ROTJ is absolutely my favorite of the original 3 but I admit it's partially based on nostalgia. It definitely has some pacing issues compared to Empire but I find the final 3 way battle to be the best out of all the movies, plus the space battle scenes are some of the best out of any scifi movie ever.
Honestly, the Battle of Endor is the best space battle ever filmed. All models with no cgi. When you realize the amount of work it must have taken to film that, it’s just perfection
True. I was a little shocked that the prequels won the best space battles simply because of look but if you watch this one, the Endor space battle had the best tension, pacing, and chorography.
I disagree. The battle of Endor moon "is" the best space battle ever followed by the "Battle of Yavin" and a close 3rd "Battle of the Mutara Nebula" although that is a different franchise. 🤔👍
The final 3-way (or I as call them, 3 environments and/or weapons-types) battles is my favorite aspect of "Jedi." Planet surface: assault weapons/vehicles/tactics. In-Space: Ship to ship. Death Star interior: lightsaber/force-lightning/pure physical force and ridiculous yelling of "No!" (Okay, that last part, not so much a fan of.) Oh yeah, you're right about the space battle scenes being some of the best in sci-fi. I'd say even some of the most dramatic: i.e., "It's a trap!" then later, "That blast came from the Death Star. That thing's operational! Home-One, this is Gold Leader... ...We saw it. All craft prepare to retreat!... ...We won't get another chance at this Admiral... ...We have no choice, General Calrissian, our cruisers can't repel firepower of that magnitude!... ...Han will have that shield down. We've got to give him more time!" and finally, "The shield is down! Commence attack on the Death Star's main reactor... ...We're on our way. Red group, Gold group, all fighters follow me. I told you they'd do it! ("....ha ha ha... it's about f*cking time..." although he doesn't actually say this, it is the impression I always get from Nien Nunb's reaction.) Sorry if this reply was a bit lengthy.
I loved Return of the Jedi, and I still do even as an adult. Perhaps the Ewoks added a bit of a annoying kiddie factor to the movie that could have turn off some viewers, but not to me, I thought they were interesting creatures and I don't find them very annoying. The only thing I found annoying is the aliens that sing and dance in Jabba the Hut's place that was added for the special editions, not only was that obnoxious, but also a waste of time that added nothing to the story, but that's hardly the movie's fault, it was George Lucas adding unnecessary crap just for the special editions.
I still enjoy this film. It wrapped things up, still had one of the best space battle scenes I have ever seen, the speeder bike chase is still unparrelled to me and Luke, Darth and the Emperors final conflict was satisfying. I am ambivilant about the Ewoks, they helped the story along and provided a few laughs.
I will always love Return of the Jedi as my favorite Star Wars movie. The fight over the sarlacc pit, the Speeder Bike chase, the Ewoks battling the Stormtroopers, and spaceship battle around the Death Star are awesome
True. The spaceship battle was actually the best of all the saga. The prequels may have better visuals but the choreography and pacing the space battle in this film was top notch.
I doubt it's as divisive as the sequel trilogy films are 😂. I was born in the year of Return...and I think it was actually the first one I remember watching. .so it holds a special place in my heart. Never hated it and always loved it
I was born 10 years later, but remember my dad buying it for me to watch with him at his house and my mother recording it on tv onto a video tape. Had to fast forward through the commercials, but watched it all the time. It quickly became my favorite. I also loved the green lightsaber
@@Spillow-C ye the stare scene R2 shooting Luke the light saber and Luke taking ppl out, han falling in to the pit all of that good stuff. & ye the family guy parody is a good one
For some reason back in the early 90s, USA would play this quite often, much more so than Hope or Empire. And yes, you'd best believe I watched it every single time. I loved that feeling I got the first time watching Jedi.
I was 9 when I first saw it, I'm nudging 50 now. Still love it. I actually like the more mature Luke as he has progressed on his journey. I do have a couple of criticisms though but mainly at the special edition, the addition of Jedi Rocks and the removal of Yub Nub.
@@hyperchord Agreed. As a kid that scene wasn't as emotional, but the older I got the more it meant. The same goes for the scenes with Yoda, especially in TESB.
Exactly. Ewoks and shit. Movie is bombastic but there's goofy shit. I still love jedi though because it's where the Skywalker arc pays off. In empire, Luke is hot-headed, he fails and is humbled. In jedi, he's learned his lessons, he has humility and self-awareness. He comes back and just murders everybody, and it is so satisfying
nah, man, I've heard people bash Ewoks since 1983. i don't get it. it's a sad person who can't appreciate a furry lil stone age warrior tribe. and if you're an adult whining about Ewoks, you are confused as to whom these movies are for. they are for the 10 year olds, not you, no matter how much you like them.
