Movie Review: Star Wars: Episode VI: The Return of the Jedi
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there are two versions of this
feature, the original 1983 release (on VHS and Laserdisc) and a
later one on DVD to which George Lucas added enhanced special
effects -- some of the aliens are obvious puppets, others are
obvious CGI. Both feature abundant fantasy violence, from
spaceship dogfights and light-saber duels to guerilla-style war
waged with primitive weapons by the cute Ewoks (which is played
largely for laughs, though one Ewok is shown dead). Deaths of
prominent characters in the series, including a peaceful one in
bed for Master Yoda and a more dramatic exit (and funeral pyre)
for Anakin Skywalker.
Families can talk about the characters' choices and motivations. Why do you think Hans and Lando both put aside their roughish swaggers to play heroes? The ghoulish Galactic Emperor gloats that he has foreseen everything that's happening and everything is going according to his plan for the triumph of the dark side. Where does his plan go wrong and why? Is it believable and consistent, given what all the Star Wars films have informed us about these Jedi throughout the saga?
Common Sense Media Review
EPISODE VI: THE RETURN OF THE JEDI concluded (so far) the
mighty
Star Wars saga, conceived by
George
Lucas, a film series that changed movie history and raised
the bar for special effects, science-fiction wonderment,
blockbuster earnings, and movie marketing (especially with toys
and souvenirs laser-targeted at kid fans). It's a properly
triumphant finale, filled with action -- and yet, coming after
the best and emotionally richest chapter,
The
Empire Strikes Back
, a slight disappointment. You can see the infatuation with
visual gimmickry, cute/silly aliens and robots, plotlines
apparently written to be video-game ready, and a disinterest in
good acting; a toymaker mentality that continued when Lucas
picked up the storyline again in prequels beginning with
The
Phantom Menace
.
A lengthy opener has Luke Skywalker ( Mark Hamill) and the other Rebel Alliance heroes and robots assembling one by one to rescue their friend Han Solo ( Harrison Ford) from his frozen state of suspended animation in the palace of a gross, sluglike galactic gangster called Jabba the Hutt (played by a lumpy puppet). In the credits every single bizarre creature in Jabba's retinue, no matter how insignificant, has a name, usually a nerdy one ("Sy Snoodles"). If only as much imagination went into the rest of the plotline.
As in the kickoff Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope , the terrible galactic Empire has a Death Star -- yes, another one -- under construction. The rebels once again seek to destroy the monstrous doomsday weapon, and with it the sinister Emperor (Ian McDiarmid) who has arrived to personally supervise the project. Luke knows that this will be his chance to again confront the Emperor's evil cyborg disciple Darth Vader (voiced by James Earl Jones), who in the last movie, was shown to be Luke's long-lost father Anakin, once a noble Jedi Knight. Luke refuses to believe that his parent has gone over forever to the dark side of the Force.
