Thursday, May 19, 2005

Star Wars (Episode VI) : The Return of Jedi

Star Wars (Episode VI) : The Return of Jedi

Luke Skywalker has returned to
his home planet of Tatooine in
an attempt to rescue his
friend Han Solo from the
clutches of the vile gangster
Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Luke know that the
GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly
begun construction on a new
armored space station even
more powerful than the first
dreaded Death Star.
When completed, this ultimate
weapon will spell certain doom
for the small band of rebels
struggling to restore freedom
to the galaxy....

Return of the Jedi takes place in 4 ABY, one year after the events of The Empire Strikes Back. The Empire is working on the construction of a second Death Star, which is to be more powerful than the first.

Luke Skywalker and company arrive on Tatooine to rescue Han Solo, who is held prisoner in carbonite by the gangster Jabba the Hutt. R2-D2 and C-3PO arrive with a holographic message from Luke pleading Jabba to release Solo, but the droids end up slaves. That evening, Princess Leia, disguised as a bounty hunter, arrives with "prisoner" Chewbacca to collect bounty from Jabba. Jabba sends Chewie to the prisons. That night, Leia removes her disguise and frees Solo from the carbonite, only to be overseen by Jabba. Both Solo and Leia are captured.

The next morning, Luke arrives to make one final plea to Jabba to release Solo, but Jabba orders the Luke into the pit of the Rancor monster. Luke overpowers the Rancor, but is captured by Jabba's minions. As punishment, Jabba commands Luke and his friends to be destroyed by the Sarlacc.

Luke and his companions approach the Pit of Carkoon. With the help of R2-D2, Luke retrieves a lightsaber. A large battle ensues. Boba Fett falls into the Sarlacc pit, and Jabba is choked to death by Leia. Luke and crew manage to escape just before Jabba’s Sail Barge explodes. Luke and R2-D2 head for Dagobah to return to Yoda. The rest of the crew departs for the rendezvous point where the Rebel Alliance is assembling.

Meanwhile, the Emperor arrives on the Death Star. As he and Darth Vader walk past the thousands of Imperial troops assembled in the hangar bay, they discuss the plot to turn Luke to the Dark Side.

Luke and Artoo arrive on Dagobah to find Yoda ill. Luke has returned to complete his training, but Yoda says no further training is required. All that remains for Luke is to confront Vader. Yoda then reveals that Vader is indeed Luke's father. The Jedi Master gives one last mention of wisdom to Luke before he dies.

As Luke approaches his X-Wing, the spirit form of Ben Kenobi confirms that Vader was once Anakin Skywalker, a former Jedi who turned to the Dark Side. Kenobi also reveals that Luke has a twin sister, hidden from Luke at birth as protection from the Emperor. Luke senses that his sister is Princess Leia.

At the rendezvous point, the Rebel Alliance discusses plans to attack the Death Star. As part of the plans, Luke and his companions must penetrate the shield generator on the moon of Endor to deactivate the shield that protects the Death Star.

The crew land on Endor only to be discovered by stormtroopers. A landspeeder chase ensues, resulting in Leia being separated from Han and Luke. Leia is awakened by an Ewok, one of Endor's forest creatures.

Luke, Han, Chewie, and the droids fall into a trap set by Ewoks, who discover Threepio and treat him as their god. The droid's friends are taken prisoner. Luke cleverly uses the Force to get the Ewoks to set them free. The Ewoks agree to join the fight against the Empire.

Luke decides the time has come for him to leave Endor and face Darth Vader. He reveals the truth to Leia: That she is his sister and Vader is their father.

Luke surrenders peacefully to the Empire, and unsuccessfully tries to convince Vader to abandon the Dark Side. They go to the Death Star and meet the Emperor, who reveals that the Emperor himself coordinated the Rebels finding the secret plans and locating the shield generator so that the Alliance can fall into a trap.

On Endor, the Rebels enter the shield generator, only to be taken prisoner by waiting Imperial forces. Solo and company are led out of the bunker, but the Ewoks begin their attack. A battle begins with the Rebels and Ewoks against the Empire.

The Rebel fleet emerges from hyperspace for the battle, but discovers the shield is still up. An intense space battle begins. The Death Star is revealed to be fully operational. To decrease ship casualties the rebel fleet decide to attack the imperial fleet at point blank.

On the Death Star, Luke attacks the Emperor fueled by anger, only to be deflected by Vader. Vader senses in his son's mind that Luke has a sister. Vader intends to turn her to the Dark Side if Luke won't, but Luke responds viciously, striking off Vader's right hand. The Emperor encourages Luke to kill his father so the young Jedi can take Vader's place alongside Palpatine. But Luke controls his anger and throws aside his lightsaber. He declares himself a Jedi.

Han, Leia and Chewie regain access to the bunker. They plant an explosive and escape the bunker before its destruction. With the shield down, the Death Star can be attacked.

Realizing that Luke cannot be turned to the Dark Side, the Emperor uses Force lightning against him to deliver the final blow. Vader is deeply affected by the sight of his son dying. Thus, the dramatic redemption of Anakin Skywalker begins as the former Dark Lord lifts the Emperor, and despite the deadly Force lightning surging through his suit, he drops his former master into a chasm, killing the Emperor.

Meanwhile, in an intense battle, Lando leads Wedge and his fighter group into the bowels of the Death Star followed by TIE Fighters. Upon having casualties, the group decides to split up and half of the fighters returns to the surface. Other Rebel fighters attack point blank at the Super Star Destroyer, leading to the lead Imperial ship's destruction.

Realizing there is no hope for his survival, Anakin asks Luke to take his mask off so he can look upon his son with his own eyes. Luke removes the helmet, revealing the pale face of his father. Anakin says Luke was right about him, and asks him to tell his sister the same. With that, Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker dies.

Lando and Wedge Antilles, now the only remaining Rebel fighters inside the Death Star, fire at the super weapon's main reactor, causing its collapse. Luke and the remnants of his father Anakin escape the Death Star, and moments later, so do Lando and Wedge just as the Death Star explodes.

Sensing that Leia has feelings for Luke, Han tells her he will not interfere. Leia divulges that Luke is her brother. Han and Leia engage in a passionate kiss.

That evening, Luke cremates what remains of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker. The entire galaxy celebrates the downfall of the Empire and the virtual end of the Galactic Civil War. Amidst the celebrations, Luke catches sight of the spirit figures of Ben Kenobi, Yoda, and the redeemed Anakin Skywalker.

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