Triumphant ‘Return’ ‘Return Of The Jedi’ Brings ‘Star Wars’ Trilogy To Rousing, Spectacular Conclusion

It is to George Lucas’ credit that each of the films in his “Star Wars” trilogy is actually an individual movie, each with its own minor variations, and that Lucas was able to sustain his mythological intergalactic world in three films over a six-year period.

“Return of the Jedi,” the final chapter released in 1983, risked being dull and pat because it had the duty of tying up all the loose ends left dangling by its two deliberately open-ended predecessors, “Star Wars” (1977) and “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980).

There was also the threat that the series’ freshness might have dissipated, with no new surprises to offer and a cast that was no longer youthful.

Seeing “Return of the Jedi” again without the benefit of years in between to distance it from the others, one is aware of just how much stars Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford had aged by ‘83. They were no longer kids, and Lucas, perhaps aware that they could no longer impersonate kids frolicking in outer space, moved his third chapter away from them slightly, concentrating instead on his masterly special effects.

Gone is the innocence of “Star Wars,” as well as the complexities and subtlety of “The Empire Strikes Back.” The job here was to bring the trilogy to a rousing close, to conclude the stories of its major characters. “Return of the Jedi” more than meets this challenge via some spectacular battles and chases and an amazing array of supporting creatures.

The film is one big intergalactic flight. We get more action and less reverence, with characterizations and dialogue kept at a minimum.

By the end of “Return of the Jedi,” we’ve all surrendered completely - unconditionally - to the Force.

Called “Revenge of the Jedi” while it was in production, the film had a last-minute title change by Lucas, although its original title was better-fitting and also better conveyed the intensity of the filmmaker’s plot, co-written with Lawrence Kasdan (who also helped write “Empire”). Their rather simple script reunites most of the good guys (and gal) from the first films for a final battle against the evil Empire as personified by Emperor Palpatine (the witch-like Ian McDiarmid) and his chief imposing henchman Darth Vader (again David Prowse, supplemented by the voice of James Earl Jones), who is overseeing the construction of a new Death Star that cannot be destroyed.

Special effects had progressed somewhat by the time Lucas made “Return of the Jedi,” so it’s no surprise that this installment reportedly has twice as many visual effects (chases, space battles, whatever) than the original first film. The best of the lot is a thrilling, dizzying chase through a dense redwood forest aboard airborne motorcycles.

One final thing. As this is the season of the Academy Awards, you might be interested in knowing that “Return of the Jedi” won the 1983 Oscar for special visual effects and was nominated for art direction, sound, original score and sound effects editing.

MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: “Return of the Jedi” Locations: East Sprague, Lyons, Showboat Cinemas Credits: Directed by Richard Marquand, starring Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Billy Dee Williams, Anthony Daniels, Peter Mayhew, Sebastian Shaw, Ian McDiarmid, with David Prowse, Frank Oz and James Earl Jones (voices only). Running time: 2:13 Rating: PG