Here's a post I've been mulling over for a few days, but hadn't had a chance to write it. To be honest, I wasn't really sure how to start it; like most things though, sometimes it's better to get typing and then edited it once it's finished.
It's about the significance of the appearance of the main characters in Star Wars: Return of The Jedi.
The film opens with the two droids, C3PO and R2D2, as we have already seen in the previous films, C-3PO is pretty reserved and cowardly in many respects, and R2, even though he can't communicate is often shown to be a lot braver.
Arrival At The Gate
They both arrive to the gate, and C3PO is already apprehensive, and wants to leave. The gate guard answers the knock and essentially laughs at the two of them before opening the gate. As it opens, R2 is quick to enter, while C3PO voices his concerns, until he spots the spider droid and rushes to catch up to R2.
All of this is new to the films, we've never seen Jabbas palace, the Gamorrean guards, or Bib Fortuna before.
After the gate closes behind them, we're locked into this new grimy world and these intimidating aliens. The tone of this scene once the gate closes is reflected by the dark and moody lighting. Experiencing these creatures through the eyes of C3PO is important because it adds tension to the scene where we feel uneasy based on his reaction to it all.
Bid Fortuna's Entrance In a way, Bib Fortuna comes in with the power, demonstrated by the low angel shot looking up at him, and also the fact that they pause between their dialogue; which leaves us hanging uncomfortably which is another way a filmmaker can demonstrate power dynamics between characters.
R2-D2 takes control of the situation and is unrattled - as they know the plan - but, it becomes obvious very quickly that C3PO hasn't been let in on the details.
Something to notes is that while Bib Fortuna and R2 are speaking, there are no subtitles, which are often used in these films when aliens are talking. Instead, we as an audience are out of the loop and have to rely on C3PO's translations.
After there is mention of a gift, we can tell by hand gestures and body language that Bib Fortuna is offering to take the gift to Jabba himself, but R2 refuses and soon C3PO lets us, the audience, know that this is the case. Something which seems to annoy Bib Fortuna.
Jabba Introduction Now, we find ourselves deeper into the heart of Jabba's palace, and he sits on the throne, raised above the denizens that populate his throne room; most importantly, he sits relaxed above our main characters.
The initial wide shots upon their arrival are also important because it makes the two droids look small in the frame, which is another way to portray power dynamics in film.
As well as this, they are flanked on all sides by aliens, and Jabba himself takes up more of the frame than both of them combined, which is just another way of making it clear who the boss is in this scene.
Even Bib Fortuna's composure has completely changed while speaking with Jabba, whereas before he was domineering, now he is passive. Quietly whispering to Jabba, and being careful not to disturb him too much.
In the shot with R2 and C3PO looking up at Jabba, he takes over a good portion of their frame and the camera looks down on them, continuing to make them small; dwarfed by the crime lord.
The significance of this image alone is worth mentioning. It's the first time in this film we see Luke Skywalker and his projection is large for a reason. He stands twice as tall as R2 and C3PO and most importantly, is just as tall as Jabba; their eyelines are on the same level, portraying that they are evenly matched in power.
Compare Luke's projection here, to Princess Leia's, in the first Star Wars film. She is asking for help, and to portray this, the filmmakers chose to make her projection small in frame, compared to the main character who needs to look down to see her.
The opening dialogue from Luke shows a certain amount of humility. Luke is respectful of Jabba, opening with the words, "Greetings, exalted one." Is a way for Luke to play into Jabba's inflated ego and pay respect to him and acknowledge the fact the Jabba is a big player. You don't enter someones castle and disrespect them after all, especially when the person has something that you want.
In the rest of the scene, as we close in on Luke while he speaks, the camera is looking up at him. In the reverse of this shot, looking at Jabba, now, for the first time in this scene the shot is at eye level, while he listens to Luke's message.
After he finishes his message, we now know that Luke is bargaining for Han Solo - who at the end of the last film was captured by the bounty hunter, Boba Fett, and delivered to Jabba frozen in carbonite - we also discover that the 'gift' which was referenced in the last seen is in fact, the two droids.
