This weekend I had the opportunity to watch the Return of the Jedi on Spike TV. This is a classic good conquers evil tale that was so forward thinking at the time with its space travel and robotics. Makes it hard to believe it was released in 1983, thats 24 years ago!
What I didn’t appreciate this time around were the monsters, or to be politically correct the other non-human life forms. I didn’t realize when I watched it all those years ago how disgusting Jabba the Hutt was. Then I started wondering why they chose that persona for a gangster. Gangsters can certainly be cold and evil like Jabba was but no stereotype says they have to be fat with poor table manners. However, how fitting it was that he was killed by Princess Lea. And I didn’t realize how annoying C-3PO was either. I’m so glad he didn’t get much speaking parts. A robot isn’t suppose to be so yellow. He was a bit of a metro-sexual too (I won’t go there today). Who’s idea, on the production team, was that I wonder? I’m over-analyzing aren’t I? Humor me.
I also found I criticized the plot a little more this time around. In all fairness I probably should watch the previous 2 films again to refresh my memory of what happened. But Yoda deserved more honorable last moments. In a cave alone on some far away planet. No, he should have gone out in battle, he was a Jedi! Or keep him alive to train the new Jedis. Something! He appeared senile when he first met Luke, I didn’t like that.
Following up my over-analysis, I thought about the idea of a prophecy that Obi-Wan and his fellow Jedi had based their hope on. That one would come and restore balance and restore their legacy. Many civilizations, cultures and religions have the concept of a savior and one can find that theme permeating through many stories, folklore and fiction like Star Wars, all over the world. The hope the Jedi got from knowing that this would come to pass one day, kept them fighting. Does that remind you of anything? Reminds me of the hope Christians have that Jesus will return. The hope that keeps them pushing forward and knowing that physical death is not the end.
Even with all that said, I thoroughly enjoyed watching that again. It was one of those things that takes you to happy childhood memories.
I told you I’d talk about anything.
‘May the force be with you’ L. Skywalker
