Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Every so often, a film event captures the imagination like nothing that preceded it.
In 1977, a relative newcomer to the film industry used his vivid imagination to create a universe that one could only dream of in the modern world. With a flood of negative news such as the Vietnam War, a bad economy, and a government that would not or could not help, one man changed entertainment and 28 years later, he finished the story he began, amid much enthusiasm and mild concern. Said concern was due to the previous two attempts to continue the Star Wars Saga. Both films were commercially successful, but were heavily criticized by both critics and fans. There were elements that were enjoyable and quite clever, but there were too many flaws to overlook for many. 2005 brought the final episode to the grand saga and closed the story on Luke and Leia’s biological roots. Although there is a 2 decade gap between the two, the saga is linked now the way it always should have been.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith opens with astonishing visuals that tantalize and engage the viewer. With graceful moves, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) and the iconic Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) fly their ships in what seems to be a fluid motion, reminiscent of a ballet. Chasing after a war general that has captured the leader of the Galactic Republic; they are concerned with only the Chancellor’s rescue. General Grievous, who holds Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), is a well-designed cyborg who hopes to trap the two Jedi. Along with Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), the plot thickens for the two rescuers. Once again, R2-D2 is right in the thick of the action, and as usual provides comic relief when needed. That aspect is probably why “he” is so highly regarded in the Star Wars universe. Once the rescue is concluded and Skywalker is back home, he learns a truth that he was not prepared for, but is a pleasant one. His wife, Senator Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman), is very happy and is prepared to retire. However, with the Clone Wars still in full swing, there will not be much of a chance. Skywalker, still very attached to the Chancellor enjoys the action, but is ill-prepared for the life of a Jedi or its tenets, despite trying to for a decade. There is also a Sith Lord lurking around the galaxy and has eluded the Jedi for decades. With all the chaos, how can the Jedi close in on him? The causes that the Galactic Republic and Confederacy of Independent Systems fight over are seemingly unknown to many. One side claims they want independence. The other claims they want to keep a united Republic. Sound familiar? What isn’t familiar is that the C.I.S. is being led by a puppet master, a Sith Lord without even knowing it. Revelations is what Revenge of the Sith is heavy on and it delivers. The fallout is all that the film is about and from the opening scene it falls and falls and falls until total hell breaks loose.

The script is clever at some points and is very reminiscent of the original Star Wars film (now Star Wars: Episode IV-A New Hope). Witty dialog and humorous antics by the comic relief of R2-D2 mixes with ridiculous, spaceship battles mix with youths trying to find their way, and an exciting and dramatic finish. The last hour is as dark as anyone could possibly expect and in some cases may be beyond that.

Lucas has his faults and they are prevalent. The direction is average at best, as some scenes look awkward due to wooden acting. The skill and talent of the actors is very good and that sometimes carry a scene, but isn’t enough to overcome deficiencies of direction and script. A viewer might even wonder, “What might this have been like had Spielberg directed this?” A tighter, better film is what the answer would be. There are several moments where the viewer may roll eyes or scoff at the dialog, but it is much stronger than its two predecessors. Still, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is another film that pleases on a grand scale. The story is terrific, the visuals excellent, and the merging of two separate parts of one story intrigue the mind and enrapture the imagination. The final hour is intense and devastating emotionally. Long time fans knew what was coming and the visuals don’t disappoint. Revenge of the Sith is the perfect title for the film. It not only parallels Return of the Jedi-the closing episode of the Star Wars Saga, but also is single-minded, whereas its counterpart has layers. This is reminiscent of the Jedi/Sith relationship throughout the timeline. This is a film where flaws can be overlooked for the greater story. Star Wars is a saga that does not need to be Citizen Kane. It is a fantasy set in the past with elements of the future. While four of the six films won’t be hailed as cinematic masterpieces, and may even be thought of as less than worthy, one thing is for certain. Despite the prevalent flaws and issues the films have, Star Wars is a story that will transcend generations with its epic scale, sweeping score, and very original-yet very inspired story and will forever change the landscape of film and the imaginative mind.

The Star Wars Saga is not for everyone. Not everyone likes fantasy films and that is perfectly okay. But for those that do, unlike the previous two episodes in the saga, Revenge of the Sith delivers when it really needed to. The “Expanded Universe” of the Star Wars realm may have some nice additions to it from external writers, but no one but George Lucas who created this “playground” could have made this. As the film fades to black we are reminded of the original again. And that just makes one smile. Because after the destruction levied by the Sith, the battle to save the Galactic Republic is over … or is it? Nineteen years later, the fate of the galaxy will once again shift.