Once Luke is gone, Bib Fortuna is the first to speak, and their shot is looking up at them, while they say that Luke "Is no Jedi."
It is here that we finally see subtitles while Jabba speaks for the first time in the scene. He refuses to bargain or "Give up his favorite decoration." Referring to Han Solo who is mounted on the wall.
The score here is the important thing to note, the use of sharp notes on string instruments, as well as the irritating, scratching shrieks, help to portray a feeling of dread as we see Han.
The Musical Interlude
Unpopular Opinion: I prefer this song over the original, and the main reason being, I think this new scene and the musical number actually works better to build up tension and showcase a bit more of Jabba's palace.
The end of this song see's the Twi'lik slave girl - who Jabba has had on his throne this whole time - annoy Jabba, so much so that she is dropped into a pit in the centre of the room. I never really understood why he did this though, when I was a kid I assumed it was because she whipped him with her chain. But, there is a reason for it.
With this, the music cuts abruptly, and where we may have been tricked into feeling comfortable about the jaunty tune. We are instantly teleported back into the grim world, that is, Jabba's palace.
We follow her down, and above, everyone is watching; excited to see some sort of entertainment that is eluded to the audience.
A gate begins to open, and we cut back to her fear-stricken face, we understand that she knows what is behind the gate and all we know about it is based on growls and roars. When we cut back into the throne room, the screams of the slave girl coupled with the roars are all we have to go by.
It's important that they don't show us what is behind the gate in this first interaction, automatically, we understand there is something there that builds on the tension, raises the stakes, and also works to give some foreshadowing of what is coming, without saying a single word.
Chewbacca Entering Jabbas Palace
This scene starts as business as usual until there is shouting. The crowd rushes to see what is happening and a man is thrown into the throne room, presumably dead.
Jabba is as surprised as we are to see Chewbacca in chains being led by some bounty hunter, who is requesting money for the price of his head.
There is an argument about the payment - I love this scene - When Jabba asks why he must pay over the odds for the bounty. The hunter pulls out a Thermal Detonator and everyone, even Boba Fett, is shocked and draws their weapons. Everyone is afraid, and for the first time we hear the famous Jabba laugh. He then goes on to reveal that he respects fearless and treacherous people, developing his character, building on the world, and giving us insight on the sort of scum that hang out in his palace. Even faced with a bomb threat, he decides to bargain with the bounty hunter, and the tension in the room de-escalates when they agree. The line, "This bounty hunter is my kind of scum." It's so good, and if you don't know Jabba the Hutt, that line says it all.
The important thing to note here is that. Before this film, Chewbacca is known to be a powerful character, and even he is overpowered and taken away by the Gamorrean guards, which is the main basis of this breakdown.
The order these characters appear in this film is so important, Chewie struggles against them a bit, but in the end, is taken away almost effortlessly.
With this, everything is back to normal, and I love the small head nod from Boba Fett to this 'New Kid on The Block.' That slight movement is all he needs to use in this scene for us to know that he can give credit where credit is due.
Near the end of the scene, it is revealed that Lando Calrissian is in disguise among the Denizens of the palace, which is an important moment for us to have here, building up to the reveal that the bounty hunter is actually Princess Leia in disguise.
The pieces are all in place now for the main characters to rescue Han Solo, however, in the following scene, the rescue is botched and Leia ends up getting captured. At this point in the film, we feel that all is lost.
Luke Skywalker Enters The Palace
We understand now that everything seems to have gone awry. Most of the main characters are trapped and all seems lost, then Luke enters the palace.
In order - C3PO and R2 dealt with the Gamorreans and were afraid, Chewie struggled a bit but was taken away and locked up easily, now the third person to enter is Luke and with a flick of the wrist he chokes out two Gamorreans; showcasing his new found strength in the force.
However, he is shrouded in black and there is a certain amount of mystery about him now, is this the Luke we know from the previous installments?
Up until now, the only person we have seen use the force to choke someone is Darth Vader, the Villain of all of these films.
