Return of the Jedi: Why Is It So Divisive Among Fans?

[@thecunninlynguist]

I doubt it's as divisive as the sequel trilogy films are 😂. I was born in the year of Return...and I think it was actually the first one I remember watching. .so it holds a special place in my heart. Never hated it and always loved it

[@Lamont54321]

I was 8 when part 4 came out aka a new hope

[@Wastelander84]

I was born 10 years later, but remember my dad buying it for me to watch with him at his house and my mother recording it on tv onto a video tape. Had to fast forward through the commercials, but watched it all the time. It quickly became my favorite. I also loved the green lightsaber

[@HoustonSoto]

Star Wars has always been divisive, it seems the original film and Empire are the only ones people don’t blab like maniacs over.

[@derrickcox7761]

That's cuz you were a child and still had a Teddy Bear.

[@Lamont54321]

@@derrickcox7761 no its cause prequels and after movies just suck

[@victorgonzales9138]

For the kid I was, and for the old man I am now! The original Star Wars Trilogy is what shaped my childhood!

[@SplinkProductions]

It’s actually not divisive at all. Is it as good as “STAR WARS” or “Empire”? No. But it is still a fantastic conclusion to “Holy Trilogy”.

[@derrickcox7761]

Except for the "Holy honeybees Batman...it's Teddy Bears!"

[@354Entertainment]

God damn right! It is the third best Star Wars movie of all time!

[@derrickcox7761]

@@354Entertainment With Teddy Bears.

[@354Entertainment]

@@derrickcox7761 Yea and so what?

[@skyden24195]

"And Jedi is the most insulting of instalments, when Vader's beautiful black visage is soiled when they remove his mask to revel a feeble, crusty, old white man. They tryin' to tell us that deep inside we all wants to be white!"

[@AvatarYoda]

I love the Jabba sequence because I feel it's one of the few parts in Star Wars that completely fulfills the promise of "aliens from a thousand worlds". It truly feels like an alien world where anything could happen. Plus, the action sequence at the Sarlaac pit is incredible, with Luke showing off the one-man army he's become while Leia strangles Jabba with her own chain. Love it.

[@skyden24195]

I love the "backstory" or "legends story" of why Boba Fett is standing next to Jabba as Luke battles the Rancor, i.e., according to legends, Boba Fett bets Jabba that Luke will defeat the rancor.

[@wstine79]

I will always love Return of the Jedi as my favorite Star Wars movie. The fight over the sarlacc pit, the Speeder Bike chase, the Ewoks battling the Stormtroopers, and spaceship battle around the Death Star are awesome

[@Lamont54321]

456 the best fact

[@terryrocks2j]

True. The spaceship battle was actually the best of all the saga. The prequels may have better visuals but the choreography and pacing the space battle in this film was top notch.

[@derrickcox7761]

Their actually alien Teddy Bears.

[@1vaultdweller]

A primitive race of teddy bears beating a space age intergalactic militaristic empire using sticks and stones... is simply dumb. Sorry

[@abbfilmann3735]

@@1vaultdweller Hey, George... Vietcong and NVA were armed to the teeth by soviets and chinese AND has the most advanced and numerous anti aircraft defence in the world next to USSR And they still were losing with US and won only after US had left Saigon and South Vietnam

[@peteuplink]

I was 9 when Return of the Jedi came out, I'm 49 now, and I still love it.

[@aleksandartomasevski213]

the last 1/3 of the movie is the best part of any movie in history. The battles, the dialogue, the tension, the music, the effects, everything masterful 40 years ago

[@ed1rko17]

How? The battles = A less engaging repeat of the trench run, and also, they don't even address how the second is even easier to blow up than the first one. At least in ANH, they justified it. Here, they just don't even acknowledge it lol. Meanwhile, Han and Leia are just pushing along the most uninspired, boring plot in any Star Wars movie with nothing interesting to do on Endor. And then you have a lightsaber fight with Luke and Vader which is nowhere near as good as the one in Empire. The dialogue between Luke, Vader, and the Emperor is also pretty ropey.

[@markoutwithmark]

Return of the Jedi is not divisive. You're thinking of "The Last Jedi" which effectively was the beginning of the end for Star Wars' popularity.

[@GeordiLaForgery]

It's a very childish movie after Empire I bet you'd of been a little dissapointed if you were an adult when this came out buut what do i know.

[@gorequillnachovidal]

everything after original trilogy is shit

[@stepheng1523]

Exactly. Ewoks and shit. Movie is bombastic but there's goofy shit. I still love jedi though because it's where the Skywalker arc pays off. In empire, Luke is hot-headed, he fails and is humbled. In jedi, he's learned his lessons, he has humility and self-awareness. He comes back and just murders everybody, and it is so satisfying

[@perfectallycromulent]

nah, man, I've heard people bash Ewoks since 1983. i don't get it. it's a sad person who can't appreciate a furry lil stone age warrior tribe. and if you're an adult whining about Ewoks, you are confused as to whom these movies are for. they are for the 10 year olds, not you, no matter how much you like them.

[@MysteriousStranger42]

Is Lat Jedi that awful Disney movie?

[@jorgea8518]

I loved Return of the Jedi, and I still do even as an adult. Perhaps the Ewoks added a bit of a annoying kiddie factor to the movie that could have turn off some viewers, but not to me, I thought they were interesting creatures and I don't find them very annoying. The only thing I found annoying is the aliens that sing and dance in Jabba the Hut's place that was added for the special editions, not only was that obnoxious, but also a waste of time that added nothing to the story, but that's hardly the movie's fault, it was George Lucas adding unnecessary crap just for the special editions.

