The final in the Star Wars original trilogy, a smash-bang action filled sci-fi adventure. Some consider it the most enjoyable and thrilling of the films, and of course I love it. Now let's get going with a review.
Rundown of the plot:
We begin with Darth Vader arriving on the 2nd Death Star while it is being built. He informs the crew that The Emperor is arriving soon. We cut to Tatooine where C-3PO and R2-D2 arrive at Jabba the Hut's palace, where they play a message from Luke Skywalker telling Jabba that these two will be his slaves, as long as he releases Han Solo and the Rebellion can have him back. Jabba disagrees and keeps the droids as slaves.
Soon Chewbacca appears, captured by a bounty hunter. He is taken prisoner and the bounty hunter reveals herself as Leia as she frees Han Solo from carbonite. Jabba catches them and makes Leia his slave as he throws Han with Chewie.
Luke shows up next, this time demanding Han, Chewie, Leia, and the droids. Unfortunately he falls into the hands of the Rancor, but defeats it in battle. He is then captured and he, Han, and Chewie are to be executed at the hands of the Sarlacc.
Jabba takes them to the pit where the Sarlacc lives, and Luke and company break free. Lando Calrissien is revealed to be one of the guards in disguise and Jabba is killed by Leia. Luke decides to go back to Dagobah to train with Yoda while the others go to the rebel fleet.
As Luke arrives on Dagobah, the Emperor arrives on the Death Star, telling Vader that the rebellion will be crushed very soon. Luke finds that Yoda is dying and finds out the truth: Vader wasn't lying. He is his father, and he must fight him again. As Yoda dies, Obi-Wan's ghost shows up to tell Luke that he has a twin sister, Leia.
Luke goes back to the Rebel fleet and gets in on an operation to take down the Death's Star shield on the forrest moon of Endor. They land on the moon, only to fight the stormtroopers there. After a spectacular speeder bike chase, Leia ends up seperated from the group as Luke returns to the main force of rebel troops.
Leia meets Wicket, an Ewok native to the forrest moon. He takes her to their village while Luke, Han and the others fall into a trap. C-3PO is worshiped as a God, and saves the others from being his banquet. Luke confronts Leia about their siblinghood. Luke then surrenders to the Imperial forces nearby to confront his father one last time.
The next day, Lando and the Rebel fleet led by Admiral Ackabar prepare to attack the Imperial fleet while Han, Leia, and the Ewoks take down the shield generator. Luke, meanwhile, is taken to the Emperor's Throne Room and is forced to watch the space battle as the Rebellion is almost destroyed before his eyes.
Soon he can't take it any longer and fights Darth Vader in a lightsaber duel. The battle rages on until eventually the shield generator is destroyed and Lando, Wedge, and others fly into the Death Star to destroy it. Luke wins the lightsaber duel and cuts off Vader's sword-hand. The Emperor confronts Luke and tells him he will turn to the Dark Side. Luke refuses and The Emperor begins to electrocute him.
Eventually Vader grabs the Emperor and throws him into a power grid where he dies. As the Death Star is being destroyed, Luke takes off Vader's mask and sees his human face for the first time. He tells him to leave him, but as he dies, Luke takes him with. He escapes as the Death Star explodes.
That night Luke has a funeral pyre for Vader while the entire galaxy celebrates the defeat of the Empire and the victory of the Rebellion.
Grading Scale:
Acting: 10 out of 10. Very well done.
Entertainment: 10 out of 10. Goes by very quick.
Screenplay: 9 out of 10. Exceptionally well done.
Directing: 5 out of 10. Standard.
Technical Credits: 10 out of 10. Everything is up to par.
Genre Fit: 7 out of 10. At times it feels like an action flick.
MPAA Rating: 9 out of 10. The scenes with Wicket sometimes feel like a G rated family flick.
Stupid Scenes: 7 out of 10. The Ewoks aren't everyone's favorites.
Deeper Message: 8 out of 10. Tells of taking down a power that is stronger than you are and confronting your fate.
Beginning: 25 out of 30. The Jabba stuff isn't my favorite.
Middle: 29 out of 30. Once we get to the moon, things get a whole lot better.
Ending: 30 out of 30. A great ending.
Final Score: 159/180 or 88%. A high A-. Very well done and solid entertainment.
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