Bib Fortuna tries to stop him but is smaller in frame than Luke, and almost instantly bends to Luke's will.
This shot holds a lot of significance too. It is very similar to the initial shot with C3PO and R2, but, Luke is slightly larger, however, he is still flanked on all sides and overtaken by Jabba in this frame. There is one thing that stands out though. In this room of darkness, where everyone is sleeping, Luke is the only person lit by a spotlight. You could look at that and say, it's a way to show his affiliation with the light side of the force, or you could say that the light is now the focus of the power dynamic. He interrupts this dark den by bringing in the light, disturbing Jabba and the others in the palace.
Later in the scene, he attempts to intimidate Jabba, demanding that his friends are returned. The rashness, and impatience - which are two things that his character at this point is known for - take control, and instead of being level-headed, and gaging the situation, he is overconfident and loses the light that once surrounded and protected him. He is not the bastion of light we believed he was, and during the scene walks away from it.
Rancor Pitt
The last scene leads directly into this one, and Luke - upon failing to evaluate the situation or pursuade his enemy - resorts to violence.
An important thing to note is the fact that instead of taking out his lightsaber, he instantly grabs a gun, and then we remember that he lost his one in the previous film.
He is left in the pit, and instantly regrets his decision based on the look on his face when the gate starts to open, and we finally see what is behind it. The Rancor Monster.
I always felt bad for the Gamorrean guard who falls in with Luke, the squealing as he tries to escape kills me every time, and what's worse, is that we jump to a shot of some other Gamorreans laughing at the one that fell in.
Is there importance for the Gamorrean to fall into the pit with Luke? Yes, one, it builds upon the world, showcasing that life is cheap and everyone who works for Jabba is expendable and won't be mourned. But, there is a much larger idea at play, and it is the main reason for writing this post.
Until now, the Gamorreans have been the 'henchmen' of Jabbas palace, and until Luke choked two of them out effortlessly they were considered a threat to our main characters. Now, in the Rancor pit, this threat is dealt with just as easily as our hero, Luke Skywalker, dealt with them. As well as this, it helps to show the scale of the Rancor compared to these creatures, and it showcases the beast as being a big threat to Luke.
While the Rancor is distracted by his appetizer, Luke desperately takes the chance to look around for a way out, and as the Rancor sets his eyes on him, he is left with no options.
Wielding a discarded bone, Luke thinks fast to halt the Rancor when he is picked up, but it doesn't stop the creature for long. Being in the Rancor's claw tells us that Luke is truly powerless, especially without his lightsaber. This scene calls back to The Wampa Scene, in Empire Strikes Back, where Luke uses the Jedi weapon to deal with that creature easily, now, he doesn't have that luxory.
He tries to hide from the creature, and it is no use. But, from this angel, he spots a potential way out, beyond the gate that held the monster. He presses a button that lifts a door, only to reveal that there are bars behind it. This action lifts our expectations, only to crash them back down. It was the last hope, and now, there are no more options.
It is here that Luke spots the gate controls, and using a rock, he is able to smash it, bringing the gate down on the Rancor, and killing it.
In this entire fight, Luke doesn't use the force once, showing us that he is not a true Jedi, and is still allowing fear to cloud his mind, blocking him from using it, which is another important thing to note from a character standpoint.
Luke has defeated the monster but has now gotten himself captured by Jabba, along with everyone else.
I'm going to end this monster of a post here, but before I do, I'll share one final video.
Deleted Scene, Luke Building A New Lightsaber
During this entire sequence, we as the audience haven't been surprised that he isn't using a lightsaber, since he lost his in the last film. But, if this scene was left in, it would have ruined that suspense, disrupted the pace, and it would have left us all scratching our heads saying "Why aren't you using the lightsaber?!"
It was an important scene to leave on the cutting room floor and a decision that made everything else much stronger.
Scene Breakdowns I had a lot of fun writing this, and it did get waaay longer than I expected. The last time I wrote something like this was back in college, but after having some fun with this one, I think I'll do some more.
