| |
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
|
|
| Year: |
2005
|
|
Director: |
George Lucas
|
| Stars: |
Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Frank Oz, Jimmy Smits, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Keisha Castle-Hughes, Bruce Spence, Wayne Pygram, Temuera Morrison, Peter Mayhew, Silas Carson
|
| Genre: |
Action, Science Fiction, Romance |
| Rating: |
  6 (from 7 votes) |
| Review: |
I’m blown away. I ever so amazingly and truly am. These trembling fingers tell the tale. These weary eyes have seen it. I’ve lived the glory that truly was Star Wars: Episode III. I was there at midnight with the nerds and their lightsaber wars. I have a picture of me posing with a girl dressed as the blue twilek jedi. It was truly a night to remember, definitely what you would call an “event movie”. My first impression upon leaving the theater was the exact same one I had upon seeing the trailer, and of hearing that Steven Spielberg left the movie crying – George Lucas has been holding out on us.
Truly it was just such a humbling experience to see Star Wars be great again. I think it really brought out the kid in a lot of people that had fond memories of Luke Skywalker, and Chewbacca, and the whole thing.
Oh, what’s that? Is it possible there is someone reading who is unfamiliar with this whole “Star Wars” thing? Well then, this probably isn’t the best movie to start watching, it would be kind of like going to see The Passion of the Christ and having no idea about this whole “Bible” thing. So, for those who missed out, let me sum up without spoiling anything for those fans who truly and desperately want to be surprised at every twist and turn despite the fact that they basically already know how this movie is going to end.
Chancellor Palpatine has taken a keen interest in a young jedi named Anakin Skywalker whom he seeks to turn to the dark side of the force. Palpatine of course is the Emperor from the Star Wars movies of the 70s and 80s and he basically seizes control of things out from under the nose of the jedi council who don’t trust him. Anakin’s master, Obi Wan Kenobi, is naturally wary of someone so young being given so much power, and plus Anakin is so darn impatient. So, while Obi Wan is on a mission to destroy General Grievous, Palpatine declares to his troops that the jedi have turned on him, and so orders them all killed, only Obi Wan and Yoda survive the attack. This leads us quite fittingly to the twin final battle scenes between Obi Wan and his former apprentice Anakin Skywalker, now newly dubbed “Darth Vader” (like what kind of a name is that right?), and Yoda and Palpatine. For anyone who knows anything at all about Star Wars these battles may seem a bit anti-climatic since you know already that all four of the combatants survive. Meanwhile Anakin’s wife... [Plot spoiler removed! - Sorry - Ed!]
So that’s the plot, sort of, but what a ride getting there! Along the way we are treated to fight scene after fight scene, climactic chase after chase, and words of wisdom and deception imparted by Obi Wan, Yoda, and Palpatine. Palpatine actually dominates a lot of the proceedings, as he plays both villain and mentor with equal aplomb. When he’s good, he’s pretty good, but when he’s bad, he is really bad. He twists and tempts Anakin to the dark side of the force and of course succeeds in a way that would once again cause me to give away a plot device, which I flatly refuse.
How Revenge of the Sith really shines over its two predecessors though is a more direct storyline, and conversation scenes, particularly between Hayden Christiansen (Darth Vader) and Natalie Portman (Queen Amidala), that are actually bearable and sometimes enjoyable.
I can’t remember what the plot of the previous two Star Wars films were except as an extension of this one in turning Anakin Skywalker into Darth Vader. I recall there was something about saving Naboo, but, uh, forget it. Hayden Christiansen didn’t make me cringe every time he spoke this time. He must have taken some acting lessons, but then again, I always believed the way he acted as a spoiled impatient child.
So that’s that, the Dark Side wins, lightsabers are all over the place, and Yoda lights up the screen every time he appears. See you in another fifteen years for part seven!
|
| Reviewer: |
Joshua Dudley
|
| |
|
|
Display comments