If you ask any Star Wars fan which movie is the best of the franchise, you always seem to get the same answer: The Empire Strikes Back. And when watching the film, it's not hard to see why. With stellar writing, beautiful special effects and the iconic “I am your father” scene, The Empire Strikes Back is considered by many to be a cinematic masterpiece. However, as much as I love it, I honestly can't say that it's my favorite Star Wars movie. It's not the one that truly struck a chord in my soul with its gorgeous plot and resonates with me so deeply. The film that holds this title is Return of the Jedi.
When it comes to the original trilogy, Return of the Jedi is generally the least-liked movie. It faces criticism that it's too cuddly and soft. I get that it's not as dark as The Empire Strikes Back or Revenge of the Sith, but I don't really understand the assertion that it's too cuddly, seeing as it maintains a perfect balance of sweet moments (Leia and Han, Ewoks, The celebration at Endor) and dramatic moments (Fighting the Rancor, Vader vs Luke, Vader’s death). Instead of shunning it because of how different it is, we should admire what it brings to the series.
One of the best things about the film is seeing the results of Luke’s character development. He's no longer the whiny farmboy from A New Hope, nor the emotionally-irrational padawan from The Empire Strikes Back. Instead, we’re given a calm, collected, intelligent and highly skilled Jedi Knight. He's basically the epitome of a badass. But what really made me love him is that despite how “cool” he was, he still displayed an unwavering sense of kindness and compassion. His lightsaber may be a powerful weapon, but it's no match for his words. Vader spent years thinking that there wasn't any good in him left; that he was just a shell of who Anakin Skywalker used to be. But Luke’s words were so strong that they were able to remind him of who he truly is and bring him back to the light.
This brings us to the heart of the movie, and the biggest reason why I love Return of the Jedi so much: Darth Vader’s redemption. His slow and silent realization that his love for Luke overpowers the sense of servitude he feels towards the Emperor was so beautifully written and acted out. The only thing that can top it is his last moments with Luke. Vader spent twenty-three long, lonely years under the dark side. To have him back in the light side and dying in his son’s arms after telling Luke that he saved him is equally poignant and heartwarming. He joined the dark side for love and returned to the light for the very same reason, and it's hard to think of a sentiment more beautiful than that.
Overall, Return of the Jedi is an extremely underrated film. There's so much beauty in it that sadly goes unappreciated among a lot of fans. I encourage you to rewatch the film with an open mind and heart, and see for yourself how amazing it truly is.
