Movie Briefs

In a galaxy locked under the iron grip of the Galactic Empire, a young moisture farmer named Luke Skywalker stumbles into the greatest adventure of his life. When his uncle purchases two droids — the protocol unit C-3PO and his astromech companion R2-D2 — Luke discovers a secret holographic message from a princess pleading for help.

The message leads Luke to the hermit Obi-Wan Kenobi, a former Jedi Knight who begins to reveal the truth about Luke's father and the mystical energy field called the Force. After Imperial troops murder his aunt and uncle, Luke joins Obi-Wan on a desperate journey. Hiring the mercenary pilot Han Solo and his Wookiee co-pilot Chewbacca, they set course for Alderaan — only to find the planet destroyed and themselves captured by the Empire's greatest weapon: the Death Star, a moon-sized battle station capable of obliterating entire worlds.

What follows is a daring rescue of Princess Leia Organa from the Death Star's detention block, a harrowing escape that costs Obi-Wan his life, and a climactic space battle that pits a handful of Rebel fighters against an armada of TIE fighters protecting the Death Star. With the battle station bearing down on the Rebel base, Luke trusts the Force — silences his targeting computer — and fires two proton torpedoes into a two-meter exhaust port. The Death Star explodes. The Rebellion lives.

The Emperor has ordered the construction of a second Death Star, far more powerful than the first. The Rebel Alliance, learning of its location above the forest moon of Endor while its shields are still operational, mounts a desperate strike mission. First, however, comes the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt's palace on Tatooine — a mission that tests every one of his friends' skills and nerve.

With Han free and the team assembled, the Rebels travel to Endor to disable the Death Star's shield generator. There they encounter the native Ewoks — small, primitive, but fiercely capable warriors who join the Rebel cause. Luke, knowing he must face Vader again, surrenders himself and is taken before the Emperor aboard the battle station. The Emperor — Darth Sidious — taunts Luke, goading him toward anger, hoping to turn him to the dark side.

Three battles converge: the Rebel fleet engages the Imperial armada in space; the Ewoks and ground troops fight for the shield bunker below; and in the Emperor's throne room, Luke and Darth Vader duel one final time. When the Emperor begins torturing Luke, Vader watches — and then acts, lifting Sidious and hurling him into the Death Star's reactor shaft. Anakin Skywalker returns to the light. He dies in his son's arms, redeemed. The shield falls. The Death Star is destroyed. The Empire ends, and across the galaxy, worlds erupt in celebration.