Doesn't matter. To me, this is my favorite. Leia looks awesome in the Boush armor. It's just a shame she didn't get to kick ass in it. But aside from that, I love this one. Good triumphs over Evil and it's beautiful.
The Boush action figure is easily in the top five figure sculpts for that toy line! The fact that it is essentially two figures in one ads a lot of play value which echoes the Falcon which is essentially a ship and a playset!
With time I have come to appreciate Jedi even more. But I truly was a bit disappointed in 1983 when I was 12 and saw it. It at least gave me a satisfying happy ending which I don't take for granted. But the first two are my favorite movies of all time. Jedi is just a companion piece that wraps things up. The stuff with Luke and Vader though is epic and the highlight of the movie.
I'm a Gen Zer who loves old stuff, I like the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi it's probably my favorite of the trilogy and maybe the whole saga, even though I learned that Empre is a superior film and it's been takng that spot, Jedi gives a natural conclusion, that even if he had taken a different direction (like presenting Coruscant or Wookies instead of Ewoks, which would have been great), the entire arc of Luke, Vader and the Emperor would have developed the same, showing the sacrifice that one must make for his children in difficult circumstances, as there is light in each one. I love the conversation scenes between Luke and Vader, very well written and delivered, I also lke the battle scenes as well lke the Sarlaac Pt, the Rankor, the Battle of Endor, Luke vs Vader, the death of Anakin, would say is pretty emotional, it's also my Great Uncle's favorite Star Wars movie, we don't mnd the ewoks, we also love the "Victory Celebration" score from special editions.
I'm going to go with Ewoks but I don't think it's ever been truly divisive. It's an uneven film but the final act is amazing, so long as you overlook the Ewoks. I'd also suggest anyone that watches it first time age 10 or under probably didn't bat an eyelid. My biggest complaint was always the rescue of Han in the first act. What the hell was the actual plan that it involved needing R2-D2 to be given the job of drinks waiter?
First of all, Randal and Dante from "Clerks" are not the most "Star Wars" saga educated viewers to ever discuss the original trilogy. (Dante failing to give any credit to the "first-in, first-shot-on-the-reactor to destroy the second Death Star, X-Wing pilot and Red Leader: Wedge Antilles" is the foremost proof of that.) Second, too much grief is given of the Ewoks. Market ploy? Maybe, but isn't all of Star Wars? I don't recall any special "Ewok-type-figures" needing to be produced to launch the toys and other merchandise in the first place. Plus, without the Ewoks we wouldn't have got the spectacular, fantasy-epic "Willow." (Put that in your head and think it.) Besides, who doesn't love a little Ewok-jerky now and then? I would agree more that the "special edition" additions, especially in Jabba's palace (The Force-awful, expanded palace-band sequence. Oh-My-The Force!), plus the newest Disney+ additions (Darth Vader's added "no's" during the saving-Luke-from-the-Emperor scene comes to mind. No. Noooooooooooo!!!!!!) are the true detriments to the film. Yeah, they can't all be "Empire," but as pointed out, the end film has to be along the lines of "...and they lived happily ever after." (Until being killed off one by one in the sequel trilogy. lol.)
I love the movie but I have to admit as a 13 year old when it came out, I was not on board with Ewoks killing the Stormtroopers so handily and I would have preferred if we never saw Anakin's face, it turned Darth from a scary villain to a chubby old man.
The Ewoks weren’t terrible. They were allegorical to Yoda’s teachings in Empire. “Size matter not.” Everyone in the film feared or underestimated the Ewoks. All, but Luke. Who knew he was seeing Yoda’s words put into action. As a film, there some dumb decisions. But the most contentious point, the Ewoks, should get a break.
As a kid I liked RotJ the best out of the three. I also liked the ewoks. As an adult, I think the teddy bears are goofy and some plot points are a bit superficial, but I still enjoy it and the confrontation with the Emperor makes up for it. Also... devisive... not anywhere at the level of modern SW.
The way I see it, people who criticize the Ewoks for being adorable are missing the point entirely. Lucas intended them to be "little rabbit on the side of the road that no one takes seriously, yet helps the hero conquer the great evil". It's not the movie's fault so many people today have a cold dead heart.
I thought Jedi had a strong story, but the humor/comic relief just didn't work. Like R2-D2 and C3PO lying upside down in the sand, the Ewok that got his surujin ( string weapon ) wrapped around his neck, and Han Solo's one liners. The movie would probably be better without the humor, save C3PO's remarks.