[@derrickcox7761]

What'd I say...Teddy Bears. And not "some"...most.

[@andrewkaye2108]

I still enjoy this film. It wrapped things up, still had one of the best space battle scenes I have ever seen, the speeder bike chase is still unparrelled to me and Luke, Darth and the Emperors final conflict was satisfying. I am ambivilant about the Ewoks, they helped the story along and provided a few laughs.

[@mishynaofficial]

​@@derrickcox7761dude, you being pissed off by Ewok is the best thing ever. I'm so happy that fluffy cannibals troll the dumb people up to this day 😀

[@derrickcox7761]

@@mishynaofficial People who are happy about ewoks annoying others are the real dummies. Are you triggered over such a meaningless conversation?

[@JasonHauser125]

The dance sequence was horrible. Bad, bad, bad. I like Ewoks myself, but having them defeat heavily armed and armored stormtroopers is just silly.

[@robertbeckman2054]

ROTJ also got the worst of Lucas’ updates.

[@TraceVandal]

ROTJ is absolutely my favorite of the original 3 but I admit it's partially based on nostalgia. It definitely has some pacing issues compared to Empire but I find the final 3 way battle to be the best out of all the movies, plus the space battle scenes are some of the best out of any scifi movie ever.

[@Mac10Daddy]

Honestly, the Battle of Endor is the best space battle ever filmed. All models with no cgi. When you realize the amount of work it must have taken to film that, it’s just perfection

[@terryrocks2j]

True. I was a little shocked that the prequels won the best space battles simply because of look but if you watch this one, the Endor space battle had the best tension, pacing, and chorography.

[@derrickcox7761]

Except for the Teddy Bears, of course.

[@chriscox3709]

I disagree. The battle of Endor moon "is" the best space battle ever followed by the "Battle of Yavin" and a close 3rd "Battle of the Mutara Nebula" although that is a different franchise. 🤔👍

[@skyden24195]

The final 3-way (or I as call them, 3 environments and/or weapons-types) battles is my favorite aspect of "Jedi." Planet surface: assault weapons/vehicles/tactics. In-Space: Ship to ship. Death Star interior: lightsaber/force-lightning/pure physical force and ridiculous yelling of "No!" (Okay, that last part, not so much a fan of.) Oh yeah, you're right about the space battle scenes being some of the best in sci-fi. I'd say even some of the most dramatic: i.e., "It's a trap!" then later, "That blast came from the Death Star. That thing's operational! Home-One, this is Gold Leader... ...We saw it. All craft prepare to retreat!... ...We won't get another chance at this Admiral... ...We have no choice, General Calrissian, our cruisers can't repel firepower of that magnitude!... ...Han will have that shield down. We've got to give him more time!" and finally, "The shield is down! Commence attack on the Death Star's main reactor... ...We're on our way. Red group, Gold group, all fighters follow me. I told you they'd do it! ("....ha ha ha... it's about f*cking time..." although he doesn't actually say this, it is the impression I always get from Nien Nunb's reaction.) Sorry if this reply was a bit lengthy.

[@jbrisby]

I saw Jedi when I was 13, old enough to understand the concept of merchandising, and that the Ewoks were meant to sell toys. But what really struck me was that they had a bit of an edge to them. People forget that the Ewoks would have EATEN the heroes if C3PO hadn't intervened. That's pretty dark. These were not cute and cuddly creatures in my eyes.

[@squirlmy]

there was that, but I also think Lucas was trying to get young kids to be invested, to go back and watch the first two movies, get another generation into the whole Star Wars scene. It's still manipulative, but it served its purposes well. Actually it helped make merchandising get as big as it became, it wasn't quite as big an industry it is now.

[@derrickcox7761]

No...they were Teddy Bears.

[@skyden24195]

Who cried when the film showed the two Ewoks getting blasted by the AT-ST and one of them dies? Nobody cried when the one died while trying to escape with the other? I cried my eyes out. So we're all Ewoks. We're all Teddy-bears... ...sorry, lost my mind for a moment.

[@derrickcox7761]

@@skyden24195 Lol...okay...you made me tear up a bit...who doesn't love a Teddy bear?

[@jesustovar2549]

@@squirlmy I think he tried to do the same with the special editions of the OT and the prequels, Star Wars was always in reinvention, just to attract a whole new generation of fans, in effect, he succeeded, let's remember he created Jar Jar Binks for kids.

[@Gogettor]

It’s the only SW movie where a Jedi REJECTS falling into the dark side (or goes back from it). Luke is my man.

[@Blitzo8390]

Jedi might not be my favourite, but I still love it Especially that awesome final duel between Luke and Vader which is the best fight in the OG trilogy

[@LR316]

My personal favourite.. Luke walking the plank at the sarlac pit is the best scene where in star wars!

[@Gogettor]

Yes, and that soundtrack

[@Spillow-C]

the same scene where boba fett dies like a cartoon character?

[@LR316]

@@Spillow-C no all the stuff before that

[@Spillow-C]

@@LR316 the stare scenes?that is a good scene, but after watching the Family guy parody of that scene i cant take it seriously anymore lol!

[@LR316]

@@Spillow-C ye the stare scene R2 shooting Luke the light saber and Luke taking ppl out, han falling in to the pit all of that good stuff. & ye the family guy parody is a good one

[@johnr.7906]

Return of the Jedi is fantastic - still enjoyable 40 years later.

