Return of the Jedi (1983) ft. Adam Freed and Adam Vanderwerff

Guests:

• Adam Freed

  • Managing Editor and Senior Film Critic at (MovieArcher.com)

  • @moviearcher on Twitter and Instagram

  • Previously on Batman (1989), Pulp Fiction (1994) Revisit

• Adam Vanderwerff (Duncan Disability Law)

  • Previous Episodes: Office Space (1999), Ghostbusters (1984), M*A*S*H (1970)

Cast:

• Richard Marquand, Director

• Lawrence Kasdan and George Lucas, Writers

• Alan Hume, Cinematography

• John Williams, Music

• Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker

• Harrison Ford as Han Solo

• Carrie Fisher as Leia Organa

• Billy Dee Williams as Lando Calrissian

• Anthony Daniels as C-3PO

• Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca

• Kenny Baker as R2-D2

• Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor

• Frank Oz (puppeteer/voice) as Yoda

• David Prowse / James Earl Jones (voice) as Darth Vader

• Sebastian Shaw as Anakin Skywalker

• Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi

Background:

• Return of the Jedi was released on May 25, 1983.

• Return of the Jedi grossed $314.3 million in the United States and Canada, and $166 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $480 million, against a production budget of about $32.5 million.

• Its $22,973 per theatre average would stand as a record for a nationwide release on an inflation-adjusted basis for 36 years until it was surpassed by Avengers: Endgame in 2019.

• However, critics were mixed about the film upon release.

• Nevertheless, Return of the Jedi was nominated for 4 Academy Awards for Art Direction, Original Score (Williams), Sound Effects Editing, and Sound. It was also awarded a special-achievement Oscar for Visual Effects.

• In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

• Return of the Jedi currently holds an 83% among critics on RT, a 58 score on Metacritic, and a 4.1/5 on Letterboxd.

Plot Summary: Return of the Jedi is the epic conclusion to the original Star Wars trilogy. It follows Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) as they battle to overthrow the oppressive Galactic Empire.

After rescuing Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, the Rebel Alliance prepares for a final assault on the Empire’s ultimate weapon, the second Death Star. Meanwhile, Luke confronts Darth Vader, hoping to redeem his father from the dark side and put an end to Emperor Palpatine’s tyranny. With thrilling battles, emotional reunions, and the power of hope, the Rebels fight to restore freedom to the galaxy.

Did You Know:

• Fans are divided on the likelihood of Ewoks (being a primitive race of small creatures) defeating an armed ground force comprising the Empire's "best troops". Lucas has defended the scenario, saying that the Ewoks' purpose was to distract the Imperial troops and they did not really win. His inspiration for the Ewoks' victory came from the Vietnam War, where the Viet Cong prevailed against the technologically superior United States.

• The Emperor's chair was mechanized so that it could rotate when the scene called for it. However, the mechanism never worked properly, so Ian McDiarmid had to make it move by shuffling his feet. A piece of tape on the floor told him when to stop so it would not be visible to the camera.

• According to Ian McDiarmid, George Lucas originally cast him simply as the physical performance of the Emperor (similar to David Prowse as Darth Vader). This became evident to him when a producer told him that if he was able to get his voice close enough to Clive Revill's (who portrayed the Emperor's voice in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980)) Lucas would let him use his on-camera vocals in the final cut of the movie. However, McDiarmid felt he could conduct a stronger, more wicked and demonic voice for the Emperor as opposed to Revill's more aristocratic Emperor. Lucas, and even Steven Spielberg, were so impressed with his take that it ended up becoming a signature trait of the character.

• It took six people to work the full-sized animatronic of Jabba the Hutt. The puppet fit three men inside -two to operate the arms, head and tongue and another to move the tail. A man lying below the puppet pulled strings to move Jabba's mouth and make his sides heave. And two radio operators controlled the slimy goon's eyes, including pupil dilation, direction and wideness of eyelids. A final crew member was responsible for rubbing gel on the puppet to give Jabba his slimy look.

• Nien Nunb, Lando's co-pilot, speaks a Kenyan dialect called Haya. According to sound designer Ben Burtt, the lines were delivered by Kipsang Rotich, a Kenyan student living in the U.S., and are actually correct Hayan translations of the English text. Audiences in Kenya were reportedly very thrilled to hear their language spoken in proper context.

• The point-of-view shots for the speeder bike sequence were achieved by having a camera operator with a Steadicam walk through the forest at normal speed with the camera filming at one frame per second. When the footage was played back at twenty-four frames per second, it gave the appearance of flying through the forest at high speeds.

