A good movie that could have been better if Episode 5 was more well done.

Rating: Null/10 (16 August 2002)

The thing that takes this movie down a notch is the first 30 or so minutes. Although it is highly entertaining and wildly inventive, due to the abrupt ending of The Empire Strikes Back, this movie suffers.
The rescue mission at the beginning of Episode 6 is grossly entertaining. We get to see Jabba the Hutt, the gangster of Tattooie and his loyal band of goons. And we get a gladiator-esque battle between Luke and a Rankor. Plus we get a scene over a giant sand monster and a grand rescue, and the thing most remembered, Princess Leia in a bikini (a very nice one I might add).
But this whole scene feels like run-off from the uncompleted Empire Strikes Back. And this whole rescue event stunts the development of the actual story in Return of the Jedi. After the rescue mission the 2nd attack of the Rebel Alliance on the new Death Star just seems like something they threw together, like the Rebels just woke up and were like: "Gee Bob, what are you going to do today?" "Well Jim, I was going to mow the lawn and take the kids to the zoo, why do you ask?" "Well I was just wondering, I really felt like getting the gang together and destroying the new Death Star, before they blow us up." "Oh, that sounds cool, let's call them up and see what we can do!"
Of course the worst thing that suffers is the conflict between Vader and Luke. Darth Vader's redemtion and demise were so rushed it was just pulled out of the blue.
Despite what anybody says, I like the Ewoks. I know that Lucas originally planned them all to be primitave Wookies, but that would have been boring, because a army of Wookies would have no problem taking down Stormtroopers. Plus he would have had to explain how Chewbacca got so smart and trained.
Everything else in the movie is great, the third time around all of the actors were most comfortable and in character. The plot opened up many secrets, and even made references to the current prequels making it more fun to watch after seeing Episodes 1 & 2.
Anyway I can say that this is a slightly rushed, but highly fun and worthy conclusion to the Star Wars saga, and a must see movie for anyone who hasn't seen it.