[@alexanderasher3461]

Return of the Jedi is still my personal favorite Star Wars film. And I’m 38 and still have my Wicket stuffed animal.

[@bradley163]

For some reason back in the early 90s, USA would play this quite often, much more so than Hope or Empire. And yes, you'd best believe I watched it every single time. I loved that feeling I got the first time watching Jedi.

[@hdoghillyer8932]

Divisive? This movie is never divisive. It’s a excellent film on par with New Hope and Empire Strikes Back. It’s easily the most emotional film in the original trilogy.

[@screamerlover5781]

Had George stuck to the original plan, Return of the Jedi would’ve been much, much different. Per the original outline, we would have seen: - Han being killed on Endor - Wookies instead of Ewoks - The reveal that Endor was being used by the Empire as factory to build a fleet of Death Star. It’s why the Emperor calls Endor the “sanctuary moon”. - The Emperor surviving the final battle - Leia being crowned Queen to the remaining peoples of Alderaan and remain isolated Note that Leia was not always intended to be Luke’s sister. The original idea behind the sequel trilogy was that Luke would go on a search for his sister and the two would face off against the Emperor in a final battle. Due to problems with his personal life, George decided to end it with Jedi. Making Leia Luke’s sister was haphazardly done to tie up the loose end in Empire with Yoda saying “There is another.” I think it would’ve been more logical to just take a break from Star Wars for awhile, but George seems to be the person who cares least about Star Wars, Kurtz being the real heart of it.

[@GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

I thought Jedi had a strong story, but the humor/comic relief just didn't work. Like R2-D2 and C3PO lying upside down in the sand, the Ewok that got his surujin ( string weapon ) wrapped around his neck, and Han Solo's one liners. The movie would probably be better without the humor, save C3PO's remarks.

[@MacV216]

I call bullshit, ROTJ is the apotheosis of Luke as a Jedi, we finally get to see him do cool Jedi shit like kill a Rancor and obliterate everyone in Jaba's palace, square off against an oncoming speedster with just his light sabre, and yes defeat Darth Vader. This was the pay off and it was glorious.

[@jordansikes534]

Gotta agree. Luke ain't no kid no more in ROTJ and he shows it. Why is anyone disappointmented that he acts more mature in his final appearance as a trained Jedi? It would been so insulting to the audience bring back Luke having not changed at all from the first 2 films.

[@homelessjesse9453]

It's not divisive. It's just a small outfit of weirdos who can't get over the Ewoks. Like I know they could've been handled better, but that doesn't mean Jedi is flawed. It's still a great movie. You know what is flawed? The Godfather part 3. That's a mess of a movie that still has some memorable scenes.

[@chasehedges6775]

💯💯💯

[@dylancoleman5995]

Yeah, I don't get the whole thing about the Ewoks, they are a warrior Pygmy tribe like some of the ones over in Africa. They are a cool creation of Lucas.

[@squirlmy]

@@dylancoleman5995 and they do make better cuddly toys than wookies!😉🧸🧸🧸

[@filmbuff2777]

Godfather 3 is still better than any Star Wars movie.

[@lloydshanahan154]

to be fair, even using an army of Wookies would have been seen as cynical capitalism. The Holiday Special already did this, and look at how well that turned out.

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

I always tear up hearing the dialouge between Luke and Darth Vader, after Luke takes his mask off.

[@hyperchord]

Not when I was younger but now when I watch that scene, yeah, I cry

[@jediknightjairinaiki560]

@@hyperchord Agreed. As a kid that scene wasn't as emotional, but the older I got the more it meant. The same goes for the scenes with Yoda, especially in TESB.

[@mishynaofficial]

​@@jediknightjairinaiki560Yoda is so based in the OT, pure delight.

[@scottpendleton2798]

The Emperor made the movie for me I was hooked when he came down the shuttle on the Death Star

[@Mistwalker801]

This version of Luke isn't as enjoyable to watch? Seriously?!? I feel this version is the highlight and the best version since he's shown so much growth but still shows he's still learning (as evidenced to his outburst in overpowering his father only to have that realization after looking at his hand and then as his father's severed limb). I honestly preferred this version over the undisciplined versions of the previous films.

[@derrickcox7761]

It was the Teddy Bears, not Luke, that did it in.

[@Lamont54321]

Why did he leave no story behind it

[@Lamont54321]

Hans death terrible

[@derrickcox7761]

@@Lamont54321 hands should not die.

[@Lamont54321]

@@derrickcox7761 han

[@lloydshanahan154]

The ending of Episode 6 is a great ending because it's a happy ending that feels earned.

[@Zed-fq3lj]

Luke's duel v Vader in front of the emperor is the greatest and Vader's/Anakin's redemption is the most powerful moment in all of Star Wars. The Celebration theme (new one) is a magnificent finale along with Vader's funeral and...yes - Return of the Jedi is a wonderful ending to the saga!

[@jessetorres8738]

Ewoks saved the day & Boba Fett went down too easily.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Some say, comics-books plots that the Fett Man was tipsy, over served 🍹🍾🍷🍸. That's why he "flirts" with some of the party girls.

[@Boozer13]

The Ewoks weren’t terrible. They were allegorical to Yoda’s teachings in Empire. “Size matter not.” Everyone in the film feared or underestimated the Ewoks. All, but Luke. Who knew he was seeing Yoda’s words put into action. As a film, there some dumb decisions. But the most contentious point, the Ewoks, should get a break.