Barney Stinson explained it very well. People above a certain age hate the movie because of the ewoks while younger people love ewoks cause they remind them of their teddy bears
Absolutely the best of the Star Wars movies the one that shows the innate battle between good and evil light and dark on the Galactic scale and within the very soul of one person Anakin/ Vader. And shows the Foley of Pride and arrogance.
I actually appreciated the somber and more menacing manners of Luke in TROTJ, after all he's becoming more powerful and they hint the risk of he turning to the dark side too. I agree on this movie being the worst of the original trilogy bunch but it has many enjoyable moments and it still manages to wrap up the story in a satisfying way, differently from That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named
I'm an 'older' SW fan - meaning I was 7 when the first movie came out and 13 when RotJ came out. Everything this video has highlighted is exactly how I felt when I saw it in 1983. The only add being that Leia in the gold bikini made up for all the other gripes (for a young teen). My question is why and how did 'It's a trap' become such a popular, seemingly belated catch phrase? Was it rehashed on Robot Chicken or something? Great job on this vid.
The issues simply come from the fact that the original idea was just too big for the time The movie we got is cut down version of the original idea for the movie Regardless it's my favorite lol
Return of the Jedi is still my favorite. People always forget the ewoks are cannibals they look cute but they aren't. The ewoks ate those stormtroopers.
I don’t mind the Ewoks much. A little childish yeah but they were actually warriors going up against the Empire and you actually see emotion from them as they get killed against a superior force. One of the scenes that really makes me cringe is how stupidly easy they “killed” off Bobba Fett. They could’ve actually had him doing SOMETHING like actually put up some kind of fight.
I wasn't surprised to read that Harrison Ford wasn't thrilled with playing Han Solo again - although his charisma helps disguise his lack of interest. I also like solemn Luke versus whiny Luke. I also think Fisher is at her best here, and rocks that bikini! The ending was the weakest part for me - I preferred Empire's ambiguous, darker cliffhanger. Nevertheless, even if it's the least favorite of the trilogy, it's a "winner's circle"
I fundamentally disagree with everything you said (that was kind of meant as a joke, but I really do). I saw Return of the Jedi in the movies as an 8 year old, and I still love it. Luke isn't a killjoy-he is a full Jedi. As Yoda says, a Jedi has "the most serious mind". He just matured. He still smiles when the situation calls for it, but isn't a wide-eyed boy anymore. I also do not mind the Ewoks-they weren't shoehorned or forced into the movie. You even admit that they were fundamental to the plot (as there was no way the "pitiful little band" of Rebels could have defeated "the legion of the Emperor's best troops" on Endor. Maybe because I am a Gen Xer, but the puppet aliens are more convincing to me than a lot of the CGI characters of today. And I still say that the space battle has yet to be surpassed in awesomeness on the screen.
Empire was and still is my least favorite from the trilogy with Jedi being my favorite. The space battle at the end of Hope was my favorite part and the reason I loved it so much. Jedi has a better one and I love it, although even as a small child I didn't like the Ewoks, but I did like the AT-STs along with the speeder bikes.
I think if Lucas had stuck to his original plans for the Ewoks to be Wookiee and the surface battle of endor to have been the liberation of Kysyyk it would have gone done in history even Hester than it has. Especially post Revenge of the Sith.
Return of the Jedi was considerably better before Hayden Christensen was added, and Darth Vader's moronic "noooohhhh!" wasn't spoiling a key scene, but if you stick with the 1983 film you get a satisfying enough conclusion to the trilogy, even if it is the weakest of that trilogy.
The three year wait for this was an utterly excruciating eternity! Wish they'd stuck with the more adult theme from Empire and ditched the stone age teched ewoks that somehow conquered all the stormtroopers (they could never shoot straight anyway) ~ and it seemed like a film designed to sell toys (and it did) but I still loved it. Technically superb in terms of effects ~ compared to the first two ~ which in their time were both beyond groundbreaking.
Jedi was the installment I connected most with as a kid. I was pumped every time while watching the Jabba’s Palace scenes and then fully immersed in Endor with the Ewoks. It’s the one I’ve seen the most, the one I choose when my husband asks if I want to watch a Star Wars film, but I do acknowledge that it is not the best one. Empire is by far the superior film and I love it too. For me, Jedi has always been and will always remain my personal favorite.
I don't think Jedi is that divisive. For the most part it's awesome. Seeing it as a kid I doubt many adults will have qualms about the film. The biggest hurdles are: A) teddy bears throwing rocks should not be able to defeat laser-rifle stormtroopers in body armor. Their armor is ALREADY useless against lasers, and now apparently sticks and rocks too, so why even wear it? B) using the Death Star again, but I don't really have a problem with that. The special effects were upgraded from New Hope so it was fun to see Lando fly into the core and wreck the thing. C) Vader not knowing he had daughter with all his Force powers, but this is a fault of the prequels too; sonograms DO EXIST in a galaxy far, far away.
