3. Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
Return of the Jedi is the weakest of the original trilogy, it's by no means bad, it's a very good film, it just lacks some of the heart, character development and threat of the first two. It has many fine moments, the finest being the opening sequence in Jabba's palace which unveils a brand new Luke Skywalker and Han Solo still in peril. The anti-climatic end to cult hero Boba Fett may place a negative mark against it, but it is one of the finest executed sequences in the whole saga. In Return of the Jedi, we encounter various new characters, the most notable being the much derided Ewoks. To kids and more sympathetic fans of the final instalment of the original trilogy, they are cuddly and the embodiment of the underdog toppling the overpowering evil villain. To those more cynical and older in age, they are the worst thing about the original trilogy, with the plausibility of their victory over the Empire's finest coming in for the most criticism. Another fault with the movie lies with Mark Hamill's portrayal of Luke Skywalker. Hamill was perfect in the prior two movies, his youthful naivety creating a sympathetic hero who was always the underdog battling to become triumphant. In Return of the Jedi, he is needed to play Luke in a more grown-up, serious manner and Hamill looks uncomfortable, botching some of the lines that contain more Star Wars terminology. Overall though, Return of the Jedi remains a harmless piece of escapist fun. It doesn't reach the dark psychological depths of The Empire Strikes Back or the innovative highs of A New Hope, but it is a fine, fun movie and a fitting end to the original trilogy.