[@alisterfolson]

As a teen Dad and I were on the outs. Luke and Vader coming together gave Dad and I "hope" for us.

[@lloydshanahan154]

1980 - general audiences complain that Empire isn't as fun as Star Wars 1983 - Young boys start going through puppetry and rant about Ewoks Because "How dare Star Wars have cute stuff" (even though the last two movies consistently had cute stuff) 1985 - teenagers get even more angry because Ewok popularity is being capitalized on 1991 - those angry teenage boys grow up to make and read their own published fan fictions 1997 - Angry Gen-Xers get mad because the movies are being altered 1999 - certain fans start crapping on Episode 1 even before it's releases because it's lighthearted, yet Episode 1 is still the most anticipated movie of all time 2002 - a salty ex-lucasfilm employee capitalizes on the Lucas hate online by spreading a false narrative about Return of the Jedi's production and the entitled angry Gen-Xers who pioneer online culture start promoting this false story to justify their bias opinions. 2005 - Revenge of the Sith is still the biggest hit of the year in spite of these haters. 2009 - angry Gen-Xers make a series of popular KZbin videos picking apart the Star Wars prequels, and taking behind the scenes footage out of context to make their opinions look like facts. 2010 - hating the prequels becomes one of the biggest online fads and the false Lucas narrative is completely formed. 2012 - Lucas sells Lucasfilm (his legacy) to Disney because his name is tarnished by the false narrative 2015 - A series of new Star Wars films is created because of this false narrative Notice a pattern yet?

[@TheSickNeeds]

If people argue Jedi to this day its only a means to deny all the turds that have happened since.... the discussion may as well be titled "of the only three films that matter....." and then it begins. The problem with the clips used in this video is that many? most? all? are not from the "un-special addition". That nonsense Sarlac Pit looks like a reject from the Little Shop of Horrors!

[@GrahamDallas]

I was 9 when I first saw it, I'm nudging 50 now. Still love it. I actually like the more mature Luke as he has progressed on his journey. I do have a couple of criticisms though but mainly at the special edition, the addition of Jedi Rocks and the removal of Yub Nub.

[@skyden24195]

First of all, Randal and Dante from "Clerks" are not the most "Star Wars" saga educated viewers to ever discuss the original trilogy. (Dante failing to give any credit to the "first-in, first-shot-on-the-reactor to destroy the second Death Star, X-Wing pilot and Red Leader: Wedge Antilles" is the foremost proof of that.) Second, too much grief is given of the Ewoks. Market ploy? Maybe, but isn't all of Star Wars? I don't recall any special "Ewok-type-figures" needing to be produced to launch the toys and other merchandise in the first place. Plus, without the Ewoks we wouldn't have got the spectacular, fantasy-epic "Willow." (Put that in your head and think it.) Besides, who doesn't love a little Ewok-jerky now and then? I would agree more that the "special edition" additions, especially in Jabba's palace (The Force-awful, expanded palace-band sequence. Oh-My-The Force!), plus the newest Disney+ additions (Darth Vader's added "no's" during the saving-Luke-from-the-Emperor scene comes to mind. No. Noooooooooooo!!!!!!) are the true detriments to the film. Yeah, they can't all be "Empire," but as pointed out, the end film has to be along the lines of "...and they lived happily ever after." (Until being killed off one by one in the sequel trilogy. lol.)

[@jesustovar2549]

I'm a Gen Zer who loves old stuff, I like the original Star Wars trilogy, Return of the Jedi it's probably my favorite of the trilogy and maybe the whole saga, even though I learned that Empre is a superior film and it's been takng that spot, Jedi gives a natural conclusion, that even if he had taken a different direction (like presenting Coruscant or Wookies instead of Ewoks, which would have been great), the entire arc of Luke, Vader and the Emperor would have developed the same, showing the sacrifice that one must make for his children in difficult circumstances, as there is light in each one. I love the conversation scenes between Luke and Vader, very well written and delivered, I also lke the battle scenes as well lke the Sarlaac Pt, the Rankor, the Battle of Endor, Luke vs Vader, the death of Anakin, would say is pretty emotional, it's also my Great Uncle's favorite Star Wars movie, we don't mnd the ewoks, we also love the "Victory Celebration" score from special editions.

[@Zeithri]

Doesn't matter. To me, this is my favorite. Leia looks awesome in the Boush armor. It's just a shame she didn't get to kick ass in it. But aside from that, I love this one. Good triumphs over Evil and it's beautiful.

[@TheSickNeeds]

The Boush action figure is easily in the top five figure sculpts for that toy line! The fact that it is essentially two figures in one ads a lot of play value which echoes the Falcon which is essentially a ship and a playset!

[@Michael-fb1rl]

Absolutely the best of the Star Wars movies the one that shows the innate battle between good and evil light and dark on the Galactic scale and within the very soul of one person Anakin/ Vader. And shows the Foley of Pride and arrogance.

[@daveminion6209]

Its simple: Empire and Star Wars (aka new hope, ep 4) are so incredibly GREAT, Jedi is disappointing because it was more focused on FRANCHISING than storytelling and filmmaking. Easy, same reason producer walked away from Jedi.

