Watched: Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

This one was always my least favorite as a kid, I think maybe because it's the end which means the adventure's over and also because when I was little I didn't really appreciate the nuance of the philosophical/moral battle happening between the emperor, Vader, and Luke in the last third of the film and I was a little tired of the interstellar dog fights. So basically, being a young and impressionable tot, I was there for Leia's gorgeous hair, the ewoks, the droids, and Han Solo. Everything in between was kind of a drag.

Now I do think it's pretty great, especially the escape from Jabba's palace and especially all of the philosophical jibber jabber in the last third. I enjoy it.

Ominous.

Robot torture, not cool.

Good guy Lando.

I did NOT realize as a kid just how insane Carrie Fisher's body was in this film. She is crazy thin. I mean obviously gorgeous but just, I get the whole nerd boys having a crush on her now. Also, rest in peace Carrie! You were a star and also as the only female of note in these movies you were feisty and flawed and human and great.

Bantha herd!

See, this is just an excellent example of Lucas's insistence of going back and changing things in the film to CGI where they didn't need it and where it in fact detracts from the storytelling or the imagery as a result. Because this is both distracting and it looks like shit.

It's weird to me now, watching these as an adult, just how condescending they are to this primitive species. They literally like pat them on the head and hold their hands like they're teddy bears. The whole thing, in hindsight, is kind of an uncomfortably simplistic take on the way that different species and their cultures would develop at different rates. But then I remind myself that it's a space opera meant primarily for kids and I let it go.

  

This is a great moment.

Fuck you, Lucas.

  

Goodbye gang! The next time we see you Lando won't be around and  Chewbacca will seem mysteriously ageless and of course the droids won't change much but the rest of you will all be significantly older less cheerful.