Saturday, May 25, 2013

ReTurning Thirty...












Thirty years ago today we were introduced to Ewoks...

And although it's the most flawed of the bunch, "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" is still part of the Original Trilogy.  And it's far better than the Prequels.  There are moments of greatness in the film (The arrival of the Emperor, the duel with Vader.), but there are scenes of unnecessary repetitiveness (Another Death Star, really?  Ewok, instead of Wookies, really!? A final battle on the Moon of Endor instead of a full scale assault on Coruscant, really!!?).

But it also marked a closing.  There was no way of knowing if George Lucas would ever get around to making the original films he had told us about.  And sadly, when he did get around to them they never quite lived up to what we expected.  "Revenge of the Sith" almost rises to the quality of the original, but falls just short.  If they'd started out like that particular film and got better then most of of us wouldn't be complaining I'd like to think.

There have been a lot of changes to the film since then.  Most were done for the wrong reasons and we've been over those arguments before.  George could do with them what he wanted.  And now he's wanted to move beyond his creation, letting it live past him into a new future.

I'll still remember sitting in that darkened theater as a kid watching the opening scrawl come up and just felling giddy about the prospect of seeing another Star Wars film.  And then the sadness that it was all over when the credits starting rolling.  So even with all its bumps and warts Jedi still retains that innocence of the thosel films we watched as innocents.

You know, before the dark times...

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

what is it with all those people that hate the prequels...i think all 3 prequels are just amazing....george lucas did a great job...look what amazing scenes and new characters he created in those films...the pod race and the arena battle,darth maul,grievious,padme,watto,dexter jetster,there's always a bigger fish scene,ect,ect,...i gues i'm the only one that liked them...i think we have to give george lucas more respect for that...and maybe the prequels are not as good as the oriinal trilogy...they are always better than lots of other scifi movies that came out lately

Anonymous said...

The only way to correct the weaknesses in ROTJ and the prequels is to reboot the series from scratch. Make Vader NOT Luke's father like he was originally meant to be. Alas, it will not happen this time, but maybe in 20 years after the next trilogy is done, they can reboot Star Wars the way they continually remake Batman, Spiderman or Lord of the Rings.

Bih said...

Uh, no thank you on the reboot. Return of the Jedi is my favourite of the films. Vador being Luke's father is considered one of films and storytellings greatest achievements. And yes, even the prequels are satisfying if not a little over the top. All the films are in their own way. But the sometimes absurdity of them mixed with the charismatic characters and illuminating worlds, Lucas has created mix to create an enthralling good time.

Anonymous said...

Vador?

No wonder the weakest of the trilogy is your favorite. You don't even know how to spell his name.

j said...

Have to agree with Bih. Spelling Vader wrong aside. Rebooting or remaking the original trilogy or prequels for that matter would be a waste of resources. Leave the originals as they are, the fans are so enthralled over them, any attempt to remake them would just result in frothing at the mouth and more hate then the prequels get. I would rather see spin-offs or new episodes to the franchise. There's so much yet to be explored in "a galaxy far far away".

PS. Empire is clearly the best of the trilogy. A New Hope and Return of the Jedi can duke it out for second place. I will admit, I have a guilty pleasure soft spot for Ewoks.