[@alessandrotrucchi8338]

I actually appreciated the somber and more menacing manners of Luke in TROTJ, after all he's becoming more powerful and they hint the risk of he turning to the dark side too. I agree on this movie being the worst of the original trilogy bunch but it has many enjoyable moments and it still manages to wrap up the story in a satisfying way, differently from That-Which-Must-Not-Be-Named

[@Batman88878]

Return of the Jedi > A New Hope in my book. A huge reason is Luke himself. He's much more mature, he's skilled & heroic, yet still susceptible to the Dark Side. Luke's goals feel more adult in the movie with "a bunch of Muppets". Also, seeing Vader's boss is another huge highlight. Ian McDiarmid chews scenery & oozes charisma. Yoda's death scene was great too. The Battle of Endor is still endlessly thrilling 'til this very day. The ending in either version (preferably the Special Edition) is such a great cinematic ending. Oh & Slave Leia 😍😍😍 Finally... JOHN THE KING WILLIAMS!

[@BubbaThaumaturge]

The only thing "divisive" is Disney's bullsh*t! The original trilogy is the best set of films ever made. Period.

[@UnkownSoldier100]

That’s Lord of the Rings. But you aren’t far off.

[@derrickcox7761]

Even with the Teddy Bears, darn it!

[@filmbuff2777]

No. Godfather is vastly superior. The flawed Part 3 is still a billion times better than the overrated Star Wars.

[@derrickcox7761]

@@filmbuff2777 The Godfather is about society's sociopaths. Glorifying sickos.

[@abbfilmann3735]

Ok nostalgia brainwashed person

[@lloydshanahan154]

The way I see it, people who criticize the Ewoks for being adorable are missing the point entirely. Lucas intended them to be "little rabbit on the side of the road that no one takes seriously, yet helps the hero conquer the great evil". It's not the movie's fault so many people today have a cold dead heart.

[@apachehelicopterah64]

I think we saw two different movies. The first two installments set up each characters arc to culminate into one cohesive and cooperative joint effort on each of their shoulders as Jedi Knight- Luke Skywalker, Rebel Leader- Princess Leia, Rebel General- Han Solo, Rebel General- Lando Calrissian ALL work separately (yet unified) in conjunction to defeat the Emperor and Darth Vader and stop the biggest threat to the galaxy- the Empire and the second Death Star!!! And it was FUN and action packed and glorious!!! It has moments of levity and even circular parallels (quote me) with lines like Han now saying “I love you”, and Leia saying “I know” during a tense fight etc. This IS a great movie and yes- it has muppets- who the f cares???? Kevin Smith??? Like he matters to anyone…..

[@lloydshanahan154]

funny enough, Kevin Smith criticized the part were Vader was unmasked because Vader wasn't revealed to be a black man. No joke.

[@apachehelicopterah64]

@@lloydshanahan154 yeah, he’s a moron. I’ve NEVER liked him and now, no one else does either. Small victories……. But again what a moron.

[@MrHorse-by3mp]

I always thought it was an age thing. I was born in '78 so "Jedi" came out when I was 5 and I grew up seeing the trilogy as a single complete work. I thought it was mostly the guys who were maybe in their early teens and could look at these kinds of things a bit more critically (so now in about their early to mid-fifties) who really couldn't stand the Ewoks.

[@TheSickNeeds]

surprised more comments don't mention the "teddy bears picnic" that everyone had a problem with at the time if they were over a certain age. I loved the creatures so for me at age 8 when it came out I already was annoyed with people saying the movie was so cute and adorable.

[@shanecasebeer1364]

I wasn't surprised to read that Harrison Ford wasn't thrilled with playing Han Solo again - although his charisma helps disguise his lack of interest. I also like solemn Luke versus whiny Luke. I also think Fisher is at her best here, and rocks that bikini! The ending was the weakest part for me - I preferred Empire's ambiguous, darker cliffhanger. Nevertheless, even if it's the least favorite of the trilogy, it's a "winner's circle"

[@Aragorn7884]

I thought the only thing that was "divisive" about RotJ was the dumb ewoks?

[@andrewgarner734]

Return of the jedi still appeals to my inner child even at the age of 58,it still has more depth and emotion than anything Disney has produced

[@jamesstaggs4160]

Empire was and still is my least favorite from the trilogy with Jedi being my favorite. The space battle at the end of Hope was my favorite part and the reason I loved it so much. Jedi has a better one and I love it, although even as a small child I didn't like the Ewoks, but I did like the AT-STs along with the speeder bikes.

[@frydaynightlive]

exactly the scene at 00:32 was the very first one I ever witnessed as a very young kid back in the days. it was an original vhs at a friends home and this space shot is burned into my mind forever...

[@pads-zr9ln]

Didnt know it was divisive, the last jedi on the other hand

[@semperterra3235]

Return of the Jedi was considerably better before Hayden Christensen was added, and Darth Vader's moronic "noooohhhh!" wasn't spoiling a key scene, but if you stick with the 1983 film you get a satisfying enough conclusion to the trilogy, even if it is the weakest of that trilogy.

[@ashurmom2969]

Rose covered glasses, love it 😅

[@Dr_1212]

I liked it May The Force Be with You

[@fredlandry6170]

This is my favorite Star Wars film.

[@vestavind]

I love this movie. But it came out 40 years ago, so it’s about time to let this discussion die.

[@Nasir_bynum]

Yeah

[@creatinotionchannel2680]

With time I have come to appreciate Jedi even more. But I truly was a bit disappointed in 1983 when I was 12 and saw it. It at least gave me a satisfying happy ending which I don't take for granted. But the first two are my favorite movies of all time. Jedi is just a companion piece that wraps things up. The stuff with Luke and Vader though is epic and the highlight of the movie.

[@oliverbendallcharles]

A tribe of Ewoks still trumps one Jar Jar Binks….the end.

