Movies Is Return of the Jedi a better film than A New Hope?

[Corona]

Rise of skywalker better than both those can films.

 

[GordoBarraBJJ]

Leia in a space bikini

 

[-sin-]

ANH is a better overall film but I prefer ROTJ. It has its low points but it’s rewarding to finally see Luke as a Jedi and the entire throne room duel with Vader and the Emperor is the best scene in the entire series.

 

[Madmick]

Rise of skywalker better than both those can films.

 

[ChickenBrother]

We all know Empire Strikes Back is the Masterpiece of all the Star Wars films.

But what do you think of Return of the Jedi is it up there, even better than the A New Hope?

I just recently watched this with my nephew and we both agreed ROTJ is better A New Hope.

Not by much, but nevertheless it is the superior movie.

The battle sequences, especially the space one is just incredible.

The sequences with the emperor is riveting.

The only thing that was off about ROTJ is Ewoks, but I get them. They are like vietnamese soldiers who find a way to win a war they probably shouldn't have one.

Oh yeah the fight sequence with Luke at Tatooine was badass, he took on everyone.

But anyways I'd give it a 9/10. Just short of a masterpiece.

Good thread and it's very debatable. ROTJ was literally the first movie I saw in theater as a kid and I thought it was awesome. But even as a kid, ewoks didn't belong and they took you out of it. Showed Lucasfilm didn't need Disney to do cutesy fake and gay stuff that was the opposite of badass.

But as you point out, the Tatooine scenes, the space battles around the incomplete death star and of course the epic throne room scene more than redeems it. Similar to ROTS with all its flaws still being amazing when you factor in all the good stuff.

Under 10-point must system, this is a split draw or possibly ANH edges it. But under Pride FC scoring ROTJ > ANH.

 

[Other]

Yes, though it was only the second greatest thing released that day back in 1983

 

[Goon Dog]

ROTJ is great but no. I'd say ESB, New Hope, Rogue 1, ROTJ and the rest are barely tolerable but for a few scenes in each until you get to Mando and Andor.

 

[ufcfan4]

Not better than ANH but an awesome movie nevertheless. Having just rewatched it, I was reminded of how good it is. Very satisfying conclusion to a masterful trilogy. Cannot ask for much more than that.

If the biggest gripe you often hear about it is from people who think the Ewoks stink, well, that’s not really much of a complaint. The Battle on the forest moon (at least the segment that involves them coming to Han and Leia’s aid) is about ten minutes of screen time. Warwick befriending Leia and the other Ewoks almost killing Luke and Han is like ten minutes of screentime. It’s not like they take over the movie.

Plus, I really don’t mind the Ewoks. Wicket, particularly, is pretty endearing; Warwick Davis is awesome. And before someone says it looks ridiculous when they are taking on the imperial forces, just bear in mind that Han, Leia, and Chewie make those ground forces look pretty ineffectual multiple times as well. For all Palps’ talk about the best and brightest, they don’t come across as some tremendous military force.

I do wonder, however, whether George was embarrassed by them on some level. Cause why change the final sequence and replace the upbeat Ewok song with that low key music? I really enjoy the added shots of what’s going on with Coruscant and other planets after the toppling of the regime but it’s sort of jarring seeing Lando and co. dancing to the beat of a song that no longer exists.

As for ROTJ overall, though

- Jabba sequence- excellent world-building, memorable characters, exciting action.

Yoda and Kenobi scene- great

McDiarmid- awesome, scenery chewing performance.

And the final forty minutes with Lando, Wedge and the rebel pilots, Han, Leia, Chewie, R2, 3PO, Ewoks, and Luke/Vader/Palps is just really well done.

More I think about it, the top 5 SW movies seems pretty clear to me-

Regardless of order- ESB, ANH, ROTJ, Rogue One, ROTS.

 

[liner]

I grew up watching the originals and they all hit hard for me. I can't pick a favorite it's like picking between children they all have many pros and I refuse to pick. For me it's one long ass movie each with many badass parts.

 

[Starck]

Enjoyed it more as a kid due to the battle scenes. Can't watch either now, too campy.

 

[Dark Lord]

It's definitely better than all the trashy feminist Disney Star Wars movies and series.

 

[HHJ]

I dont know why anyone would think that

 

[Plissken]

In a lot of ways it is, and it's a more polished film (I also think ANH should have been a bit longer, as some segments didn't have time to breathe), but it also has more narrative issues. Looking back RotJ should probably have been split into two films or should have been a decent amount longer and re-arranged as the Ewok segment feels out of place taking place at the same time as the epic nature of the Luke/Vader/Emperor segment and the final battle against the Death Star (and it felt like Han and Leia were missing out on the grandiose nature of the final act); as well the revelation that Vader had another child and then revealing it was Leia happened minutes apart and left no room for that dramatic reveal to breathe and be revealed later to both Luke and Leia.
I love RotJ, but like all films I love I can still find flaws if they exist and be honest about them.

 

[Eusung]

As a kid I watched Empire first, then ROTJ, then A New Hope. ROTJ was my favorite of the trilogy back then.

A New Hope felt really dated and cheap to me and was my least favorite of the trilogy. I also thought Vader looked and sounded lame AF in ANH.

As I got a little older I started preferring both Empire and ANH over ROTJ, mainly because of the Ewoks and also realizing how awesome Empire is, which became my favorite by the time I was in middle school.

 

[Adamant]

Whwrw can you watch them? I have never been able to find the originals anywhere for like 20 years. I had the originals on VHS but got tossed in a move.

The special edition DVDs have the original versions as extras. But the quality isn't very good. Otherwise there's Harmy's Despecialized versions. He had them on his website to stream but I'm not sure if the website is still up. Then there's the 4K77, 4K80, and 4K83 versions which is another fan or group who restored them to their original pre-bullshit.

You can buy these versions from sellers on etsy. People will burn the file to a disc and then put artwork on the disc and give you cases and everything. It's bootleg (as it's the only way to get it, but it looks completely legit. And customers seem to be happy with the results. It's not a scam or anything like that. I've thought about buy a set myself, but you gotta go on there at the right time to find them. They aren't available 24/7.

 

[Adamant]

You must admit, not every change Lucas did was bad.

I grew up with the original Emperor so that's what I prefer.

 

[Magooglie]

The Luke, Vader, Palpatine showdown is the best

 

[GearSolidMetal]

RotJ is easily the worst film of the original trilogy. Just because of the Ewoks. I wanna punch an Ewok so bad.

And...
*They killed Boba Fett's appeal by having him scream like a bitch, while getting accidently killed by a half-blind Han.
*C3P0 is, by far, even more annoying in this one than the other two in the OT.
*Piss-poor plan by Luke to get Han&Leia out from Jabba's clutches. In fact it was practically luck... and getting Han back took 1/3rd of the movie although he was practically irrelevant to the rest, which was...
*A 2nd Death Star? Seriously? "Oh just build another one?"

RoTJ has the best few moments of the trilogy with Luke, Vader, and Palpatine scenes... and ALL of the trilogy worst moments.

 

[HereticBD]

And...
*They killed Boba Fett's appeal by having him scream like a bitch, while getting accidently killed by a half-blind Han.

In fairness, I don't think they planned on Boba Fett becoming some super cool darling of the fans years later, and was probably written as some 3rd tier underling to be dispatched of.

 

[Danespina]

Somehow the Death Star returned.