Crewman: Admiral, we have enemy ships in sector forty-seven! Admiral Ackbar: It's a trap!
Luke Skywalker has returned to his home planet of Tatooine in an attempt to rescue his friend Han Solo from the clutches of the vile gangster Jabba the Hutt.
Little does Luke know that the GALACTIC EMPIRE has secretly begun construction on a new armored space station even more powerful than the first dreaded Death Star.
Completing the larger film Lucas planned, this film closed the door on the Star Wars film series until The Phantom Menace. Lucas still didn't direct, but did involve himself closer in the production this time.The success of the first two films made the success of this one less of a worry. In fact, keeping the budget under control was one of the biggest issues. It turned out that locations were overcharging the production of The Empire Strikes Back, knowing it was the next Star Wars film. So the crew pretended to pitch the film to locations as a B horror movie, "Blue Harvest".Other problems were creative. Lawrence Kasdan wanted a darker ending. Harrison Ford wanted Han to have a Heroic Sacrifice (although that might have rendered the entire arc in Jabba's palace meaningless).After the film came out, critics were not as kind to the film's focus on more action than character, and many fans hated the Ewoks. The film was still a big hit and seen as a fitting conclusion to the saga. If nothing else, it ended the series with a lot of spectacle.
Acting Unnatural: During the approach to Endor in a stolen Imperial shuttle with a Star Destroyer watching their every move, Han tells Chewbacca: "I don't know... fly casual."
Action Film, Quiet Drama Scene: Vader and Luke's verbal duel on Endor. In that scene, Luke shows just how much he has matured in how he can fight with logic and rhetoric against his father with as much skill as with his lightsaber to the point that Vader now has to fend off Luke's mind games.
Aerial Canyon Chase: Flying into the Death Star, seeing as the Millennium Falcon is a rather skinny ship despite its width, whereas most Imperial fighters are as wide as they are tall.
And I Must Scream: In the Novelization, Han describes the carbon freezing as "not just sleeping, but a big wide awake nothing."
Animal Motifs: The director's commentary mentions that the window in Palpatine's room on the Death Star - you can see it in the background of this page's image - is designed to resemble a spider's web, because the Emperor is the plotter at the center.
Anti-Villain: Darth Vader essentially became one by the movie's second half. For one thing, it is hinted that his attempts to turn Luke to the Dark Side were as a means of protecting him (the only alternative was to kill him), and when mentioning that its too late for him to redeem himself, he seems to say it with a tinge of remorse.
Annoying Laugh: Courtesy of Salacious B. Crumb (He's the tiny monkey-lizard creature that tries to steal 3PO's eyes at one point).
Likewise, Sarkli was only a background character of imperial officers at the Death Star. He eventually got more characterization in the EU, especially in Rebel Strike.
Because Destiny Says So: Obi-wan tells Luke this is the reason he must face Vader again. Also, Palpatine tells Luke it is his destiny to join the Dark Side.
Big "NEVER!": Luke, when Vader threatens he will turn Leia to the Dark Side.
Big "NO!": The new Blu-Ray edition of the film adds a "No...NO!" (supposedly as a retroactive callback to Revenge of the Sith) when Vader throws Palpatine into the pit.
Bond Villain Stupidity: Jabba falls victim to this with the design of the Rancor Pit. Who puts the control for the door in a part a victim could get to? And designs it to come down fast enough to kill the Rancor?
He then does this with deciding to feed the heroes to the sarlacc. After you've just failed to kill the hero in Gladiator Games fashion, it's best not to try doing it again immediately afterwards.
Palpatine, definitely. Inviting the last remaining Jedi (ie. the only person who poses a threat to him) into his inner sanctum, then torturing him in front of his father ... while standing next to a bottomless chasm.
Bury Your Disabled: Darth Vader, who was a quadriplegic and quadruple amputee only able to move and breathe due to cybernetic implants, which had been fried by Palpatine's Force lightning.
Characterization Marches On: In the original film, 3PO says, "I'm not much more than an interpreter, and not very good at telling stories." Either he was being modest, or he got better at it in the years between the two films (or actually had some stories to tell), because he does a gripping-enough Ewokese retelling of the entire trilogy so far (complete with sound effects!) that he gets the tribe to fight to the death on the side of the Alliance.
