Strong with the force is this one
It's true. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" redeems the saga and justifies the very existence of the first two prequels. George Lucas has made, if not the best, then the most emotional "Star Wars" film of them all.
"Revenge of the Sith" opens with a sprawling space battle. Anakin and Obi-Wan navigate through the Battle of Coruscant to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, and eventually board the ship that he is being held captive on. When I first saw this scene, I didn't like it, thinking that R2-D2 has far more gadgets and functions than he does in the original trilogy (a plot inconsistency, that, alas, I am willing to forgive) and that it was too comical. But when I watched the film again, I realized that it is the perfect beginning: "Sith" is for the most part, extremely dark, so we needed at least a little light-hearted fun in the tradition of the original "Star Wars."
From there the film really takes off. Well, mostly. There are some cringe-inducing love scenes and terrible dialogue. However, these moments are mercifully few, and Christensen and all the other actors improve over their work in "Attack of the Clones."
But let's get back onto why this film is good, shall we? Well, the plot is much more believable than in "Menace" and "Clones". As I mentioned earlier, the acting is for the most part well done. Ian McDiarmid almost "steals the show." He does a great job slowly manipulating Anakin's mind and turning him to the dark side. The special effects dazzle, though unlike "Clones" the whole film is not centered around them.
I also found this the first film since "Return of the Jedi" where Lucas has been able to convey some emotion on the screen. I was extremely saddened when Palpatine tells the Clones to "Execute Order 66" and one by one the Jedi die. My heart ached when Anakin finally succumbed to the dark side. My bone was chilled when Anakin took his first breath as Vader and when Palpatine announces that the Republic will become The Empire.
But most of all, I was impressed by the conclusion to the Mustafar lighstaber duel. This film did a good job establishing the close friendship between Obi-Wan and Anakin. In the second film they are just master and apprentice, but in "Sith" their relationship has grown. And when Obi-Wan is forced to chop off all of Anakin's limbs except his mechanical arm I truly felt sorry. Obi-Wan declares that "we were like brothers" and that he loved Anakin. This is by far the most emotional part of the film.
All in all, "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is a great conclusion to the "Star Wars" saga. I will definitely be buying this on DVD and adding it to my collection the first day it comes out.
"Revenge of the Sith" opens with a sprawling space battle. Anakin and Obi-Wan navigate through the Battle of Coruscant to rescue the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, and eventually board the ship that he is being held captive on. When I first saw this scene, I didn't like it, thinking that R2-D2 has far more gadgets and functions than he does in the original trilogy (a plot inconsistency, that, alas, I am willing to forgive) and that it was too comical. But when I watched the film again, I realized that it is the perfect beginning: "Sith" is for the most part, extremely dark, so we needed at least a little light-hearted fun in the tradition of the original "Star Wars."
From there the film really takes off. Well, mostly. There are some cringe-inducing love scenes and terrible dialogue. However, these moments are mercifully few, and Christensen and all the other actors improve over their work in "Attack of the Clones."
But let's get back onto why this film is good, shall we? Well, the plot is much more believable than in "Menace" and "Clones". As I mentioned earlier, the acting is for the most part well done. Ian McDiarmid almost "steals the show." He does a great job slowly manipulating Anakin's mind and turning him to the dark side. The special effects dazzle, though unlike "Clones" the whole film is not centered around them.
I also found this the first film since "Return of the Jedi" where Lucas has been able to convey some emotion on the screen. I was extremely saddened when Palpatine tells the Clones to "Execute Order 66" and one by one the Jedi die. My heart ached when Anakin finally succumbed to the dark side. My bone was chilled when Anakin took his first breath as Vader and when Palpatine announces that the Republic will become The Empire.
But most of all, I was impressed by the conclusion to the Mustafar lighstaber duel. This film did a good job establishing the close friendship between Obi-Wan and Anakin. In the second film they are just master and apprentice, but in "Sith" their relationship has grown. And when Obi-Wan is forced to chop off all of Anakin's limbs except his mechanical arm I truly felt sorry. Obi-Wan declares that "we were like brothers" and that he loved Anakin. This is by far the most emotional part of the film.
All in all, "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is a great conclusion to the "Star Wars" saga. I will definitely be buying this on DVD and adding it to my collection the first day it comes out.
- seandirector
- Jun 3, 2005