Best Performance: Carrie Fisher (Leia)/Ian McDiarmid (The Emperor)/John Williams (Composer)/James Earl Jones (Vader)

Best Secondary Performance: Puppeteers of Jabba the Hutt/ILM (Special Effects)/Kenny Baker (R2-D2)/James Earl Jones (Vader)

Most Charismatic Award: Admiral Ackbar (Tim Rose)/Ewoks/Harrison Ford (Han Solo)/Billy Dee Williams (Lando)/Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan)

Best Scene:

• Rancor Pit

• Sarlaac Pit

• Back on Dagobah

• C-3PO is a God

• Ewoks Save the Day

• Luke Becomes a Jedi

• Removing Vader's Helmet

Favorite Scene: Luke Becomes a Jedi/C-3PO is a God/Jedi Point of View

Most Indelible Moment: Luke Becomes a Jedi/Ewoks/Removing Vader's Helmet/Leia's Vulnerability

In Memorium:

• Steve Pepoon, 68, American TV writer (known for his work on The Simpsons, Silver Spoons, Alf, The Gary Shandling Show, and creating The Wild Thornberrys) Emmy winner

• Samuel French, 45, American actor (known for his work on the movies Killers of the Flower Moon and Towpath, and the TV show Fear of the Walking Dead)

• John Edwards, 80, American Hall of Fame singer (lead singer of The Spinners; known for the songs: "The Rubberband Man", "Working My Way Back to You")

• Johnny Rodriguez, 73, American country singer (known for the songs: "You Always Come Back (To Hurting Me)", "Pass Me By (If You're Only Passing Through)")

• Rosanna Norton, 80, American costume designer (worked on the movies: Tron, Carrie, Airplane!, Badlands)

• Milena Brandao, 11, Brazilian actress and model (known for the Netflix TV show Sintonia)

• Greg Cannom, 73, American makeup artist (worked on the movies: Bram Stoker's Dracula, Mrs. Doubtfire, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), four-time Oscar winner

• James Foley, 71, American film director (worked on the movies: Glengarry Glen Ross, Who's That Girl, Fifty Shades Freed and Darker)

• Robert Benton, 92, American screenwriter and director (known for writing Bonnie and Clyde, Superman, Places in the Heart, and What's Up Doc; directing Kramer v. Kramer, The Late Show, and Nobody's Fool) - 3x Oscar Winner

Best Lines/Funniest Lines:

Admiral Ackbar: It's a trap!

Han Solo: I think my eyes are getting better. Instead of a big dark blur, I see a big light blur.

Luke: There's nothing to see. I used to live here, you know.

Han Solo: You're going to die here, you know. Convenient.

Lando: Just a little bit higher!

Luke: Master Yoda, you can't die.

Yoda: Strong am I with the Force, but not that strong.

Han Solo: How we doin'?

Luke: Same as always.

Han Solo: That bad, huh?

Stormtrooper: Don't move!

[Han glances nervously at Leia... who subtly reveals the blaster hidden at her side]

Han Solo: I love you.

Princess Leia: [smiles] I know.

Yoda: Remember, a Jedi's strength flows from the Force. But beware. Anger, fear, aggression. The dark side are they. Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny. Luke... Luke... do not... do not underestimate the powers of the Emperor or suffer your father's fate you will. Luke, when gone am I... the last of the Jedi will you be. Luke, the Force runs strong in your family. Pass on what you have learned, Luke. There is... another... Sky... walker.

Darth Vader: You underestimate the power of the Dark Side. If you will not fight, then you will meet your destiny.

Han Solo: There are a lot of command ships. Keep your distance, though, Chewie, but don't *look* like you're trying to keeping your distance.

[Chewie barks a question]

Han Solo: *I* don't know. Fly casual.

The Emperor: Good, good. Let the hate flow through you.

Luke: Never. I'll never turn to the Dark Side. You've failed, your highness. I am a Jedi, like my father before me.

The Emperor: [angry] So be it... Jedi!

Obi-Wan: Luke, you're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view.

C-3PO: It's against my programming to impersonate a deity.

The Emperor: And now, young Skywalker... you will die.

Luke: Soon I'll be dead, and you with me.

The Emperor: [laughing] Perhaps you refer to the imminent attack of your rebel fleet? Yes, I assure you, we are quite safe from your friends here.

Luke: Your overconfidence is your weakness.

The Emperor: Your faith in your friends is yours!

Luke Skywalker: I'll not leave you here. I've got to save you.

Anakin Skywalker: You already have, Luke.

The Stanley Rubric:

Legacy: 9.5

Impact/Significance: 9

Novelty: 8.25

Classic-ness: 8

Rewatchability: 8.38

Audience Score: 9.4 (94% Google, 94% RT)

Total: 52.53

Remaining Questions:

• Why would Lucas put the prequel Anakin in the movie but leave Alec Guinness and puppet Yoda?

• How can the Emperor foresee and plan so meticulously everything but not have anticipated the Ewoks?

• How long of a time is between the end of Empire and the start of Jedi?

• Is Boba Fett taken out too easily?