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 0 u-, GRADUATION, I rf, 'N - ;;= - ILM w w Sunf ire $400 Bucks of Incentive* Hot Looks Great Performance Land Big Job Raises Summer Home 1T S Nobel Prizes Some Other Car --J Zero Incentive Drives Like a Shoebox Looks Like a Shoebox Interview After Interview a Working Two Jobs Living Back With Parents - h, Join Bowling Team ," Boring w Dullsville to Miss 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. READ IT. RECYCLE IT. T-SHIRT PRINTING * LOWEST PRICES! 1 HIGHEST QUALITY! 1 U FASTEST SERVICE! * 1002 PONTIAC TR. U 994-1367 U.....M U * U=== EARN $40. IN 2 HOURS 11F TT im- Excitement a- Raoture w Bliss E