Is there a more debatable film than the Return of the Jedi? Sure, it fits the mold of a Star Wars movie, it's fun, flashy, great special effects and thrilling set pieces. But it gets a lot of thing wrong, too. It is the bastard child of A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. If we assume that, for this example only, those films are respectively Blueberry and Apple Pie, then truly Return of the Jedi is Banana Cream. Sure, it's a pie, technically - but it doesn't have the weight, texture, or flavor that the other two did. That being said, it is a sweet dessert ending to the most successful motion picture franchise in history. Highlights include the flaky crust of Admiral Ackbar, the creamy, creepy Emperor, and the satisfied feeling you get every time you put down the fork, unbutton your pants, and John Williams whips out his acoustic version of the Imperial march just as Darth Vader fades away into cinematic history. Lowlights include Ewok after Ewok after Ewok, and the watering down of Han Solo, a once potent and volatile character, chopped into bland bits of comic relief. While not quite the pastry we might deserve, and though there may be some grumblings from the die-hard fans, Jedi remains an enjoyable treat nonetheless.
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