Return of the Jedi

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Critics' Reviews

100
CHICAGO SUN-TIMES: Roger Ebert
It lacks the startling originality of the first two. It's more concerned with loose ends and final resolutions. It was the correct decision for George Lucas to end with a trilogy and then move to another point in time for the continuation of the saga. [Special Edition]Read Full Review »
83
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Lisa Schwarzbaum
Best of all, a revisit with Jedi makes a viewer appreciate spectacle, presentation, mythology -- that, and the power of a bitchin' helmet to speak volumes in a language even an alien can understand. [Special Edition]Read Full Review »
75
ReelViews: James Berardinelli
Cuteness is the watchword here. The dark, eerie atmosphere that oozed from every frame of "The Empire Strikes Back" is gone. Instead, for Return of the Jedi, we have good triumphing decisively over evil, a too-pat resolution to a love triangle, and walking teddy bears.Read Full Review »
70
Washington Post: Desson Thomson
Brings things to an almost cheesy conclusion. Given the gripping, dark elements that creator George Lucas introduced in the two previous films, the third movie’s outcome smacks of PG-rated populism rather than artistic fulfillment. But the experience is still highly entertaining. [Special Edition]Read Full Review »
60
Washington Post: Gary Arnold
Ultimately, Jedi even backs off some of the more tantalizing possibilities suggested by the cliffhanging scenario of "Empire." This inhibition appears to grow out of consideration for the feelings of the juvenile audience, which can enjoy an abundance of thrills and close calls while resting assured that nothing catastrophic is going to be fall the heroes.Read Full Review »
30
NewsWeek: David Ansen
Downright repetitive! [30 May 1983]Read Full Review »
20
The New York Times: Vincent Canby
Return of the Jedi oesn't really end the trilogy as much as it brings it to a dead stop. The film...is by far the dimmest adventure of the lot.Read Full Review »
See all Return of the Jedi reviews at metacritic.com »