Celebrating 40 Years of ‘Return of the Jedi’
It has been 40 years since the release of Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, the final installment of the original trilogy and the ending to set the bar for all endings. Nobody likes things to end, especially good things that have warmed so many hearts and inspired so many fans. Endings can make or break a story, leave a taste in the mouth, imprint a final mark on the soul, and hold so much power over our narrative-driven beings.
I never liked endings. But Return of the Jedi made me thankful that I could bear witness to the conclusion of a story that happened so long ago, and so far away, that I could sit on the edge of my seat and hang on to it until the very end, when I could sit content, and always ready to watch again. I felt like I was listening to an Homeric orator reach his final words after nights of finding solace in the tumbling rises and falls of his mountainous epic. I didn’t think I could find the words to remind everyone once again, of how special Return of the Jedi truly is, and how there will never be one like it again. Though I am in breach of Yoda’s infamous decree, I did try my best.
The film perfectly builds anticipation whilst strongly executing every scene and effortlessly weaving humor, action, and emotionally impactful sequences so that in true Star Wars fashion, they almost sit upon one another. The same movie that contains Han Solo’s several failed attempts to hotwire a blast door, a tiny bear-like species worshipping C3P0 as a god, and whatever on Endor is happening here…
…also contains some of the most powerful moments in cinematic history as the tragedy of Anakin Skywalker comes to its conclusion. The contrast is perfectly reflected by Lando Calrissian’s ridiculous optimism in the face of a planet-destroying battle station.
The effects team brought 1983 audiences new and fantastic species like the terrifying rancor and the disgusting Jabba the Hutt, not to mention the incredibly extensive final space battle that truly gives one an equal sense of fear and awe.
The stunning location of the forest moon of Endor, filmed in the Redwood Forest of California was also such a grounded destination for the final land battle, which despite any complaints about ‘realism’, is such a powerful depiction of a tiny native people resisting the technological might of an evil power that has dominated all before it. Though riddled with warming moments of humor, the bravery of the Ewoks during this battle is something that astounds me every watch-through.
And of course, one cannot forget the introduction of the brilliant Ian McDiarmid as the Emperor, a villain that I can honestly say chills me to my core.
But all of it builds to that unforgettable lightsaber fight between Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker; Luke reaching out to his father, followed by his relentless fury, the eerie wheezing of Darth Vader’s injured suit, the cackle of the Emperor and finally Luke’s proud yet heart-stopping declaration, “I’ll never turn to the Dark Side. You’ve failed your highness…for I am a Jedi, like my father before me.”
And then that moment, a moment none of us will ever forget, when Darth Vader saved his son and put an end to the Emperor, and the prospect for redemption no matter how dark the path travelled was manifested in such a powerful way. The reunion of friends and family on the moon, followed by Darth Vader’s funeral pyre, and then the celebrations across the galaxy that seemed as though they could go on forever. As the Force ghosts of Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Anakin Skywalker watched over lovingly at the future of their family, I could not imagine a more fitting way to draw the original trilogy and the prequel trilogy to a close, ready for something new whenever it did take place.
Return of the Jedi means so much to so many people, and will remain in the hearts and minds of us all for many more years to come. Make sure to check out the Star Wars Celebration 2023 panel, ’40 years of Return of the Jedi’ here:
(No Bothans were harmed to bring you this information)
Rosalie Lambert is a law student from Australia with a deep love for Star Wars, fantasy, and epic stylistic storytelling. Growing up in the country, Rosalie has always loved nature and outdoor activities, and has a passion for human rights and social justice that she wants to work towards in her field of study.
