About Han exploiting situation to probe Leia’s emotions for him… I simply meant that he used the fact that he had to go pay Jabba (no, he didn’t make it up), to see how she will react to the possibility that he might not return.
Thanks, that clears your point up. Han was certainly presenting that possibility to her to provoke her (he’s remarkably good at that), I just don’t think it was an entirely idle threat, and that he had his own internal conflict over the decision to stay or not, Leia being a big contributing factor in what decision he finally made. This observation though obviously doesn’t prove Han’s situation as a rebel or not, either way.
Anyway arguing over interpretations is pointless. The fact is that ESB script does not (explicitly) explain/explore Han’s decision at the end of ANH.
I agree, so long as we can agree to disagree 😛. We each have our own understanding, and I accept that yours is possible despite my stated areas of disagreement.
As for ROTJ in terms of Han and Leia, when it comes to a romance in general the most interesting aspect is everything before the love is professed. After the love is professed the entire thing becomes boring from a dramatic/character point of view. ROTJ was left with very little to work with after ESB. It tried to make a little complication with the Luke but the main potential was already used in ESB.
I actually agree here too. In one respect, ROTJ was written into a corner with regards to Han and Leia as a couple. I certainly don;t think the film needed to push any drama between them etc. but in a movie that is primarily about wrapping up the Skywalker story (and redeeming their legacy), I am still somehwat baffled as to why Han and Leia don’t have more interaction with Luke, particularly in light of Leia being revealed as his sister.
Especially as the film was brought to a crawl with the Ewoks.
Which brings me to my problem with them: they are superfluous in my mind to the story. Obviously they are integral to the plot (in a kinda completely coincidental deus ex machina way) and I know that that point has been hashed out to death already, but I hope my take on the deficiency with the writing brings something fresh, if not new, up.
Now sure the idea of a primitive force being able to rise against tyrannical oppressors is nice, but when you already have the central narrative of the trilogy revolving around a small(er) and ill-equipped rebellion rising against tyrannical oppressors you can see how it’s redundant.
Because I hate providing just criticism without context, allow me to proffer another hypothetical:
- ROTJ’s key theme is that of redemption, so a plot point where instead of luckily finding Ewoks and recruiting them courtesy of coincidentally bringing C-3PO instead a number of Imperials defected would be more thematically consistent, demonstrating the virtue of many people perhaps forced into service by the Empire, and making a statement about better human nature in fitting with Luke’s refusal to turn, the one thing the Emperor was blind to.
I’m not saying this would necessarily be better, but it has greater potential in concert with the themes and story at play, and thus perhaps would have been a more powerful a statement (not to mention better for the film’s pacing) than a trip to Ewok village.
Just to be clear this is separate of the conceptual criticism people have levied at the Ewoks and how that effects the tone of the film, I’d still hold this opinion if they were replaced with Wookies for example (a rather common talking point that has been floated around these boards).
Now have it, anyone and everyone, blast my opinion so I may better see how well it holds up. 😄