Films like Return of the Jedi.

Return of the Jedi (1983) reads as Warm, breathless, measured sci-fi / adventure, inventive in texture. Redemptive, epic, measured. Every film below is ranked by distance across the same twelve hand-scored axes — with what it keeps, and where it walks away. Not a genre dump.

Warriors of the Wind (1984) poster
1. Warriors of the Wind1984

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Superman (1978) poster
2. Superman1978

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the stubborn streak of hope — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Star Wars (1977) poster
3. Star Wars1977

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Message from Space (1978) poster
4. Message from Space1978

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Superman II (1980) poster
5. Superman II1980

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness — one of the nearest reads in the catalogue.

Clash of the Titans (1981) poster
6. Clash of the Titans1981

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Flash Gordon (1980) poster
7. Flash Gordon1980

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a running vein of humour.

Sailor Moon R: The Movie (1993) poster
8. Sailor Moon R: The Movie1993

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the stubborn streak of hope; trades toward a world-sized stakes.

Macross: Do You Remember Love? (1984) poster
9. Macross: Do You Remember Love?1984

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a cold, bleak undertow.

Willow (1988) poster
10. Willow1988

Keeps the documentary-plain realism and the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a world-sized stakes.

Lensman (1984) poster
11. Lensman1984

Keeps the world-sized stakes and the documentary-plain realism; trades toward a stubborn streak of hope.

The Last Starfighter (1984) poster
12. The Last Starfighter1984

Keeps the bone-dry seriousness; trades toward a world-sized stakes.

These are Return of the Jedi’s neighbours — where are yours?

Rate five posters and the same twelve axes read you — then tonight’s pick comes from your own centre of taste.

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