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Post #130816

Author
jawaewokgungan
Parent topic
Views on "Return of the Jedi" 22 years later
Link to post in topic
https://originaltrilogy.com/post/id/130816/action/topic#130816
Date created
15-Aug-2005, 12:51 AM
Hi all:

I'm trying to write a short book on the making of "Return of the Jedi." Not really a book, more of an compendium. Just a self published type thing for other fans enjoyment. I want to include a section about the fans views on "Jedi" 22 years after it's release. Based on the IMDB message boards and SW fansites.

Just curious:
"What was your original reaction to "Return of the Jedi" when you first saw it, how ever many years ago? (Whenever it was: 1983, 1995, 1997 or 2004)."

"What's your gut reaction to the film upon seeing it again now?

"How do you feel about the changes made to 'Jed' in 1997 and 2004. Have they changed your overall impression of the film?"

"Have the prequels changed how you feel about "Jedi?"

"And finally, sort of a long question but... Do you see "Jedi" as being a kids film (as Mark Hamill called it) meant for the age 12 and under crowd? And do you think children "get" ROTJ more than any of the original films?"

Thanks for the feedback. I'll post links to the book as soon as I get it assembled.

I'll start with my two cents:
"What was your original reaction to "Return of the Jedi" when you first saw it, how ever many years ago? (Whenever it was: 1983, 1995, 1997 or 2004)."
I originally saw it in 1983 when I was 11. My original reaction was that it moved too slow and took too long to answer the unresolved questions brought up in "Empire." I felt the pace should have been faster. I remember being blown away by the opening sequence with the Star Destroyer and Death Star. I was bored by 3PO and R2 on Tatooine. I thought Jabba the Hutt was disgusting. I felt odd and tingly inside seeing Princess Leia in the slave girl's outfit! I felt the whole rescue of Han took too long.

I thought the action sequence outside the Sarlaac Pit was too fast. I couldn't keep track of what was going on. I found the Emperor to be fascinating but wished Darth Vader was in the film more. I thought Han Solo seemed really weird and "not himself." I thought the Ewoks were funny at first, then they became totally annoying. The entire ending of the film was unsatfisying to me. I wanted to see more of the space battle and Luke/Vader confrontation. I felt like the destruction of the shield generator on Endor took forever. And after seeing the final few minutes of the film, I asked myself "That's it?" It's not that the film was bad. I just thought something was missing. That it could have been so much better. I didn't really want to see the film again and again like with the first Star Wars film. And didn't have the sense of awe and wonderment I had after viewing "Empire."