Ah, where to begin? I'd first like to comment on the public's view on the Special Edition Trilogy. Some people thought Lucas' efforts were in vain. They asked me, what was the big deal; it's just the same trilogy but with some added scenes. I for one wholly disagree with them. The whole idea was to expose our younger generation to these films and for both young and old to see what Lucas had originally intended. I say he did a helluva good job!
This movie offered a lot of good, new material. And welcome ones, too. Let's take the music sequence in Jabba's palace for instance. The work is upbeat and entertaining, and a lot more enjoyable. Although you cannot understand the singer's lyrics, you still get treated to some nice work.
The critical aspect of the characters' entrances into the film are executed greatly, left to the original impact that Lucas had planned in the '70s. Luke's magnificent entrance to Jabba's abode is awespiring, with Hamil walking through the gaurds as if oblivious to them and their weapons. Princess Leia's surprising entry is left intact as she reveals to have infiltrated in the guise of the bounty hunter, Boussch. And the emperor's arrival is of no less value, chilling all he passes as he deggresses from his shuttle.
I particularly enjoyed the new computer-generated and enhanced final space battle between the Rebel Alliance and the Galactic Empire. The looming of the giant rebel fleet as it prepares to jump into hyperspace is met with a feeling of insignificance. Also, the action packed sequences of the Rebel fighters engaging the Empire's TIE fighters is amazing. I just love lasers and charred remains of craft flying past my face.
Unarguably the best part of the film, Endor ends up as a decisive location in the Alliance's epic struggle. There is one special scene that stands out to me among the various computer-generated ones throughout the trilogy. It is the one with Princess Leia trying to comminacate with the comical Ewok, Wickett. Having seen another movie produced by Lucasfilm, Ltd., entitled Caravan of Courager, in which he is the star, Wickett still is the same, funny little Ewok. But out of that and into the general view of Endor, I think that there were a lot of nicely added stuff to ellaborate the feeling of the landscape. The loud laser echoes, the fast-paced chases through the trees, and the ambush of the Stortroopers just to name a few. Although meticulously executed, I'm still left with the feeling that the battle between the Ewoks and Stormtroopers was unfairly one-sided with the mangy furballs. I mean, would you believe a band of Ewoks armed with stones and sticks defeated a legion of Stormtroopers?
In order to prepare for a magnificent finish to the film, as well as the Alliances inevitable triumph, Lucas portrayed to the audience (at least to me) a feeling of despair in the Alliance. Not only is this feeling shown through the actors' expressions, mannerisms, and dialogue, but also in the flow of the music. The rebels have discovered that they need more time, the Ewoks are blasted to bits by the AT-STs, Luke is raging both an internal and external battle with the Dark Side, and the emperor sits back and grins with confidence. I think that Lucas executed this beautifully, and was an added element to boost the feeling of the Rebellion's final success.
Unquestionably the best film of the Special Edition Trilogy, the Return of the Jedi stands out as a site for character development, story richening, and the basic lesson that good will always triumph over evil. Evil may be ever present in our society, but we are able to shun it to enjoy a good film like this one. You, as the viewer, leave this movie with a feeling that you, along with the characters, have grown and have come the understand basic morale and the value of friendship. I like that feeling, and I like how people like George Lucas are there to create and display visions of sci-fi and fantasy. There are visions like the Star Wars films and there are visions like my web page. Whatever yours is, get it done, and end with a bang. Just check out the ending of Lucas' Return of the Jedi: The Special Edition.
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