Loved this movie as a kid. Watching the movie again now, the ewoks kill the dramatic element of the final battle, making it comical and not serious. Mark Hamill's performance is the best thing about the movie though.
I would argue most of the battles in the OT didn't feel serious with how inaccurate every storm trooper is with blasterfire, so I never felt the tone of ewoks combat scene felt that out of place. Both are fun spectacles to watch on camera.
Return of the Jedi was when Luke was at his most likable bar none. He hasn't been this likable before or since. With this version I never want to go back to that farm boy. Luke had a tendency to be rather anoying at times in a New Hope (and part of that was because Mark Hamil was phoning it in with that film), and there were a couple moments in Empire where he would act a little out of character. ..and the less I say about The Last Jeti the better.
Return of the Jedi is my favorite, Star Wars movie, it has my two favorite, Star Wars characters in it (Yoda and Jabba), it’s cool to see Luke, become a Jedi, and has a very satisfying ending
I’m pretty sure Jedi is the one out of the whole franchise I have seen the most, I had an old recorded vhs copy that I wore out, in truth I never saw empire til I was 16 years old but A new hope will always be my favourite as it has a beginning middle and end, it works as a stand alone, none of the others do
Its divisive because the older fans thought it was too kid friendly instead of gritty western feel of the first Star wars film ep. 4 or even ESB .I enjoyed it as a young boy of 8 . I felt ESB was too dark . We talking 1980 dark.
Most people who watched and enjoyed the first Star Wars at the movie theaters were not children. Adults of all ages were the ones who made the film the mega success and cultural phenomenon it became.
It wasn't, bad, its just that you started to see traces of what ultimately made phantom menace terrible. Prioritizing merchandizing decisions like ewoks above the story. And chewy doing the tarzan call just to name a few. The complacency and lack of people challenging Lucas's creative decisions was starting to show.
The KOTOR games gave a pretty good explanation for Ewoks, they are basically just Wookies. In those games you stop off on many worlds, including Kashyyyk and find that ancient Force users have screwed with the environment, making the native life massive, or incredibly adaptive. I think even the Bacta everybody is always soaking in was just water that's been super-charged with Light Force power.
You have to be a pretty cynical adult to not enjoy ROTJ. Or to think that the other two movies were better. We had character growth from all the major characters. We had a cunning plot by the lead villain. We had three conflicts played out simultaneously to decide the fate of the galaxy. Those little teddy bears were actually vicious little fighters up against a technological evil that was crushing them. That's why when one is shot and killed and the camera lingers over his passing, the audience feels it. I agree with you another one of your commentators. You're confusing ROTJ with The Last Jedi. That was a truly divisive film with few people that like it. ROTJ was an excellent finale to the OT. And because of it it kept Star Wars popular for 40 years. Fans and writers have been trying to capture that magic ever since with limited success.
Idr a time when I DIDN'T know Lucas' original trilogy, having been introduced to it back when I was about 5 or 6 years old. Despite some minor flaws, the OT is a trilogy that will always stand the test of time
Jedi is technologically the best of the 3, it has the best sound effects and the space fights are absolutely mindblowing, the fight scenes and the run through the tunnels of the Death Star blow everythign that the other two movies showed out of the water. I'm kinda amazed how the author of this video just ignores this amazing material, I never cared much for the Ewoks, they felt cheap and filler. You can watch this video of the space fight without the Ewok fillers in between, it feels a lot more epic. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-xPZigWFyK2o.html
I was in my twenties when it came out, so I was really looking for something which didn't have super cute Fozzy Bears armed with stone age spears bouncing around the forest. Granted, it has plenty of scenes with a dramatically underdressed Leia--which certainly was a plus at the time. Some might quibble and ask why exactly Carrie Fisher had to be wearing a sexy little objectifying not-even-a -bikini. But hey, I was in my 20's and to me it was a real plus.
*Return of the Jedi* - “Star Wars is lame now” *The Special Editions* - “Star Wars is ruined.” *The Phantom Menace* - “Star Wars has been destroyed” *The Last Jedi* - “Star Wars is dead” *Me* - “shut up, please.”
I love Luke in this because he is no longer that moaning young man, he's a stoic jedi that has control of his emotions, yes he does break at the end but he gathers himself, throws away his weapon and does what he needs to, to become the jedi Knight he is, and that move makes his father come back and see the errors he made in his past.. this is Luke Skywalker at his finest.
