Star Wars: Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith (2005)

The sixth and final installment of the saga known 'round the world has finally come to an end, and what a great note it has ended on. I am not a huge Star Wars fanatic, but I love the movies, and own the DVD’s. I have been waiting for Revenge of the Sith for three years. Unlike many other people, I liked Episodes 1 & 2 even though they were not inferior to the first three (or the last three however you look at it). This chapter, though, surpasses at least four of its predecessors. Star Wars Episode 3 expertly blends intense action and arresting emotional journeys for almost every major character. Despite the depth problems that might have arisen with the introduction to new final hour characters, like General Grievous, you actually come learn to know them throughout the movie.

The beginning of Episode 3 opens with a huge action sequence, as gripping as Obi-Wan and Qui-Gon's escape from the Trade Federation vessel in Phantom Menace or the Battle of Hoth in Empire Strikes Back.  Anakin and Obi-Wan set out for General Grievous' command ship to rescue the abducted Chancellor Palpatine. This scene really sets the mood for the first half of the movie. After killing Count Dooku in his second encounter with the man, Anakin, along with Palpatine and Obi-Wan try and land half of a ship disintegrating upon atmospheric re-entry. This is one of the coolest looking visual effects in the movie with all of the explosions and conflagrations riddling the mammoth vessel.

Ensuing this exciting welcome back to the Star Wars universe, the remainder of the first half of the film depicts Anakin dealing with Padame and her unexpected pregnancy, the Jedi Council's search for General Grievous, and the Chancellor trying to undermine and overthrow the Council. During this stretch of the film I was going down the path of the dark side, and not particularly enjoying the movie. The second half of the experience makes for an exceptional payoff, however, and granted me new feelings for the Star Wars epic in general. Even though we know Anakin will become Darth Vader we feel mixed emotions towards his transformation. We struggle to hate and be in awe of him for his villainy and parts he played in the original trilogy, but there is genuine tragedy in his fall to evil that makes the audience feel bad for the messed up kid.  But his treachery is shocking, to be sure.  Seeing him bring about the death of a mentor and ally, Master Mace Windu is one thing, but when Palpatine executes "Order 66" and all of the clone troopers turneon the Jedis and Anakin slaughters his former comrades in the Jedi Temple, I shed a tear.

 

Popcorn

90%

The action scenes are top notch in Revenge of the Sith, with flying battle scenes of monumental proportions, scenes of sci-fi ground warfare, and as many lightsaber duels as the previous five films combined. You will get some of the best battles in the whole series in Episode 3. There are not as many battles as some have touted, mostly just quick duels here and there. The longest duel is probably a tie between Grievous and Obi-Wan, and Anakain and Obi-Wan. These are what movies of this sort are made for, stunning eye candy. The effects couldn’t be better; you can sense people living all around these computer generated worlds. Technological or alien danger is palpable, and landscapes are calm and breathtaking. George Lucas doesn’t disappoint with this much labored over and anticipated effort.

 

Smarts

83%

Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor lead the Revenge of the Sith cast. You can say that the acting is the film's lowest point. Everyone knows that Episodes 1 and 2 had bad acting and bad, long dialogue scenes. But Star Wars has never been about the dialogue; it has always been about the action and the emotional impact on each and every fan with its sense of wonderment. Revenge of the Sith polishes these facets of the series to a renewed shine, and it is incredibly satisfying. Ian McDiarmid gives some awkward and hammy lines, one in particular was during his encounter with Mace Windu as he cries repeatedly, "Nooo!" That moment had the whole theatre laughing,unfortunately. Natalie Portman gives a better performance then she did in Episode 2. Jimmy Smits does well as Senator Bail Organa, who later adopts Leia. Some of the lines are not just a little bad, but really bad. Ewan McGregor gives some of the worst lines in the start of the movie.  Though the prize for worst of these bad lines that made me look around to see if anyone was going to laugh goes to Portman as her character, Padme, sobs to Anakin that he is breaking her heart with his dark deeds.

As everyone knows George Lucas directed the final film in the series. This time he does a far better job then on his previous films. He knows how to direct a cast, and even minor character actors when he puts his mind to it, bad dialogue aside. No person seems out of place.  Even the younglings do well. Lucas is a veteran director and knows how to do his part in making a film. He has had some hard times and some wonderful times. I can say that Star Wars Episode 3 is certainly a high point. George Lucas is the only filmmaker I can think of that can ever say, "I created an entire unique universe in my movies that will live on forever." Let him celebrate this movie as long as it lasts.

 

Final

The end has finally come to one of the greatest sagas ever known. From the beginning LucasFilm logo, to the ending credits, Star Wars is a film that should be seen by everyone in the world. No matter what kind of movies you like you will find something in this series to love, from action to romance, from heroism to betrayal. Episode 3 delivers like none of the others have done. It brings emotional impact to the series no one but Lucas ever could have foreseen. This is quite possibly the best Star Wars movie of them all.