[@GloopTrekker]

I'll take 100 Ewoks over one Jar Jar any day.

[@JoBloOriginals]

Indeed

[@lloydshanahan154]

Return of the Jedi was when Luke was at his most likable bar none. He hasn't been this likable before or since. With this version I never want to go back to that farm boy. Luke had a tendency to be rather anoying at times in a New Hope (and part of that was because Mark Hamil was phoning it in with that film), and there were a couple moments in Empire where he would act a little out of character. ..and the less I say about The Last Jeti the better.

[@crispywan]

Saw it in theaters at age 10 ..never heard anyone saw a bad word about it until the 90s and never agreed ..its as good as an ending as you could get!

[@mcorrade]

don't agree at all. return is a great film all by itself

[@JetsetComedian]

Luke has a couple moments where he shows that cocky/ fun charm in ROTJ, but my big one I love is -- • That mock salute to Jabba on the platform, and that --- 'you know y'all fucked up right?' -- look he gives the sec he catches his green saber & ignites it (gets me every SINGLE time) 😂

[@dmingledorff]

I always thought he was signaling R2 to start the plan.

[@projectgraham414]

​@@dmingledorffyeah that was a sign to R2, not an FU to Jabba

[@FlorisYoung]

It might not be as perfect as the previous 2 but it's so entertaining that i don't even notice its flaws. I love this movei just as much as Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back.

[@geesterfunk]

I love Luke in this because he is no longer that moaning young man, he's a stoic jedi that has control of his emotions, yes he does break at the end but he gathers himself, throws away his weapon and does what he needs to, to become the jedi Knight he is, and that move makes his father come back and see the errors he made in his past.. this is Luke Skywalker at his finest.

[@Malky5279]

I'm going to go with Ewoks but I don't think it's ever been truly divisive. It's an uneven film but the final act is amazing, so long as you overlook the Ewoks. I'd also suggest anyone that watches it first time age 10 or under probably didn't bat an eyelid. My biggest complaint was always the rescue of Han in the first act. What the hell was the actual plan that it involved needing R2-D2 to be given the job of drinks waiter?

[@JenniferKokoski]

You have to be a pretty cynical adult to not enjoy ROTJ. Or to think that the other two movies were better. We had character growth from all the major characters. We had a cunning plot by the lead villain. We had three conflicts played out simultaneously to decide the fate of the galaxy. Those little teddy bears were actually vicious little fighters up against a technological evil that was crushing them. That's why when one is shot and killed and the camera lingers over his passing, the audience feels it. I agree with you another one of your commentators. You're confusing ROTJ with The Last Jedi. That was a truly divisive film with few people that like it. ROTJ was an excellent finale to the OT. And because of it it kept Star Wars popular for 40 years. Fans and writers have been trying to capture that magic ever since with limited success.

[@reyperry2605]

I was never a fan of this one and I agree that the prequel trilogy was a disappointment at best. However, the prequel trilogy does give this film an added emotional dimension. I find i care a lot more about Anakin's redemption now that I know who Anakin is, yippees and anti-sand diatribes notwithstanding.

[@Omar-wq9dz]

The movie could have been better if Steven Spielberg directed it, since he was going to. You have Spielberg, George Lucas, and Lawrence Kasdan, the same trio behind Raiders Of The Lost Ark. if they made a movie that good, ROTJ could have been something really epic

[@squirlmy]

what do you think they would have done better? Would they have more "adult" versions of ewoks? I can't think of anything that could have been better. BTW, the next two Indiana Jones movies weren't too good, so...

[@timloader]

I think the problem with the Ewoks is that too much of the runtime is devoted to introducing and understanding them - that could’ve been done a lot quicker, and they still would’ve had an equal impact on the forest battle. I love Jedi particularly because I recorded a simulcast of the movie (when radio stations would play the audio of certain big movies that aligned with the tv broadcast) onto tape and listened to it on long car trips!

[@mishynaofficial]

Agree. The pacing problem.

[@sim4344]

I think most of "the fans" are either too young or are purposefully choosing to forget that before "the fans" hated the sequels, they hated the prequels. And before they hated the prequels, they hated the special editions. And before they hated the special editions... RotJ was the one they talked s**t about. And with good reason. Don't get me wrong, I still LOVE the speeder bike sequence, but it's got problems.

[@lloydshanahan154]

🤨... Empire Strikes Back didn't have the warmest reception either. In fact, fans these days choose to forget it had the most mixed reviews of the original trilogy by far. ROTJ was actually the second most successful movie of the 80s from an objective standpoint (only beaten by E.T.).

[@sim4344]

@@lloydshanahan154 Depends on what you mean by "successful from an objective standpoint." Do you mean that it made money? Yes. Tons. Of course it did. It was also the movie that people ripped on for years afterwards. Although I think it being "bad" is sort of like Empire being "the best" (retroactively, of course. You are correct about its reception.) People started saying it and it became one of those accepted things that everyone just repeats without giving too much thought. Both movies are fine. Both movies have problems. (More generally, the ENTIRE saga has problems.) I saw people commenting about how it's not divisive, the *sequels* are BLAH BLAH BLAH. And since they don't seem to remember the 80s-90s very well, I just wanted to point out that Star Wars "fans" have been complaining about Star Wars for... well, pretty much the entire time. They're all fun movies. And you can critique ALL of them into the ground if you care to.

