Loosely related to this thread (which I'm really starting to enjoy, btw):
The dvdactive review of Jedi on Blu was just posted.
Although often seen as the ‘lame duck’ of the original trilogy, I'm actually quite fond of Return of the Jedi. It’s easily the most action-packed of the original films, with an exciting opening act and a multi-layered finale that delivers both action and drama. The special effects work is superior to anything seen in the previous films, we are (properly) introduced to a variety of new and interesting characters (including Jabba and the Emperor), and it serves as a satisfying resolution to the events of the preceding movies. So why does it have such a bad reputation?
There have been many theories put forward to explain Jedi’s supposed inferiority, raging from directorial interference to lack of interest by the actors. The story goes that George Lucas was not happy with director Richard Marquand’s performance, and that Lucas himself actually directed much of the film. There has also been a fair bit made of Harrison Ford’s reluctance to be involved with the project, and some feel that he all-but phoned in his performance. Others are against the inclusion of the second Death Star, citing it as nothing more than a rehash of the first movie’s plot (ex-producer Gary Kurtz is among the detractors). However, perhaps the biggest criticism is of the furry little Ewoks, the presence of which is seen by many as nothing more than a marketing gimmick to sell toys to kids, rather than a genuine plot device.
However, while I can see where people are coming from with these comments, I don’t necessarily agree with all of them. I do agree that there’s a bit of a slump in the middle of the film, but I think it is made all the more obvious because of the tremendous amount of action that surrounds it. I also agree with the comments about Ford, at least to a certain extent, as he’s nowhere near his wise-cracking best. Still, much of this can be explained by the hardships he endures and his character arc - he’s gone from rogue smuggler to self-sacrificing hero. Other than that, I think the film hangs together rather well. There’s plenty of character progression, the performances are no less ‘hammy’ than the previous films, and our own history has taught us that it is possible for a technologically inferior people to overcome a technologically superior force.