RETURN OF THE JEDI
Rating: 
Original Review: Considered by many to be the weak link in the Star Wars Trilogy, I personally put this at number two in the order of things. It was expected that there wouldn't really be a lot for John Williams to do with this score, but again he has surpassed himself in terms of the leitmotifs he has created for the various characters. Luke Skywalker's theme, the Force Theme, the Han & Leia Love theme and the Imperial March are again utilised to great effect, but Williams' real achievement here is with his new music: a great, hulking tuba tune for the mighty Jabba the Hutt; a terrific action cue for the Sail Barge fight; a playful yet heroic theme for the Ewoks, which utilises both contemporary and ancient instruments and orchestrations; and a threatening, malevolent orchestral statement using low strings and a male voice choir to signify the theme for the Emperor (this is heard at its best in the cue 'The Dark Side Beckons', part of 'The Battle of Endor II'). Of course, with this being a release as part of the Star Wars Special Edition, there are two completely new tracks: 'Jedi Rocks', which was composed by Jerry Hey, is a new song for the band in Jabba's Throne Room, and 'Victory Celebration', a new woodwind piece for the finale which, in my opinion, is better than the original score.
Track Listing:
DISK ONE
- 20th Century Fox Fanfare (written by Alfred Newman) (0:22)
- Main Title / Approaching the Death Star - Tatooine Rendezvous (9:21)
- The Droids are Captured (1:17)
- Bounty for a Wookiee (2:50)
- Han Solo Returns (4:01)
- Luke Confronts Jabba / Den of the Rancor / Sarlacc Sentence (8:51)
- The Pit of Carkoon / Sail Barge Assault (6:02)
- The Emperor Arrives / The Death of Yoda / Obi-Wan's Revelation (10:58)
- Alliance Assembly (2:13)
- Shuttle Tyderium Approaches Endor (4:09)
- Speeder Bike Chase / Land of the Ewoks (9:38)
- The Levitation / Threepio's Bedtime Story (2:46)
- Jabba's Baroque Recital (3:09)
- Jedi Rocks (written by Jerry Hey) (2:42)
- Sail Barge Assault (alternate) (5:04)
DISK TWO
- Parade of the Ewoks (3:28)
- Luke and Leia (4:46)
- Brother and Sister / Father and Son / The Fleet Enters Hyperspace / Heroic Ewok (10:40)
- Emperor's Throne Room (3:26)
- The Battle of Endor I (Into the Trap / Forest Ambush / Scout Walker Scramble / Prime Weapon Fires) (11:50)
- The Lightsaber / The Ewok Battle (4:31)
- The Battle of Endor II (Leia is Wounded / The Duel Begins / Overtaking the Bunker / The Dark Side Beckons / The Emperor's Death) (10:03)
- The Battle of Endor III (Superstructure Chase / Darth Vader's Death / The Main Reactor) (6:04)
- Leia's News / Light of the Force (3:24)
- Victory Celebration / End Title (8:34)
- Ewok Feast / Part of the Tribe (4:02)
- The Forest Battle (concert suite) (4:05)
Running Time: 148 minutes 02 seconds
RCA Victor 09026-68774-2 (1997/1983)
Music composed and conducted by John Williams. Performed by The London Symphony Orchestra. Orchestrations by Herbert W. Spencer. Recorded and mixed by Lionel Newman, Eric Tomlinson, Jonathan Allen and Shawn Murphy. Edited by Kenneth Wannberg. Mastered by Dan Hersch. Album produced by John Williams and Nick Redman.
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These web pages were designed and maintained by Jonathan Broxton copyright 1997. All opinions and views expressed on these pages are my own and are in no way intended to reflect those of my employer, the Trent Institute for Health Services Research, or those of the University of Sheffield.