Please do more.
In fact, do a part two to this one and take us through the second act, then a third for the finale.
proper deconstruction of films to elucidate what works and why is something that really helps readers when it comes to watching not only this film (again), but also other films going forward.
IMO, this is probably one of the best acts in the series. It introduces elements we're familiar with and creates an atmosphere of location and characters which is internally coherent and complete (for many of the reasons you outline above).
It sets up the rest of the film well.
I think the only part which fails is where we see robots being physically tortured. Why would a robot have pain receptors, and why on the bottom of their feet? The heartlesness of Jabba's palace is already well established.
Hahaha I'm glad you liked this one man. Okay I'll continue it on, because there is plenty more to discuss not just in this film, but in all three of the originals. Yeah, doing an act by act breakdown could be fun. Doing the entire film in one post would be way too much, but breaking it down into 3 would he a lot more managable.
I was going to talk about the torture scene and how it kind of builds tension, the world, and raises the stakes for the droids as they start to see what might happen. But, Jabbas palace is already shown to be dangerous and slimey with all of the other scenes, especially the Rancor ones.
Well, the thing is about the droids and why they can feel pain, it's a bit silly. But, in the first movie when the pod lands, C3PO says, "We're made to suffer, it's our lot in life." I think that's in reference to the fact that they can feel emotions and pain... Mr. Lucas is a sick man, making the poor droids feel pain.
Yeah, Jabbas palace has always been my favourite aspect of ROTJ and maybe even one of the most notable things in the entire trilogy.
I totally agree, noticing these different things really gives a whole new love for films upon a re-watch and the deconstruction of scenes is great for training the eye when consuming media in the future. I had a lot of fun with this, and will happily continue it.
A part of the scene I do love is us seeing the rancor keeper's distress at the death of his ward.
Even in the depths of depravity demonstated by Jabba's palace, we see empathy which reaches beyond transactionalism.