[@lloydshanahan154]

​@@sim4344 Part of it is money, but I also meant that in terms of ticket sales too and the fact the film played in theater's constantly until January 1984 (which even back then was a rarity). Plus there's also the fact that one month after the film came out, the novelizations topped the sales charts and became the best selling novels that the biggest retail book chain in the U.S at the time had ever caried. That's a next level success right there. Yes the Ewoks always had their haters, but those haters were a minority in the 80s. The 90s was when everything changed and history started to get revised by angry Gen-Xers who wanted to be seen as cool. Well that and a certain ex-lucasfilm employee spread a whole false narrative about Jedi's production as well as some false facts about Empire too. Hence the reason why we have the whole "they were made to sell toys" excuse. What annoys me is that people today love to make up stuff about the history of these movies to make their opinions sound like facts.

[@sim4344]

@@lloydshanahan154 My guess is that's because the 90s is when those 80s kids got a little older. No one is saying it wasn't successful. I kinda feel like you think that's my point, and it's really not. My point is just that insufferable fanboys used to complain about it. I don't when it started. But when I was a kid and old enough to be into Star Wars, late 80s early 90s, "conventional wisdom" held that RotJ was the worst Star Wars movie. Ewoks, and honestly other things. And then the special editions came out, and it shifted slightly to "Why is Lucas ruining these great movies?" And then the prequels came out. "Why is Lucas ruining Star Wars?" And then eventually when Disney made the sequel trilogy, and it shifted to "The original is perfect and the prequels are good, why is Disney ruining Star Wars?" That's all I'm saying. You don't need to keep defending RotJ. I'm not attacking it. It has problems, but no more so than the rest of the saga. Of which I'm a fan. My issue is with the fandom.

[@lloydshanahan154]

@@sim4344 trust me, I normally wouldn't be typing this kind of stuff over a movie. But I think the reason Star Wars is in the poor state it's in right now is because so many people have been trying to revise history to make their opinions sound like facts. And that's just wrong. Most people online have not read a lot of the books that document the film's production. You can tell the Disney era Star Wars films were made with this false history in mind. And they became a retcon nightmare as a result. They had the talent, but they didn't have a creative voice to tell everyone "suck it up, we are going in this direction and that's final". George may not have always made the best choices and his political views can be questionable at times, but he was THAT voice. Kennedy was not. I feel Star Wars was a better and complete story with Episodes 1-6, and 7-9 makes it feel ...empty.

[@markula_4040]

Ewoks and it parallels too much from the first film with another Death Star. Outside some dodgy effects and blue screen, the whole Jabba arc rivals anything in the first 2 films for me. After that is a big step down but I do like the speeder bikes.

[@SuperBoomshack]

I love the movie but I have to admit as a 13 year old when it came out, I was not on board with Ewoks killing the Stormtroopers so handily and I would have preferred if we never saw Anakin's face, it turned Darth from a scary villain to a chubby old man.

[@daffyduck1974]

I don’t think it was divisive, altho i do agree with your points. For me it would’ve been interesting to see what Irvin kershner would’ve done with it had he directed it. Also they shoulda played the Ewoks darker & not so cutsey, fun. I watched a fan made film of stormtroopers patrolling in the forests of Endor, but played up more as a horror. A great idea & a missed opportunity for ROTJ.

[@darkcoeficient]

This video is a masterclass on how to get hate clicks.

[@benjones6030]

Jedi will always be my favourite of the trilogy for nostalgic reasons. I recently saw it on the big screen (for May 4th) and it took me back to being a 6 year old kid enjoying it at the cinema.

[@rosswright2439]

I can go on and on about why, but I would be here forever, so I'm just going to say this. I'm 42 and Jedi is still, not just my favorite Star Wars, it's my favorite movie of ALL TIME! At least the original cut or 97cut, stay away from the Blu-ray.

[@Lance37a]

It's definitely the weakest of the original trilogy. Harrison Ford pretty much phones his performance in, you don't notice it as a kid but you definitely notice it as an adult.

[@TheLedonne3]

No doubt. It's like he's cosplaying as Han Solo.

[@dougmasters4579]

Loved this movie as a kid. Watching the movie again now, the ewoks kill the dramatic element of the final battle, making it comical and not serious. Mark Hamill's performance is the best thing about the movie though.

[@jordansikes534]

I would argue most of the battles in the OT didn't feel serious with how inaccurate every storm trooper is with blasterfire, so I never felt the tone of ewoks combat scene felt that out of place. Both are fun spectacles to watch on camera.

[@dougmasters4579]

@@jordansikes534 Fair enough. They originally wanted a Wookie planet instead of an ewok planet in Return of the Jedi. I would've preferred that.

[@parkerpshebnisky1051]

Nothing compares to the original Star Wars trilogy!👍👍

[@gorequillnachovidal]

I saw it in theater. The Jabba scene while yes is there to get Han back, what is really showing is that now Luke is a full on Jedi badass. And this is what a Jedi can do. The part with Luke and the Emperor is good. The movie doesn't need the other stuff. It should have just all been the story line of now that Luke is a Jedi, can he not join the darkside.... Too bad the Ira Kirshner or whatever his name is didn't direct it. It should have been the most adult of the 3.

[@lloydshanahan154]

trust me, he wouldn't have made it "adult" at all. It's not his style. The moments in Empire that were the most lighthearted and funny were all his doing. He is known to make films that are quirky and weird with personal drama here and there. He even made a James Bond movie where James throws a jar off pee at his opponent in a fight scene. Irvan Kershner is not a bad director at all, but he was the Tika Wattiti of his time.

