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Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Ian McDiarmid, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz
Directed by: George Lucas
Available At:
www.starwars.com
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Abstract: The sixth (or third, depending on how you look at it) of the enormously successful Star Wars franchise, is at last in theatres.
George Lucas redeems himself in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. After the clunky and uninteresting 'Phantom Menace', and the overly political 'Attack of the Clones', 'Sith' does a great job of bringing the franchise back to it's roots - pure, unadulterated adventure and spectacular effects.
While the series has boasted a few accomplished actors - Alec Guinness, Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGregor spring to mind, who turn in decent performances, let's face it - Star Wars has never been about character development and clever writing. Wooden dialogue is so ubiquitous in the series, it's almost endearing. "Use the force, Luke." Without a doubt, the romance between Anakin and Padme is the most wretched piece of melodrama I've ever seen. Mercifully, the pap doesn't occupy nearly as much screen time as it did in 'Clones'.
Character criticisms aside, this really was a thoroughly enjoyable movie, managing to capture some of the dark majesty of 'The Empire Strikes Back', the reigning favorite of the series so far.
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Credit: starwars.com
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REVIEW LIST
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Average Review Rating:
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I just saw Episode III for the second time in the theatres, and I recommend to anyone who’s only seen it once to go again. The first time I saw it, I was so distracted by trying to make sure it properly meshed with Episode IV that I didn’t fully appreciate the scenery. It really is the most amazing universe ever put on a big screen. In fact, with all the talk of whether it’s a good plot or not, I think we’ve taken for granted just how phenomenal the view is when you’re watching this movie. George Lucas’s special effects were revolutionary when he made Episode IV in1977 and there’s still no one who does it better today. And, say what you want about his dialogue, but his imagination is truly enjoyable. Who else could come up with vulture droids and Sith legends?
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I am quite torn by the comments I’ve heard about this movie. I, like most observers, agree that it is a step up from Episode II, which was a step up from Episode I. It spares us the Jar Jarring effect of Phantom, and doesn’t force us to endure Anakin and Padme rolling around in the grass as per Attack of the Clones. It is the first of the threequels to have me completely riveted throughout. I even found Anakin’s transformation to Darth (sorry to spoil it for anyone who hasn’t been in the galaxy for the last twenty years) was, for the most part, compelling and satisfying; even though I did think George sped up the process a bit too much at the end when Anakin went from being undecided about whether the dark side was so bad, to being, not only a fully-fledged cloak-wearing member, but a pretty evil one too. Nevertheless, I came out of it, like many Starry-eyed fans, refreshed and ready to re-visit the great episodes IV through VI.
My concern, however, is that many commentators on the film are claiming that it is up to the standard of the original trilogy. “That’s right,” says A.O. Scott of the New York Times, “…it’s better than Star Wars” (i.e. Episode IV). And Todd McCarthy, of Variety, is equally as shocking as he argues that the Revenge of the Sith “Emerges as the best in the overall series since Empire Strikes Back” (i.e. Episode V). I just cannot condone such blasphemy.
I realize that Return of the Jedi (Episode VI) is looked down upon as the weak link of the classic episodes—I don’t see it myself, as I was too young to have a problem with the ewoks when they first emerged—but, even if you think the ewoks are only a step up from colony of Jar Jars, there is still a charm and atmosphere that inhabited that film that simply has not been recaptured in Sith. I still laugh every time I think of Han Solo instructing Chewbacca to “Fly casual”. And there’s still nothing as scary to me as going inside Jabba the Hutt’s lair. Revenge of the Sith, while it has great scenes and some fantastic atmosphere, lacks, in my opinion, the charm and sense of humor of Hope, Empire and Jedi.
The problem is, it seems to me, that we Star Wars fans were so embarrassed by Episodes I and II (which allowed people to ridicule our pride and joy) that some of us became so hopeful that the Sith would redeem the prequels that we may have become overly-excited by its superior showing to that point that we’re over-complimenting it.
And who could blame us? For there are those who seem to love to trash Revenge of the Sith just to be shocking. Peter Travers of the Rolling Stones, for instance, says: “Drink the Kool-Aid. Wear blinders. Cover your Ears. Because that’s the only way you can totally enjoy Revenge of the Sith.” Was he watching the same movie as me? I realize that there may be legitimate concern that some of the dialogue between Anakin and Padme may be a bit stilted, but the film is over two hours long; there is much more to it than the strange way of talking to each other. Even if you don’t like Star Wars, I find it hard to imagine that an intelligent person couldn’t appreciate its unique universe and characters to some degree.
Anthony Lane, in the The New Yorker, adds in a slightly more clever but no less vicious way: “The general opinion of Sith seems to be that it marks a distinct improvement on the last two episodes... True, but only in the same way that dying from natural causes is preferable to crucifixion.”
Once again, what’s he talking about? He’s certainly being funny, but what basis does he have? I wonder if the people who seem to relish attacking the film even liked the classic episodes (IV-VI). Katherine Monk of the Vancouver Sun, for instance, during her anti-Sith rant (in which she suggests rearranging the letters in Sith to get a “hint” at its quality), doesn’t believe that Anakin could have been seduced by Chancellor Palpatine. “[Even] though,” she says, “any audience member can see Palpatine bears a creepy resemblance to the holographic Sith lord who pops up throughout the franchise, these things are hard for Anakin to see—despite his special blood and ‘chosen one’ status.” Does Monk not realize that Anakin has not seen Return of the Jedi? The Sith lord who bears a resemblance to Palpatine only shows up when he’s talking privately to other dark siders. No one else has seen him! But, of course, snobby reviewers such as Monk who are so bent on being superior to the movie wouldn’t trouble themselves to look deeply enough at the movie’s plot to realize that.
And so I find myself thinking that I have very little interest in the critiques of Revenge of the Sith that come from those who aren’t Star Wars fans in the first place. If a true fan, who can tell the difference between the audience’s knowledge and the characters’ knowledge, tells me the movie was awful, then I’m interested, but otherwise, much like if a non-Opera fan told me that Mozart’s prequel to the Marriage of Figaro doesn’t measure up, I’m going to be less interested than if someone who cares about Mozart told me so.
The problem with only listening to Star Wars fans’ opinions, though, is that they, in my opinion, have got it wrong too with their inflated approval of Episode III to that point that they think that it’s Episode V worthy. And so I am left in limbo with neither the dark nor the light side of the force to join.
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I thought this one really belonged in the realm of the original three, rather than the putrid fourth one, and the very mediocre 5th one.
They did a terrific job connecting everything up, and it makes one want to go see the original 3 again.
I thought the actor who played Anakin did a much better job this time around.
The guy who plays the emperor was terrific.
As per usual, the special effects were fab.
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Happy I saw it in the theatres... very cool effects and I love Ewan McGregor.
Makes me want to watch the old Star Wars series again!
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Yikes, this was one dark movie! I took part in one of the midnight screenings last night, which really added to the ambiance. I remember going to The Empire Strikes Back with my Mother back in the '80s when I was a kid, and got shivers of recognition of the sheer terror I felt back then.
Definitely not one for the kids, but parents should enjoy it!
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