Updated With the Giveaway Winners! ‘Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive’ Review – Unpacking the Brilliance of a 40-Year Legacy
It’s been 41 years since Star Wars fans worldwide flocked to theaters to see the climactic chapter of the original Star Wars trilogy. Famously known initially as “Revenge of the Jedi,” Return of the Jedi beautifully told the story of the Rebellion finally conquering an Empire. But it also did so much more. It may not be revolutionary to say that a classic movie, modern or otherwise, influenced storytellers for generations. Still, Star Wars simply might not be the same without Return of the Jedi and the array of world-building that came from it. Now, all of those ideas have been brought together again in a beautiful new tome from Insight Editions.
Released in late April, Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive is the ultimate collection of concept art, anecdotes from the making of the film, and a study of how its legacy lives on today. Written by Kelly Knox, Clayton Sandell, and S.T. Bende, this archive spares no expense in immersing you back into Return of the Jedi.
Even if you’ve spent your life studying the behind-the-scenes stories of the movie, have you seen everything? If you’ve seen everything, do you know everything? If you’ve seen and know everything, do you own a blueprint of Jabba’s sail barge? Do you own a copy of little Warwick Davis’ hand-written letter to George Lucas asking for some Wicket toys? There are inserts and extras in this book that feel illegal to own. Page after page makes it clear this is a lovingly crafted memento that makes it nearly impossible not to fall in love with this galaxy a little bit more.
NOTE: Star Wars News Net is lucky to have hosted a giveaway for two copies of Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive. The winners can be found at the end of the review.
The opening pages showcased Had Abbadon, a concept for a planet that would later become Coruscant, and told me this was going to be special. At the risk of exposing my own knowledge of the making of Return of the Jedi, I don’t dare get much into what I learned from this book, but if you are someone who wants to learn more, you can’t do much worse.
From the film’s infancy of working out the challenges of filming the Jabba’s Palace set piece, turning the Ewoks from swole bipedal rodents into cuddly teddy bears, and figuring out story details such as the possible familial relation between Obi-Wan and Owen Lars, it’s a treat turning the page from something fresh and eye-grabbing into another thing that’s fresh and eye-grabbing. Then suddenly, your expectations get flipped on their head when you’re greeted with an inserted sketch of Max Rebo, establishing how tall he is with legs, and you question your entire existence. The quintessential Star Wars feeling of “Why did someone go to these lengths to create this monstrosity, and how can I thank them?”
Stories from cast and crew have been pulled from anywhere and everywhere; quotes from legends such as George Lucas or Doug Chiang may seem familiar if you’ve watched enough documentaries, read enough books and news articles, or — apparently — even our author interviews. Sometimes, these feel a bit contrived when placed in a different context, but Sandell, Knox, and Bende do a good job of weaving in the bulk of this information as if the interviews were conducted anew.
One topic flows right into the next as you go through the film. Refer to the above picture of Star Wars Rebels‘ Azmori… Jabba the Hutt. The basic formula is to first discuss how an element of the movie was conceptualized by people like Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. Then, words on how ILM, Phil Tippett, and whoever else realized the vision. If you’re anything like me, your attention span will be challenged while reading. I’m sorry if I’d rather look at the various shots from the film, concept art, models, and all of the things that litter each page.
Regarding Jabba, we begin not with Return of the Jedi, but with A New Hope — a film George Lucas would notably add a digital version to when he did the special editions. Following this are several concepts and discussions of the character, followed by what Jabba has meant for the franchise. Projects like The Clone Wars and The Book of Boba Fett can thank Return of the Jedi for first bringing a Hutt to life. This is a pattern that continues throughout. Tales of how these characters were brought to life are great, but being reminded of what they led to might be the shining star of this book.
Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive‘s core message is that Star Wars has so much to thank Return of the Jedi for. Whether it’s ideas for The Mandalorian, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Andor, or the sequel trilogy, the foundation was laid by the closing chapter of the original trilogy. I especially loved reading about the Ewok movies and cartoons that spawned from the movie’s success. I never considered that those paved the way for Lucasfilm Animation to embrace the medium leading into The Clone Wars, which would lead to Rebels, The Bad Batch, and more.
Towards the end of the book was a section about the film’s marketing. As a youngin who wasn’t even a prospect on my parents’ minds in 1983, I admit I haven’t seen all the merchandise and promotional material. Bib Fortuna toothpaste? Jabba the Hutt shampoo? Did Lucasfilm read the room on either of those? In any case, seeing classic Kenner toys, posters, video games, Legends, and canon publishing made for a joyous trip down memory lane as the book took a bow.
There’s only so much praise one can heap on a Star Wars reference guide. These are always worth picking up, but there’s something about celebrating what we love about Star Wars with the depth on display in this Return of the Jedi archive that makes this one special. It’s all about the memories that still unite us, the stories that still inspire us, and a love for a galaxy far, far away that still shines as bright today as it did back in 1983.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive is available wherever books are sold. Thank you to Insight Editions for the copy used in this review!
Giveaway time!
If you want to win a copy of Return of the Jedi: A Visual Archive, Star Wars News Net is giving away two separate copies. Here are the two ways in which you can enter:
1) You can leave a comment below with a memory of watching Return of the Jedi.
2) Follow us on Twitter, repost the linked tweet, and leave a reply with your favorite scene from Return of the Jedi.
You must have a U.S. or Canadian address to be eligible. We apologize for any inconvenience. Winners will be chosen on Friday, May 17, at 9:00 AM ET. May the Force be with you!
UPDATE! The winners have been chosen!
Michael is the winner from the comment section. To claim your prize, please email viralhide@gmail.com or use our contact form. From Twitter, Avengers Assemble (@Forever_1D34965) is the winner. We will reach out to them directly. Congratulations to you both!
Thank you everyone for your participation!
Nate uses his love for Star Wars and movies in general as a way to cope with the pain of being a Minnesota sports fan. When he's not at the theater, you can usually find Nate reading a comic, listening to an audiobook, or playing a Mario video game for the 1,000th time.
