Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith   

Anakin Skywalker: Hayden Christensen

Obi-Wan Kenobi: Ewan McGregor

Padme: Natalie Portman

Chancellor Palpatine: Ian McDiarmid

Yoda: Frank Oz

Mace Windu: Samuel L. Jackson

Directed by George Lucas

Written by George Lucas

As a kid, I missed out on seeing the Star Wars movies in the theater, but I literally wore out my VHS copy of The Empire Strikes Back.  Ever since it was announced that the prequels would be made, I. along with every other Star Wars fan in the world, was anticipating the same greatness that marked the original trilogy.  Which is why the first two movies were so disappointing.  Though they were good films (yes, I’m willing to stand behind both of them), they didn’t capture the imagination the way the others had and they failed to live up to the impossible standards that were set. 

That being said, George Lucas finally delivered on what was promised with Revenge of the Sith.  This is what we have been waiting for.  The movie details the turning of Anakin Skywalker to the dark side of the Force, his transformation into Darth Vader, and the Emperor’s rise to power.  And almost everything works.  

If I had one complaint about the film (and it’s a small one), it would be the opening action sequence.  It starts off with a fantastic dogfight in space as Anakin and Obi-Wan attempt to rescue Palpatine.  But it goes on a little too long, becoming clunky and cutesy rather than pulse-pounding as R2 gets in on a little of the action, the battle droids make their throw-away lines, and our heroes constantly get out of one jam after another.  We understand they are in peril.  Do we need it pounded over our heads?  

These scenes suffer from what hurt the previous two movies the most – too much filler and not enough substance.  However, like the rest of the movie, these action sequences are visually stunning and the Star Wars saga has never looked better. 

Lucas’ imagination cannot be rivaled and the background for this film is richer than any of the previous episodes.  The cityscapes and various planetary systems visited are both beautiful and eye-popping.  And the numerous characters that pop up throughout the movie, if only for a scene or two, provide the rich detail that makes these films what they are.  The interesting droid leader General Grievous was a nice addition to the collection of Star Wars characters. 

Most reviewers have been toeing the company line about amazing visuals combined with wooden acting and banal dialogue.  But I disagree.  The screenplay here is the strongest it has been since The Empire Strikes Back.  I’m not saying that it rivals Charlie Kaufman or Quentin Tarantino, but let’s be honest; the Star Wars series has never been about that.  The storytelling is what propels these films forward, and Revenge of the Sith excels here. 

The acting is solid, if not spectacular, as Hayden Christensen has grown into the role of Anakin, providing him with the right amount of moodiness, angst, and inner turmoil as he wrestles with the conflict of what he knows is right and what he feels he must do.  Ian McDiarmid shines as Palpatine, as he brings the same weight to the prequels that Sir Alec Guinness brought to the original movies.  

For me, though, Yoda steals the show.  Yoda’s manner of sentence construction seemed a little forced in The Phantom Menace.  But it’s more natural here as he feels the weight of the universe come down on him during the emperor’s rise and the Jedi’s fall.  He displays determination, bravery and wisdom and it is a remarkable performance, even for a digital creation.  For you Lord of the Rings fans, Yoda is thirty times the character that Gollum ever was, and Frank Oz and the animation team should be commended on giving life to the sage old Jedi. 

Revenge of the Sith is darker than any other Star Wars film (even Empire) and this is where it pays off the most.  Despite knowing that this is where the film has been going, the scenes depicting the various choices that Anakin makes are still sad and intense.  To see the grief and despondency that consume Obi-Wan, Padme, Yoda, etc., upon seeing the transformation in Anakin is truly heart wrenching, and it’s a testament to the acting abilities of Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, and others.  

Finally, there is now a sense of completeness.  I have loved these movies my entire life and as the credits rolled across the screen, I came upon the realization that this is it (well, most likely, anyway).  Revenge of the Sith was both exhilarating and a relief.  As much time as I have invested of myself with these movies, I didn’t want it to fail.  It eradicated all my fears and proved the power that this story and these films have.