MovieChat Forums > Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) Discussion > Some things about the beginning I never ...

Some things about the beginning I never understood...

posted 7 years ago by petekrug17
11 replies | jump to latest

1.Why didn't Luke and his friends get a squad of rebel soldiers to help them free Han? THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ended with Luke, Leia, Chewie, Lando and the two droids safely back with the rebel fleet. Surely they could've gotten a team of commandos to help save Han from Jabba.

2.What was the deal with Luke offering the droids to Jabba in exchange for Han? I guess maybe Luke was hoping to get Han back without a fight, but...really, Luke didn't care for the droids that much? What would he have done if Jabba had agreed to the trade? Would Luke really have left R2-D2 and C-3PO behind with Jabba?

3.Why did Luke put his new light saber inside R2-D2 instead of just bringing it in himself?

4.When Luke first comes to Jabbas palace, we see him use the force choke on the two pig guards. Why then does Luke never use the force choke on Jabba?

[–] ck100 7 years ago

3.Why did Luke put his new light saber inside R2-D2 instead of just bringing it in himself?

He would risk getting it taken away if he got searched by the guards.

4.When Luke first comes to Jabbas palace, we see him use the force choke on the two pig guards. Why then does Luke never use the force choke on Jabba?

Jabba's guards could attack Luke or threaten harm to Leia if Luke doesn't stop.

[–] Volley2020 7 years ago

1. My guess is the Rebellion didn't want the Hutt's to be furious at the Rebels for attacking Jabba's palace, which is probably why it's just Luke, Lando, Leia, and Chewie that move in to rescue Han.

2. I doubt Luke would have left R2 and C3PO with Jabba if he had accepted the deal, definitely an interesting question though, but then again maybe Luke would have left the droids there until the Empire was dealt with.

3. Plot device. If Luke brings the lightsaber with him, we can't see the cool scene over the sarlacc later that shows Luke jumping down, springing up, and catching the lightsaber mid-air with some weird time delay that allows this to happen.

4. Luke actually uses force sleep on the Gamorrean Guards, and puts them back to rest. My guess is Jabba was immune to Luke's miniscule knowledge of force abilities, much like Watto.

[–] muzilon 7 years ago

4. "Force sleep"? The novel says Luke choked them (although not fatally, as Darth Vader would have done) and the guards were too frightened to follow him when he released them. But when Luke tries the "Jedi Mind Trick" on Jabba ("You will bring Captain Solo and the Wookie to me"), Jabba just laughs and says "Your mind powers will not work on me". Perhaps Jabba was immune to being Force-choked too. Or maybe it was a plot device so we could see Leia throttling Jabba later on.

[–] sati_84 7 years ago

Choking is a physical act, so Jabba could not have been immune to that (how did he die eventually? rrriight...), but his mind can be different enough not to be affected by a force power designed to confuse weak-minded humans.

So most likely Luke doesn't try the force choke on Jabba for 2 reasons:

1. He simply is not powerful enough to finish him off that way (later we saw exactly how much physical power it took for Leia to do it...)

2. Even if he was powerful enough to do it, it's not wise to attempt it when you are surrounded by scum from every side who are loyal to Jabba. Force choking is obvious when it's happening, and while Luke is focusing on that, everyone around him gets a chance to attack him.

That's the way I always saw it.

I was looking back to see if you were looking back at me to see me looking back at you

[–] Kruleworld 7 years ago

Luke didn't care for the droids that much? What would he have done if Jabba had agreed to the trade?

The droids were a gift to gain an audience, not a trade for Solo. Go watch the movie again and listen to what is said.

"He's dusted, busted and disgusted, but he's ok"

[–] otter 7 years ago

Perhaps Luke chose the option that would result in the least loss of life.

Perhaps the rebel soldiers declined to risk their lives for Han Solo, bacause there were more important issues at stake. Maybe nobody was willing to go but those closest to Han.

“Seventy-seven courses and a regicide, never a wedding like it!

[–] Inspector81 7 years ago

2.What was the deal with Luke offering the droids to Jabba in exchange for Han? I guess maybe Luke was hoping to get Han back without a fight, but...really, Luke didn't care for the droids that much? What would he have done if Jabba had agreed to the trade? Would Luke really have left R2-D2 and C-3PO behind with Jabba?

3.Why did Luke put his new light saber inside R2-D2 instead of just bringing it in himself?

It looks like you answered question 2 with question 3. Luke needed to get his lightsaber secretly into Jabba's palace and what better way than to sneak it in by hiding it in R2 and giving the droids to Jabba knowing you'll be taking them back by force when he goes to save Han and friends.

[–] echoesofglory (8) 6 years ago

"3.Why did Luke put his new light saber inside R2-D2 instead of just bringing it in himself?

It looks like you answered question 2 with question 3. Luke needed to get his lightsaber secretly into Jabba's palace and what better way than to sneak it in by hiding it in R2 and giving the droids to Jabba knowing you'll be taking them back by force when he goes to save Han and friends."

The OP is right, this was confusing back then and still is, obviously Luke got pass security easily, he could have smuggled in the lightsaber easily as security isn't that great, Leia obviously managed to bring in both a weapon and a grenade, so surely you were able to bring in anything you wanted. Luke could have just brought in the sabre, killed Rancor easily if he Went into the trap and supported by Lando maybe even save Solo by themselves?

[–] NotoriousRio (12927) 6 years ago

Luke just had a crazy plan and they went for it. :)

[–] Truthtalker (1876) 6 years ago

This is how the planning went down:

Luke: "Okay so, first we get Lando Calrissian posing as a guard inside Jabba's Palace."

You: "How do we do that?"

Luke: "We just get him a costume and he--just walks in."

You: "Um, okay, say it's that easy. So then Lando gets Han out of the carbonite and we pick them up and get away?"

Luke: "No. What happens next is that I put my lightsaber in a hidden compartment in R2-D2 and send R2-D2 and C3PO to Jabba the Hutt as gifts."

You: "Wait, why-"

Luke: "Just listen. Next we have Leia pose as a bounty hunter arriving at Jabba's palace with Chewbacca captured. She's going to hand over Chewbacca to Jabba."

You: "Wait, why? Wouldn't that mean we would now have to rescue Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C3PO? That just makes it more difficult, right?"

Luke: "Just go with me here. Next, Leia is going to sneak around at night and get Han Solo out of the carbonite, but get captured."

You: "What? Why would we get everyone captured like that?"

Luke: "Now I'll show up, use my Force powers to get in to Jabba's fortress, get past the guards to an audience before Jabba and then use my Jedi mind trick to get Jabba to release everyone. If that doesn't work, then I'll get captured."

You: "Okay, if you can just use your Force powers to get in to the palace and all the way to Jabba, then let's just have you go in right now and get Han out."

Luke: "No, that's stupid. I'm going to get myself captured. Because then you see, we'll be taken to the sarlacc pit and then, when we're on the skiff, I'll get sent out first and then R2-D2 will manage to get to the top of Jabba's sail barge and shoot out my lightsaber, and then with Lando's help, we'll just--rescue everyone and then everything will be fine!"

You: "That is the stupidest plan I've ever heard of."

Luke:"I've thought of everything."

You: "Clearly you didn't."

[–] Xenopharb (617) 6 years ago

Bravo ... and don't forget ...

Luke: "... and Leia will pull out a grenade to show she is serious!"

Of course, saying, "Darth Vader ... he's my father. Give me what I want or pay the price," could have worked too.

I mean, Jabba has to know about the ruthlessness of the 501st ... oh wait, that is not canon.