Cool Starship: This entry in the series introduces several new ones; the Shuttle Tydirium, the A-Wing, the B-Wing, and various cruisers in the Rebel fleet.
David Versus Goliath: The Rebel Alliance in general, but in particular, Rebel Fleet vs Super Star Destroyer. As he and his bridge crew watch the thing deorbit into the Death Star, Ackbar just flops into his chair, jaw agape, while everyone else cheers.
Defeat Equals Explosion: The Emperor apparently explodes on impact after being thrown down the shaft at the climax of the film.
Some EU materials, written before the Prequels, explain this as all of Palpatine's Dark Side energy exploding out of his body at the moment of his death.
Distinctive Appearances: The reason why Luke's lightsaber blade is green in the finished cut of the film. In the early stages of rotoscoping, Luke's saber had a blue energy blade. However, his blue lightsaber didn't show up against the blue sky during the Tatooine sail barge battle. Changing the saber to green fixed the problem. The fact that the green blade is obviously brand-new (unlike the blue one, where it wasn't obvious) also allowed the deletion of an early scene in the film, where we would've seen Luke finishing work on his new lightsaber. Luke's blue saber can still be seen in the original trailers, plus all the poster art for the film.
Dressing as the Enemy: Lando dresses as one of Jabba's guards to infiltrate the palace.
On Endor, Han dresses as an Imperial soldier and request reinforcements to get the Imperial troops in the bunker to open it.
Hard to see, but the bearded Rebel takes the captured scout trooper's armor.
Everything Is an Instrument: The Ewok celebration scene at the end of the movie shows one Ewok using sticks hitting stormtrooper helmets as a drum set.
"Threepio, you tell that slimy piece of worm-ridden filth that he'll get no such pleasure from us!"
Fanservice / Ms. Fanservice: Why else would you have Carrie Fisher laying around in a gold metal bikini?
Be Careful What You Wish For: Word Of God says it's because Carrie Fisher had complained about how boring her wardrobe from the two previous films was. She would describe it as "what supermodels will eventually wear in the 7th ring of hell".
Fluffy Tamer: The Rancor's keeper, identified in the EU as Malakili, who had a deep bond with the beast as shown in his story in the novel Tales From Jabba's Palace.
Four Star Badass: General Solo, General Calrissian, and Admiral Ackbar
Freeze Frame Bonus: When Vader is shocked by the Force Lightning, not only can you see his skeleton, but also surgical rods and screws.
Carrie Fisher: What it is, is it doesn't adhere to your body. Boba Fett was standing behind me, and I'm laying there on Jabba the Hutt, and he can see all the way to Florida.
Good Is Not Soft: Farm boy Luke makes his introduction dressed in Sith style robes and force chokes Jabba's guards. This serves as a plot point in trying to get him to fall to The Dark Side.
Heroic Sacrifice: Two. First, the Rebel pilot who rams his fatally damaged craft into the Super Star Destroyer. Second, the more memorable Heel Face Turn on Vader's part.
Hyperspeed Ambush: The Rebel fleet comes out of hyperspace en masse near the Death Star II in order to surround it and cover the attack squadrons that will fly inside the half-constructed space station to destroy it. The Imperial Fleet appears soon after to trap the Rebel fleet.
Luke: Your thoughts betray you, father. I feel the good in you ... the conflict.
Imaginary Love Triangle: Han mistakenly thinks Leia is secretly in love with Luke, and is relieved to find out at the end that she was only upset from finding out they're twins and Vader is her father.
Although a very strong sexual attraction would not be unexpected. Check out Genetic Sexual Attraction, a potentially very troubling phenomenon that can occur in situations like this one, which was first definitely identified as a general risk years after Jedi.
Vader: Yes ... your thoughts betray you. Your feelings for them are strong, especially for ... sister. So, you have a twin sister. Your feelings have now betrayed her too.
The Jester: Word Of God states that this is Salacious Crumb's position in Jabba's court. It's also implied that Jabba considered eating him had Crumb not managed to be amusing.
Luke, I Am Your Father: Leia was shocked to learn that Vader is Luke's father, but is more shocked when Luke tells her they're siblings. After he left to face him, Leia was in tears because: Darth Vader, the man who represents the evils of the Empire she's fighting against (and who has tortured her and Han), is her father. And that the man she kissed was her brother.
