Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Director: Richard Marguand

Year of Release: 1983

Lead Actor: Mark Hamill

Running Time: 134 mins

Genre: Sci-Fi Action/Adventure

Review by Fraser Green

As far as magnificent movie trilogies go, this is by far one of the best, rounding up the Star Wars Saga in such a fantastic way. Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi took in $US572,700,000 at the world-wide box-office and audiences have certainly appreciated it, I definitely did. Starring yet again the same incredible cast consisting of Mark Hamill (The Big Red One), Harrison Ford (Raiders of the Lost Ark, Air Force One) , Carrie Fisher (The Blues Brothers) and Billy Dee Williams (The Empire Strikes Back) all giving great performances, the film goes through moments of happiness, emotion and darkness and still brings people what they went to see, a fantastic end to an extraordinary movie series.

Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) and their small army of friends rescue Han Solo (Harrison Ford) from the clutches of the menacingly ugly Jabba the Hutt and go on to do battle with the Empire. Three epic battles take place towards the end of the film. “The Battle of Endor” which consists of Han Solo, Chewie, Leia and a small rebellion army and hundreds of furry miniature bears known as “Ewoks” taking on an army of the evil Empire. The second is a classic space battle between the Rebellion forces and the Empire forces in an attempt to destroy the second Death Star and restore peace, freedom and justice to the galaxy. The final battle is between Luke Skywalker and his evil father, Darth Vader, in a ferocious lightsaber fight inside the Death Star.

The action packed original movie trilogy brought in almost 2 billion US dollars from 1977 to 1983 and has definitely earned its spot as some of the best films ever made. Towards the start of the film, the scenes inside Jabba the Hut’s lair do seem to drag on for maybe a bit too long. Nevertheless, the stunning special effects, fantastic acting and amazing storyline in this final film finish off the “Star Wars Trilogy” and epic six-film saga in great fashion. Only an idiot would ever think about re-making this series.

My Rating: 4 and ½ stars

~ by cade14 on August 2, 2007.