music for the final celebration scenes.