The Empire Strikes Back vs. Return of the Jedi

[Excelsior]

empire sucks.

[JAS4Yeshua]

I think the original trilogy worked fine with both Chewbacca and the Ewoks. Changing it to something else would not necessarily have made it any better or worse.

[nik0tine]

I think they should have kept Chewbacca, and still replaced the ewoks with a wookie uprising. That sounds like alot of fun to watch.

[Shlup]

Yams makes an excellent point. He gets cuddles!

[theundeadhero]

I liked ESB better. No explainable reason. Just a feeling. Maybe even more than a feeling...

[nik0tine]

Maybe even more than a feeling...

Maybe it's a knowing.

[Sefie1999AD]

The Ewoks weren't that bad. Those Home Alone-ish traps probably killed a few AT-ST's but mostly the Ewoks were getting slaughtered by those. It was Chewbacca taking control of that one AT-ST that turned the battle in the favor of Solo and others. And about the reason why Ewoks were used, I heard from a friend that Lucas had said he wanted to have the nature win out technology in the final battle, so he'd have liked to use Wookies, but he realised that Chewie could use weapons and blasters, so he had to go with a race that was still using spears, bows and things like that. Besides, at least we got a Wookie Uprising in Episode III in Kashyyyk, and Yoda was also involved there.

As for which one I think is better.
Story-wise: Episode VI
As a movie: Episode V

[NM]

Empire is the best Star Wars film imo. It really get's the story going and introduces alot of new characters that are important. You've got Han getting frozen in carbonite and taken by Boba Fett to Jabba The Hutt. Luke finds out Vader is this father. Yoda is introduced and Luke's starts his Jedi Training.

Plus the end of the film dosn't wrap eveything up nicely for you. Your left wondering what happenes next.

[Captain Maxx Power]

I like Return of the Jedi more, for one reason, and that's the Emperor. He's just such a great character in his theatrical evilness. Seeing RotS this weekend I was utterly revelling in his glory. Plus that and the fact that EVERYONE always says ESB is the better movie, and I hate being predictable.

[Sephex]

I agree with exactly everything you said in your first post Kishi. Well said.

[Shoden]

ROTJ!!


little fuzzy creature/ewoks going kamikaze on them hover speeders but jumping off ayt last min wow

also when they were screwing the empires stuff to shreds and worshipping a nerdy and wussy robot good god



the ESB rocked to

[Shoeberto]

Empire, just because of Hoth.

[Kossage]

I agree with many things Kishi said in this thread. The Ewoks were an unfortunate part of RotJ, but they didn't ruin the movie for me. ESB is better because of its overall dark story, fantastic score, and memorable scenes (the battle of Hoth, the asteroid chase, Yoda and the Force, Boba Fett, the carbon freeze scene, "I am your father!", and many others). There are many good scenes in RotJ too (the battle near Sarlacc's pit, Vader/Luke/Emperor scenes, the huge battle of Endor both on ground and in space, Luke talking to Obi-Wan, the death of the Emperor etc.), but the Ewoks just seem a bit too cute for a Star Wars movie, IMHO.

I do understand Lucas's claim that he couldn't use Wookiees in the Endor battle due to the technology reasons (as in Wookiees not being as primitive anymore as originally planned, so they were replaced with Ewoks), but it's true that Ewoks were made marketing in mind as well (Lucas could've used some other race there, although he stated that he wanted little people to aid the rebels defeat the Empire). Of course I like the setting of primitive people distracting the highly technological Empire long enough for the rebels get inside the bunker and blow the shield generator up (because yes, Ewoks couldn't have won the battle; their only purpose was to distract the Empire and give rebels a better chance of succeeding in the mission, and that plan was successful). The fact that Ewoks exist doesn't ruin the movie, but it makes ESB better if one compares these two movies. RotJ still has its share of fantastic battle scenes, not to mention the wonderful score accompanying the movie (just listen to that beautiful cue when Luke finally beats Vader after Vader's statement about turning Leia to the Dark Side), so RotJ is still a very good SW movie, although it has Ewoks and those horrible CGI singers during one the scenes taking place in Jabba's palace (the latter were added to the 1997 SE and this recent trilogy DVD edition).

But it's true that all the three Original Trilogy movies are very good with those memorable scenes and fantastic score by John Williams. I like ESB because of the reasons I mentioned earlier, and part of the reason I think it's still the best SW movie (even after I saw Revenge of the Sith, which as as dark as ESB) is because of the famous scenes between Luke and Vader, and of course the tragic carbon freeze scene ("I love you." "I know.").

[Cloud No.9]

one has to remember that george lucas DID NOT direct episodes 5 and 6. (many people make the mistake).

in my opinion lucas is a first class producer and a second class director.

[TheAbominatrix]

He didnt direct them, but he still had creative control.

And yes, Lucas is a horrid director.