ak
07-26-2001, 08:29 PM
Return of the Jedi - 1983 - Richard Marquand.
I initially see this film as the second weakest in the Star Wars series thus far, next to the equally pompous The "Phantom Menace".
I was so exhilirated by The Empire Strikes back when i first saw the trilogy in chronilogical order that i felt ultimately dissapointed by ROTJ, due to, as mentioned earlier, its pomposity.
The silly aspects, just like Episode I came from those silly ground battles...teddy bears at war with securico workers, and those god-awful gungans against the grasss hoppers, i couldnt believe my eyes...i seriously wanted more of a dark atmosphere which was perfected to an immense degree in the most adult Star Wars episode yet - The Empire Strikes Back.
What dissapoints me most about ROTJ, just like TPM is the storyline, which are both almost exact copies from a certain point.
They used the same story from A New Hope...big thing in space needs to be destroyed in order to beat bad guys on ground.
Marquand's direction, frankly, was half-arsed, with some forgettable cinematography, but some nicely staged action, which seems to have aged more that The Empire Strikes Back's action set pieces.
The final confrontation between Luke and Vader is amazing, not nearly long enought though, and the revelation of Vader being such a weak looking old man brings the father/son aspect to almost a more believable level.
But, out of all my hate-of hates for this film it is that final shot with the cast huddled together as if posing for a photograph....what???? I don't want to see that...that brings the film down to a most un-wanted level of mediochracy..just the same as A New Hope, just the same as Episode I.
I was enthralled by the filmic genius that was The Empire Strikes Back, and to be delivered with such a mediochre conclusion, quite frankly spoilt this from being the finest trilogy of all time. Why didn't they hire Irvin Keshner again...
I initially see this film as the second weakest in the Star Wars series thus far, next to the equally pompous The "Phantom Menace".
I was so exhilirated by The Empire Strikes back when i first saw the trilogy in chronilogical order that i felt ultimately dissapointed by ROTJ, due to, as mentioned earlier, its pomposity.
The silly aspects, just like Episode I came from those silly ground battles...teddy bears at war with securico workers, and those god-awful gungans against the grasss hoppers, i couldnt believe my eyes...i seriously wanted more of a dark atmosphere which was perfected to an immense degree in the most adult Star Wars episode yet - The Empire Strikes Back.
What dissapoints me most about ROTJ, just like TPM is the storyline, which are both almost exact copies from a certain point.
They used the same story from A New Hope...big thing in space needs to be destroyed in order to beat bad guys on ground.
Marquand's direction, frankly, was half-arsed, with some forgettable cinematography, but some nicely staged action, which seems to have aged more that The Empire Strikes Back's action set pieces.
The final confrontation between Luke and Vader is amazing, not nearly long enought though, and the revelation of Vader being such a weak looking old man brings the father/son aspect to almost a more believable level.
But, out of all my hate-of hates for this film it is that final shot with the cast huddled together as if posing for a photograph....what???? I don't want to see that...that brings the film down to a most un-wanted level of mediochracy..just the same as A New Hope, just the same as Episode I.
I was enthralled by the filmic genius that was The Empire Strikes Back, and to be delivered with such a mediochre conclusion, quite frankly spoilt this from being the finest trilogy of all time. Why didn't they hire Irvin Keshner again...