"You don't know the power of the Dark Side. I must obey my master."
Nations of the World Montage: At the end of the special edition, with the planets of the galaxy celebrating the downfall of the Empire. Naboo's celebration was added with the DVD release.
Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: During Luke and Vader's duel, every time Luke gets more aggressive (and thus closer to the Dark Side), the Emperor gleefully points this out, causing Luke to step back and regain his composure. This happens several times during the duel.
Soon the Emperor shuts up, allowing Vader to taunt Luke, finally unleashing his anger, but when Luke sees that he cut off Vader's hand, which Vader did to Luke in the previous movie, it was Vader who then fixed it for Luke at that time.
No More Lies: Obi-Wan has no choice but to at last tell Luke the real truth on Dagobah.
No Plans, No Prototype, No Backup: Subverted in that it is heavily implied that the Empire figured out how Luke managed to destroy the first Death Star and redesigned the second one with thick anti-fighter defenses and no two meter wide exhaust port.
Not so Different: Luke realizes this upon seeing that he did the same thing to Vader that Vader did to him in the last movie, which shows him what he would become if he gave in to the Dark Side.
Lando's "Well, how could they be jamming us if they don't know ... (dawning realization) ...if we're coming? Break off the attack! The shield is still up!"
"Intensify forward firepower!" "TOO LATE!"
"That blast came from the Death Star... That thing's operational!"
The heroes escaping from Jabba's exploding sail barge on a skiff.
The Millennium Falcon, piloted by Lando, does both while outrunning the explosion from the reactor destroying the Death Star. The explosion blows out the exit first, but the Falcon emerges from it.
The Other Marty: Anakin's Force ghost in the special edition DVDs.
Pet the Dog: The Rancor keeper's inconsolable reaction to Luke killing the monster, although more played for laughs, managed to garner a bit more sympathy than expected. As Roger Ebert said, "Everybody loves somebody."
Please Wake Up: The depressing scene during the fight on Endor when one Ewok is shot dead and another one (most likely its sibling/spouse/child) comes up to it, crying and pushing the dead one to wake up. Many a tear was shed for this scene, and at least momentarily, we forget that we hate the Ewoks with a passion.
Putting the Band Back Together: Twice, actually. The gang reunites on Tatooine to save Han, and later they formally get back together for Han's planned strike against the shield generator on the forest moon of Endor.
Rage Breaking Point: Luke really tries not to let his anger get in the way when he's confronting Vader, but Vader then threatens to take the last of his family from him.
Vader: If you will not turn to the dark side, then perhaps she will.
The Reveal: Obi-Wan revealing that Luke and Leia are brother and sister.
Also, a confirmation of the reveal in the previous film when Yoda tells Luke (and the audience) the Vader is indeed his father.
Refuge in Audacity: You have to give Luke credit, he told Jabba he would die unless he let them go...
Relative Button: Luke lost most of his family, either dead or turned evil. His sister is all he has left, so threatening to take her away is the one thing that sets him off.
Sheathe Your Sword: Luke attempts to do this during his fight with Vader as Palpatine reminds him that as he becomes more aggressive he shifts more towards the Dark Side.
Shoot the Messenger: Jabba thumps Threepio whenever he translates a response he doesn't like. Also implied in the earlier comment: "We have need of a new protocol droid after his excellency got angry at the last one and disintegrated him."
Shout Out: Word Of God stated that the scene depicting Palpatine's arrival was based on the May Day military marches in Soviet Russia.
Slave Collar: Princess Leia is forced to wear a collar by Jabba the Hutt. At one point he yanks her around by a chain attached to the collar: she later uses the chain to strangle him.
It is a key theme in this movie that Palpatine's arrogance is his weakness. Though he does pull a pretty good trick of giving the rebels the location of the shield generator to lure them into a trap, he simply is too arrogant to anticipate that the Rebels could overcome it.
Jabba the Hutt. Han offered money instead of his captivity and Jabba refused to listen; when Leia and Luke warned Jabba that they could defeat him, Jabba and his minions did not take them seriously at all. Even when being led to the Sarlacc Pit Luke said "free us, or die." Jabba still refused to listen, and he and his minions still refused to take Luke seriously. Jabba was offered so many warnings, and so many opportunities for alternatives that for him to keep ignoring them made his Karmic Death all the more satisfying.