I've witnessed some Ewok hate in my time, but I've never heard of someone canceling their SW fanship over Return of the Jedi. The same cannot be said for Disney's garbage.
It's all about the characters, and with the exception of Luke, Vader and the Emperor, the rest of the characters don't quite work. Han and Leia are too lovey-dovey, Lando lacks a proper reconciliation scene where he apologizes to Han for turning him over to Vader and Boba Fett in Empire and Obi Wan never apologizes to Luke nor explains to him why he LIED to him about his father in New Hope.
This film litterally was and STILL IS the last main saga star wars film, bringing to conclusion Anakins overall story arc. I'm so thankful that nobody ruined this by trying to make sequels to it that suck. I'm talking about sincere efforts at sequels, not lazy terrible fanfic.
Sorry, there's nothing to hate in ROTJ compared to some of the crap in Disney's inventory. The Ewoks are probably the most detracting but they are no way near as childish and silly as Grogu in season 3. It maybe a repeat of the Death Star attack but it's more exciting than Force Awakens ending.
gotta watch them vhs versions man, the only way. id prefer the THX versions myelf, because as a kid id watched my gramps copies so many times. man i loved the commentary with George Lucas and Leonard Maltin know what Lucas had to say about his movies
I love this movie. It’s my second favorite Star Wars movie after Empire Strikes Back. I like the Ewoks. I think Luke is awesome in this film. The story with Jaba feels like it’s own movie within a movie. I think you’re being too harsh
I didn't hear it was till a few years ago, i knew people didn't like The Ewoks but I don't know anyone who hates it or even dislikes it. Its my most nostalgic one as i was 7 and got to finally go to the cinema to see a Star Wars movie. I had a bunch of the Toys , Magazines and Posters and the Book / Tape Storybook. It was a Magical time in my life. I don't care if people think its " Divisive" i will ALWAYS love it. I will say i HATE the stupid Musical number Lucas added in 97 , WHY !!....??????
I like ROTJ, but it's flawed. It's still a better movie than any of the sequels, and some might argue the prequels. My issue is a second Death Star. Isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over but expecting a different result? lol. I didn't hate the Ewoks, but it annoyed me how quickly the Ewoks got all those traps set up in the forest eg. giant swinging logs from trees. It would take a long time for those little guys to set that up with no insurance that they would even lure an AT ST into one, yet they seem to get them set up instantly. Chewbacca's Tarzan roar is a little ridiculous. It's a good movie, but George's whimsical side was starting to rear it's head with ROTJ. A side he let even further lose with The Phantom Menace. I hated the muppet dance number in Jabba's palace, made even worse with the CGI dance number in the special editions.
Jedi is a good and fitting end to the Skywalker saga. I would like to have seen Luke face off against an apprentice of Vader. The great and always smooth Billy Dee Williams had more screen time which is awesome. Great space battles at the end. Jedi is unappreciated.
I would argue that the worst parts of ROTJ are the parts added in the Special Edition and/or the DVD/Blu-Ray releases. The CGI dance number looks like trash. The Sarlacc changes make it worse, and everything about the ending update is bad. Random celebrations in places that we wouldn't have seen before if watching in the proper order don't make sense, and shoehorning in Hayden Christensen undermines Anakin's final moments. Also, bring back the Yub Yub song.
I was a little disappointed as a 13yo, as were most people I knew, but frankly I don't think it would have been possible to finish the trilogy on a higher note than Empire struck no matter what Lucas came up with. Nothing could have dampened the agonizingly long 15 years of waiting for another installment.
Just watched all 3 in the original trilogy again, and this one remains my favorite. Empire Strikes Back is overrated if considered the perfect movie, and i think the flaws of New Hope show the most with age. Nonetheless all great films.
It concludes very well and wraps things up nicely especially with the Luke/Vader storyline. The speeder bike scenes are great as is the rescue of Han from Jabba's Palace. Some of the performances in this movie seem a little bit lazy and less spirited and routine. Destroying a second Death Star was not very inventive either. The Ewoks were too silly and cutesy. That said it is still a very good movie and concluded the trilogy very well. At the time it was seen as a return to form by some people because Empire did not have the status it has attained today. Being the middle film some people didn't enjoy it as much because it didn't have a conclusion or happy ending. It is the third best SW film in my opinion and it is not as good as Empire or A New Hope but those are both top 20 films of all time at least in my world.
Dorks put it down for being kiddy, but these movies were ALWAYS made for kids. These fans like to say because Empire was "darker" than the first one, that makes it a dark serious movie for adults. It may be darker, but its darker in a fairy tale way. Its not like its a cerebral experience like Alien or The Thing.