[@ukmediawarrior]

Love this movie, I think, for me at least, it tops Empire. I just wish Lucas had gone with Wookies rather than Ewoks, at least they would have looked like they could take on the Empire one to one.

[@lutherheggs451]

the entire point was that the Empire had become so cocky that they never thought they could be beaten by someone like the ewoks. Which really fits with the narrative that the US went into Vietnam assuming that they would easily beat the north Vietnamese only to get their asses kicked by them. Its always hilarious to me when people talk about Star Wars not having politics, yet the entire OT is his dislike of the Vietnam war with the Empire being the US and the rebellion being the Vietnamese.

[@ukmediawarrior]

@@lutherheggs451 True, he was making movies of his time. But the Wookies would have worked just as well if not better. The Empire considered them backwards, that's why they used them as slave labour so much, they were savages, but seeing a Wookie take on a Stormtrooper over a couple of short teddy bears is a bit of a difference. Plus, supposedly, Lucas made it Ewoks over his initial decision for Wookies due to cost and making it more child friendly.

[@thealienbros5431]

Decisive? Thats the prequels & the sequels. These are the gems.

[@nigratruo]

Jedi is technologically the best of the 3, it has the best sound effects and the space fights are absolutely mindblowing, the fight scenes and the run through the tunnels of the Death Star blow everythign that the other two movies showed out of the water. I'm kinda amazed how the author of this video just ignores this amazing material, I never cared much for the Ewoks, they felt cheap and filler. You can watch this video of the space fight without the Ewok fillers in between, it feels a lot more epic. kzbin.info/www/bejne/roG9mpqNe95-aNE

[@jordansikes534]

Just watched all 3 in the original trilogy again, and this one remains my favorite. Empire Strikes Back is overrated if considered the perfect movie, and i think the flaws of New Hope show the most with age. Nonetheless all great films.

[@luna-hw9li]

As a kid I liked RotJ the best out of the three. I also liked the ewoks. As an adult, I think the teddy bears are goofy and some plot points are a bit superficial, but I still enjoy it and the confrontation with the Emperor makes up for it. Also... devisive... not anywhere at the level of modern SW.

[@Serai3]

For me, it was the extreme disappointment. Lucas could have done ANYTHING - but he chose to do the Death Star AGAIN. Jesus, I was so disgusted that I signed off of Star Wars right then. If the guy couldn't be bothered to write something ELSE, then I couldn't be bothered paying money for his crap. And I've never regretted that decision. As far as I'm concerned, there are only two SW films worth watching - the first two. (The second one was the better one mainly because Lucas wasn't at the helm.) The rest are substandard. No matter how much whiz-bang CGI cartoon jiggery-pokery they contain, they're still crappy films with bad writing and tiresome tropes. Some people just don't know when to STOP.

[@CaptainSpalding72]

In the theater 1983. When Luke walks out on the plank. I felt a tingle. When R2 moves into place and shows us he has a lightsaber.... the anticipation was at fever pitch... when Luke saluted and jumped, grabs his saber and landed, the goddamn place lost its mind in rapturous, unhinged clapping and cheering.

[@DavidLLambertmobile]

Wierd how a edited scene has Luke in a canyon cave quickly put together the green saber add it to R2, send him out. Lucas was smart to cut this bit. The post barge sand storm scene was dumb too. It made no real sense, hard to see.

[@toasterman5412]

The issues simply come from the fact that the original idea was just too big for the time The movie we got is cut down version of the original idea for the movie Regardless it's my favorite lol

[@trapez77]

Ever since Dante’s rant in ‘clerks’ everybody parrots that. But before clerks everyone agreed that return of the Jedi was the climax

[@raslipmugfrud2040]

Randal defended Jedi

[@1neOfN0ne]

I always thought Empire was the best of the trilogy but I didn't know Jedi was divisive. Yeah the Ewoks are kinda corny but other than that idk what there is to complain about

[@OofHearted]

I don't like how right before Leia tells Han Luke is her brother, Han tells her she can be with Luke and he won't get in the way, like it's no big deal that the woman he loves loves someone else. Also the way he kisses her after she tells him, is so lame, like he's kissing a friend or something. I think that scene is my only gripe with the whole movie. (Apart from all the 'Special Edition' changes that ruined all the scenes that were fine as they were before!)

[@sonofdragon5530]

George Lucas original trilogy will always be the goat of all Star Wars trilogies

[@FlandersB]

I'm old enough to have been there when it was released. It wasn't divisive at the time, trust me. It was merely viewed as not as good as the other two films...everyone pretty much enjoyed it. Divisive is a word that can be used to describe the sequel trilogy, especially The Last Jedi. I think some Sequel trilogy fans are retroactively trying to label ROTJ as divisive now in order to say "See? Star Wars has always been divisive...this is nothing new!"

[@jesustovar2549]

What about the prequel trlogy?

[@matthewhall4046]

I love seeing Miller’s Crossing in that montage of more famous classic films, which is exactly where it belongs.

[@rodtaylor5476]

Since when was Jedi EVER divisive?

[@milushardwick9629]

Return of the Jedi is still my favorite. People always forget the ewoks are cannibals they look cute but they aren't. The ewoks ate those stormtroopers.

[@sentryogmixmaster]

the best scene in ROTJ is when Luke is on the plank and says, "Hammer Time!" and then kills everybody.

[@mychunkyjordi7585]

Sorry I'm 46 but I love this film. The Ewoks are mint 😂😊🐾 💜

[@kevinalexpeek4020]

My rebuttal: I'm 40, f%$# you, it's still my favorite!