Spanner in the Works: The Emperor would have gotten away with it if it weren't for those meddling Ewoks, and Chewie's brilliant idea to hijack one of the walkers. That's the real turning point of the ground battle (which trickle downed to the space battle when the generator went up in flames).
Spikes of Doom: The Sarlacc Pit has spikes around its edges.
Standard Starship Scuffle: The Battle of Endor starts out more as a Battle of Midway-style melee, with snub fighters attacking the enemy capital ships, but once the Death Star cranks up its superlaser the Rebel cruisers have no choice but to go in and engage the Imperial Star Destroyers toe-to-toe so that at least the Death Star can't get a clear shot at them. The novelization sort of lampshades it; there's a line to the effect that the opposing capital ships are now exchanging broadsides at point-blank range like the oceangoing vessels of another time and place.
Stand Your Ground: As Lando convinces Ackbar the rebels have to do until the team on Endor gets the Death Star's Deflector Shields down.
Stop Worshipping Me: It's against C-3PO's programming to impersonate a deity.
Tempting Fate: Lando promises Han that the Falcon "won't get a scratch!". On the way into the Death Star the Falcon's communication dish is knocked off. Han even remarks on it in EU books.
Also Han commenting "I hate long waits" and "That doesn't sound so bad", before being told he's up for an incredibly long and excruciating death by Sarlaac.
Theme Music Power-Up: When Luke pretends to jump into the Sarlaac pit, and then starts attacking the guards.
Luke, yet again. When we see him for the first time in his Dark Is Not Evil get-up and coolly demands "You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookiee to me", we know right away this is not the same green and reckless Luke from Empire.
While Leia was badass as early as her detention center escape in Episode IV, this movie sees her bluff Jabba with a thermal detonator, choke him to death, and help lead the ground assault on Endor.
Discounting the prequels, R2 takes one as he now has a taser and uses it on that little muppet rat Jabba keeps around, and the Ewok who frees him.
Trap Door: Jabba uses one to drop people into the Rancor pit.
Tribal Carry: When the protagonists are captured by the Ewoks — with the exception of C-3PO, who get a comfortable palanquin chair since they believe he's a god.
Turn The Other Fist: Luke Skywalker seems to turn away from the Emperor's taunting but suddenly swings back to grab his saber and take a slash at him. Darth Vader blocks it.
Under Crank: Used to create the backgrounds for the speeder bike chase.
Underestimating Badassery: Jabba really should've taken Luke a little more seriously. Especially after Luke uttered the words "this is your last chance. Free us, or die."
Darth Vader: I hope so Commander, for your sake. The Emperor is not as forgiving as I am.
Villains Never Lie: George Lucas said that the reason Luke sought Yoda to confirm Vader's revelation was because discussing with a psychologist he learned that most people would assume that Vader was lying, and it was all just mind games. Luke needed a respected figure to get proof.
James Earl Jones reports that, when he got the line, his first thought was, "Oh, [Vader's] lying!"
Walk The Plank: The way for prisoners to be fed to the Sarlacc.
Watch Out for That Tree: Important to remember when you're on an ultra fast speeder bike flying through an incredibly thick forest. Also, don't turn around to check behind you, as one of the scout-troopers learned the hard way.
Also, Boba Fett lands face first into Jabba's barge after Han Solo accidentially activates Boba Fett's Jetpack in a way almost reminiscient of George of the Jungle.
X-Ray Sparks: Rare non-humorous example. When Vader lifts Palpatine over his head to save Luke, he's hit with Force Lightning, revealing flashes of his skull.
Xanatos Gambit: Pulled off by the heroes in Jabba's Palace. If Leia succeeds at getting Han out of the palace, Lando can get Chewbacca (and, presumably, C-3PO & R2-D2 out). If Leia is caught - Luke can go in. If Luke is captured, R2-D2 has Luke's lightsaber. Even if Jabba thinks things are going his way, they're really going Luke's.
You Rebel Scum!: An Imperial mook says this when the Rebels are captured during their raid on the shield generator.
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