8A - The Michigan Daily - Monday, March 17, 1997
i
JEDI
Continued from Page 5A
example, Luke, no longer a reckless pupil,
still allows anger and hatred to get the best
of him from time to time.
Particularly impressive is the manner in
which the central characters complete
their development, from beginning to end
of the trilogy. Luke has matured from a
naive, impulsive farmboy to a confident,
poised Jedi knight. Leia and Han, on the
other hand, have gone from being brash,
independent and fearless to cooperative
and slightly vulnerable. One of the
strongest elements of "Jedi" is the heroes
Who continue to grow throughout the film.
"Jedi"'s characters, unlike those in
"Stars Wars" and "Empire," are not used
as plot devices. Instead, their personalities
drive the action. This enables the viewer
to understand exactly why Luke must con-
front Vader, or why Han and Lando are
willing to lead perilous missions, thus
making the protagonists more authentic,
increasing the overall tension.
"Jedi" is an extremely satisfying,
rewarding final act. All of the loose ends
are tied together. While everything is not
absolutely perfect, the film manages to
retain its idealism, skillfully intertwining
the tones of the three movies.
Unfortunately, the legacy of "Return of
the Jedi" (more so than "Star Wars") is a
model for contemporary blockbuster
action pictures, with a huge emphasis on
visual effects. The success and timeless-
ness of the trilogy reflect viewers' concern
for the protagonists and their struggles.
Because the visuals are excellent, the tril-
ogy's character development is often over-
looked. The release of the "Special
Edition," with the focus on new effects,
will probably reinforce the trend of senso-
ry stimulation over intellectual and emo-
tional substance.
Family ties
(Above): Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker battle it out
one last time in "Return of the JedL" Sand storm
(right): In a remastered scene, Luke Skywalker,
Princess Lela and Han Solo meet Jabba's henchmen in
this exciting sequence.
d.
I
Now
GOOD MEN
Continued from Page 5A
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tion was not emphasized as nich as
possible.
Chung's performance was good,
leaving the audience wanting to hear
more. In addition, Benjamin Freed's
performance as Santiago captured just
the right touch of emotion.
Another strength of this producti*
was the juxtaposition of contrasting
scenes. The constant changes from
Cuba to Washington and lawyers to
clients created a realistic tension.
The simple set, composed of tables
and chairs, which were rearranged
for each scene, emphasized the lan-
guage of the play and the dynamic
between the performers. Running
more than three hours, the produc-
tion was a little long. The len,
interfered with the momentum a4
suspense of the story, which the play
captures so well.
Despite the tension, the play was
humorous, and the contrast between
humor and drama was well accom-
plished.
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