# all my friends like empire strikes back the best but I like return of the jedi **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [May 4, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257 "2010-05-04T04:26:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 11:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/21 "2010-05-04T11:06:14Z")
I thought better and better of the Ewoks as I got older - despite their cuteness, they were clearly well-prepared and reasonably skilled jungle warriors. Basically, they were Vietnamese with body hair. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/22 "2010-05-04T14:52:52Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > :eek: > > I’ve come to realize Temple of Doom is better than it’s reputation, but it’s still way, WAY below the awesomeness of Raiders or Last Crusade. I could definitely imagine a rational argument for Last Crusade being better, but Raiders iszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sorry, fell asleep at the keyboard for a minute there just thinking about it. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/23 "2010-05-04T14:55:22Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > the best Indy movie, Temple of Doom. Those words, in that specific order, makes no sense in the universe in which we are living. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![UncleRojelio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/unclerojelio/32/3160_2.png) [@UncleRojelio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleRojelio)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 2:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/24 "2010-05-04T14:56:14Z")
Come on guys! This is The Dope. Do I really have to be the first person to point out that, even if the subject is _Star Wars_, the OP lacks any punctuation or capitalization and therefore is totally without merit and unworthy of any comment whatsoever!? ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/25 "2010-05-04T15:25:41Z")
The only thing that really redeems **RotJ** as anything other than a rehash of **ANH** is Leia in a brass bikini. But then, Liea in a brass bikini could redeem **Plan 9 From Outer Space**! ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/26 "2010-05-04T15:52:17Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > I could definitely imagine a rational argument for Last Crusade being better, but Raiders iszzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz sorry, fell asleep at the keyboard for a minute there just thinking about it. :eek: Dude! Put. Down. The. Crack. Pipe. You’ve obviously lost your faculties **Cisco** , that’s the only possible explanation for someone ranking the Indiana Jones movies Temple \> Last Crusade \> Raiders. I’m almost dreading the answer, but where does Kingdom of the Crystal Skull fit? ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/27 "2010-05-04T17:15:19Z")
Also I don’t understand why they had to freeze Luke to transport him to the Emperpor ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/28 "2010-05-04T17:24:35Z")
The only real problem with TESB is that it fails slightly as a standalone movie in that it doesn’t really have an ending. It might as well have had a huge “TO BE CONTINUED” pasted at the end. its not a big deal, actually, but it kind of bugged me at the time, for some reason. Having said that, it is the favorite of my more nuanced cynical older self, but I am not sure it was may favorite way back when. ---
**Author:** ![PSXer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/48db29/32.png) [@PSXer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PSXer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/29 "2010-05-04T17:26:15Z")
I think the ending to ESB annoyed me too, because it doesn’t end; you need RotJ to finish the story. I can’t really complain though, because I didn’t have to wait a couple years to see it in theaters; I just popped in the next DVD ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/30 "2010-05-04T17:29:57Z")
This was in a magazine years back and is now bouncing around the internets. [50 Reasons why Jedi Sucks](http://boards.theforce.net/bloomington_in/b10417/30769637/p1/) ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/31 "2010-05-04T17:30:35Z")
> [@PSXer](#): > > Also I don’t understand why they had to freeze Luke to transport him to the Emperpor Because he’s a Jedi? ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/32 "2010-05-04T17:52:42Z")
Everything **Cisco** has said in this thread is objectively and factually wrong. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/33 "2010-05-04T17:58:07Z")
I do like ESB better than RotJ, however on viewing ESB a few years back after having not watched it for a long time, I realized just how little actually happens in that movie. The battle on Hoth, then Luke goes to Dagobah/the Millennium Falcon flees from the Empire, then everyone ends up in Cloud City where Han Solo is captured and Luke gets his hand cut off. The end. ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/34 "2010-05-04T18:36:08Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > where does Kingdom of the Crystal Skull fit? Definitely above RaiZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/35 "2010-05-04T18:57:40Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Definitely above RaiZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz I now suspect you of terrorism. ---
**Author:** ![shy\_guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a6a055/32.png) [@shy\_guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shy_guy)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/36 "2010-05-04T19:03:32Z")
Like other posters, _Jedi_ was my favorite of the movies when I was a kid. Nowadays, though, I find that the movie pretty much goes off the rails as soon as the scene at Jabba’s palace ends. I actually don’t mind the ewoks so much, but the goofy stuff with C-3PO acting as their god is really annoying and the script practically mines vaudeville for jokes. My favorite now is a toss-up between _Star Wars_ and _Empire_. The first movie is a bit tighter and fun to watch, but the training scenes in _Empire_ still give me chills. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/37 "2010-05-04T19:09:42Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > Definitely above RaiZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz **Cisco** has obviously been taken over by some kind of pod person. It’s the only explanation for how someone could be so completely and totally wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/38 "2010-05-04T19:39:18Z")
Personally, my favorite is the original, _Star Wars_ (and yes, that’s what the movie was titled, despite what Lucas in his senility might think). Largely, this is because it’s the only one that’s really a self-contained story in its own right. To be fair to _Return of the Jedi_, though, I think what we saw in Jabba’s palace was about Plan D, or so, and it wasn’t coordinated with Plans A, B, or C. Han gets captured, and Lando, Leia, and Chewbacca all try to rescue him (with plans that do more or less look like "pose as guard, infiltrate palace, rescue Han), but fail. Luke (who’s been busy practicing, making his new lightsabre, etc.) gets word of just how pear-shaped things have gotten, and puts on his Jedi mojo to rescue Han and them. He probably planned on something more direct, too, but was forced to improvise when things didn’t go so well for him, either. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/39 "2010-05-04T20:04:43Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > The only real problem with TESB is that it fails slightly as a standalone movie in that it doesn’t really have an ending. It might as well have had a huge “TO BE CONTINUED” pasted at the end. its not a big deal, actually, but it kind of bugged me at the time, for some reason. Having said that, it is the favorite of my more nuanced cynical older self, but I am not sure it was may favorite way back when. I saw it when it opened, and Lucas was very clear that it was part 2 of a trilogy, not the second in a series of standalone movies. Were you equally annoyed at things not being wrapped up at the end of Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers? ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257/40 "2010-05-04T20:12:05Z")
I still prefer ANH possibly because I’d been waiting to see that stuff done that well my whole life, and like ESB better then RotJ, I still think RotJ is better than commonly thought. Perhaps the Sarlacc scene is unbelievable, but it is still the best action scene in the trilogy - see how much better it is than similar ones in the prequel. Luke giving Jabba one last chance to surrender and then kicking butt is the sign of a true Jedi. Even better, we’d been told all this goody-goody stuff about the Jedi throughout, but in the end we see it in action and see that being a Jedi is not about having the biggest light saber. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/all-my-friends-like-empire-strikes-back-the-best-but-i-like-return-of-the-jedi/538257.md?page=3)