‘Return of the Jedi’ Proves to Be Solid Bonding Material

In “Return of the Jedi,” Han Solo (Harrison Ford), Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) join other rebels to make their final assault on the Empire and Darth Vader. They’re aided along the way by forest fur balls called Ewoks. Rated PG.

The saga continues. So, apparently, does the bonding.

Paul Jasper and his sons, Henry and Clint, had joined millions of others across the country in lining up to see the first two “Star Wars” movies in their remastered versions. So, when the final installment, “Return of the Jedi,” opened recently, there was no doubt they’d take their place in the latest queue.

“It was tremendous,”’ said Henry, 15, of Yorba Linda. “I wish we could’ve seen them all” in one day.

Jasper shook his head at the thought of sitting through more than six hours of “Star Wars.”

“That would have been a little too much for me,” he said. “Probably for them too. But this was fun [and] a really great idea for the people who created it. We looked forward to each [installment] as it came out again. . . . I’m a little sad it’s over.”

Jasper, like other parents who have taken their kids to all three films in the past several weeks, cited a familiar theme: Seeing “Return of the Jedi,” as with the other flicks, was a good way to connect with his sons.

“We’ve been talking about [the entire series] off and on for days now,” Jasper said. “It gives us another thing in common.”

Clint, 14, added: “He thinks it’s good for us [because the movie is wholesome], but we think it’s just fun.”

Few kids, parents or even critics would disagree with that. The trilogy has rightfully been described as the rare family entertainment that just about everyone can enjoy on some level. Of course, very young children may be disturbed by all the noisy action and comic-book mayhem, which parents should consider.

How did “Return of the Jedi” rate against the other two? Henry and Clint liked it very much but, like most other youngsters, felt it was the weakest of the batch.

“It was cool how everything ended,” Henry said. “I mean, that [finale] was satisfying, but there were slow parts that weren’t as exciting” as the other two films.

Henry and Clint also didn’t care much for the introduction of the Ewoks, a tribe of small, hairy creatures that help Han, Leia and Luke as they finally defeat Darth Vader and all the other stellar creeps.

Too cute was the usual complaint, especially where boys are concerned.

“They looked and acted like toys,” said Mark Lipson, 11, of La Habra.

Some girls thought otherwise. Toni Lewis attended a screening with her brother, Evan, and felt the Ewoks were adorable.

“They were all puffy and sweet!” the 12-year-old from Brea squealed. “They were fun [because] they wanted to help them so badly.”

Her 14-year-old brother frowned a bit. “They were OK, [but] they were around way too much.”

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As with the other two installments, “Return of the Jedi” delivered on thrilling action sequences and special effects. Not one kid interviewed could tell what scenes had been added to this version (they’re sprinkled throughout, especially in the opening passage when Luke frees Han and the princess from the lair of a monstrous warlord), but that didn’t seem to matter.

“It just looked a whole lot better” than at home, Clint said.

As for favorite passages, the boys agreed it was pretty sensational to watch the speedy, flying, motorcycle-like vehicles on the Ewoks’ home on the forest moon of Endor. In the scene, storm troopers, Luke and Leia zoom past trees and other forest obstacles while just avoiding several collisions. Well, at least the good guys avoid them.

“It was like a great ride or something,” Evan said. “You kind of felt like you were riding with them.”