I was surprised to see myself carrying for Anakin, the most tragic character
of the entire Star Wars saga.
Before I Begin the Star Wars Revenge of the Sith Review
The problem with Star Wars reviews is
that you got to know what kind of moviegoer the person reviewing the film
is. So, before I begin, it is best that I state that I have been a Star
Wars fan since childbirth and have watched the original trilogy a countless
number of times; the new trilogy not so much.
So, before you think I am a Star Wars nut willing to praise the
film just because it is Star Wars, you are dead wrong. I thought
Phantom Menace was a silly mess and Attack of the Clones,
though an entertaining film, lacked any real Star Wars story except
for filler and a weakly drawn love story. But this review is not about the
past films but the final film in the new trilogy of Star Wars--
Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Now the burning question that remains is whether Lucas continued the downhill
road set by the earlier films or did Sith pull away and finally
do the Star Wars series justice?
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith- The Movie
Ewan McGregor plays a wonderful Obi-Wan, playing great tribute to Alec
Guinness.
Revenge of the Sith tells the tale of the end of the Clone Wars
and the final fall of Anakin Skywalker[Hayden Christensen] to the dark side.
A pretty simple premise that just about every moviegoer will know before
entering the theatre. So, we all know that Revenge of the Sith
is supposed to be tragic… and it is.
Tragedy, it turns out, is one of the greatest elements put forward by Lucas
for Star Wars Revenge of the Sith. We all know how the story ends,
but what we don't know is how taken in we will be by the fall of Anakin.
I thought I wasn't going to care for this pre-drawn character. However,
I could not help feeling pity for Anakin, and loved the approach Lucas took
to make Anakin's fall to the dark side very believable.
Even a person that knows nothing about the story of Anakin will understand
why he turned his back on the Jedi order. On that note, let me say that
Ian McDiarmid does a fantastic job playing Emperor Palpatine in his grand
scheme to make Anakin his apprentice. In Revenge of the Sith, Palpatine
gets closer to Anakin and soon becomes his good friend. Unlike what most
would think, getting close to Anakin was easy thanks to a non-supportive
group of friends.
I mean damn, Anakin saves Obi-Wan's [Ewan McGregor] life
and doesn't even get a pat on the back or a hug. Even though Anakin is close
to the Jedi order, they look at him like an employer looks at an employee,
not as family. The closest thing Anakin has, besides his love interest Padme
[Natalie Portman], is Obi-Wan Kenobi. Even though Obi-Wan Kenobi claims
to be a brother, I did not see him, neither any other character, attempt
to throw a vote of confidence over to Anakin. In the end, Anakin was not
only seduced by the Emperor [through offering the powers of the dark side],
but also pushed away by his fellow Jedi.
Yoda does a fantastic job acting for Revenge of the Sith. Seeing
sadness and conflict cross his face is something else.
Anakin's turn to Darth Vader occurs about half way through Star Wars
Revenge of the Sith, which spurs Palpatine to commence Order 66. The
order tells the clone troopers to immediately turn on, and execute, their
Jedi commanders. The five-minute scene where we get to watch Order 66 fulfilled
is some of the coolest five minutes in Star Wars cinema. I had
no idea that Lucas had it in him to create something so poetic. During this
scene we get to jump all over the galaxy to warring planets and watch each
Jedi as they lead their clone troopers into battle to only have them turn
on them. The deaths of the Jedi is a truly sad moment in Revenge of
the Sith. And, to make Order 66 more dramatic, we get to watch the
sadness form across Yoda's face as the force signals the loss of his fellow
Jedi. Watching Yoda grab for his heart in emotional suffering for the deception
placed on his comrades was sensational.
And, since I am on the topic of poetic, one of my other favorite scenes
from the Revenge of the Sith comes when Mace Windu [Samuel L Jackson]
and Jedi company confront Palpatine about being a Sith lord. As this scene
takes place the film cuts to Anakin, who has been forced to remain at the
Jedi council. At this very moment we get to watch Anakin stare off at the
building where Padme lives. It just so happens that Padme is also standing
in her 'apartment' and is staring right back at the Jedi council building.
Lucas then has an almost slow-mo effect kick in while we hear Anakin ponder
the words said by Palpatine claiming that only he can help him save Padme.
After what looks like an internal struggle, Anakin forces himself to leave
the Jedi council to help defend Palpatine and keep the ability to save Padme
alive. This scene was so well done that I even wonder if it was Lucas who
created it.
I can go on and on with this review, but I want to get back in topic, which
is how much better Star Wars Revenge of the Sith is than its predecessors.
And I will end on the topic I had just discussed-- tragedy.
Just when I thought the film could not be any more tragic, we come to the
end of the movie to find Anakin now fully endowed with the Vader suit. So,
what are the first questions to come from the mouth of the new Darth Vader
after coming to? I am not going to say, but it is so cool and sad that you
can't help to still feel for Anakin Skywalker and wish he and Padme could
live happily ever after.
Star Wars Revenge of the Sith- Quick Likes and Dislikes
Ian McDiarmid is superb as Emperor Palpatine.
When it comes to action, Star Wars Revenge of the Sith is dedicated
to bringing it to the big screen. What I also like about Sith is
that the action, though a huge element of the film, does not take over for
nor kill the story we have been waiting decades to hear. The space battles
are excellent, the saber duels are plentiful and at thier best, and the
story is still able to remain. Sigh of relief!
Final Judgment: Star Wars Revenge of the Sith is the film
Star Wars fans have been waiting for. Lucas has stepped up his
game and has served up a better story, better action, and even better
acting for this final installment. I want to give praise to Ian McDiarmid
for creating the wonderfully conniving character that was necessary to
draw Anakin to the dark side, and to Ewan McGregor who not only controlled
most of the emotion in Revenge of the Sith but does a stunning
job of conveying a young Alec Guinness. Can I give more praise? For Revenge
of the Sith-- hell yes! Here is a shout out to Samuel L Jackson for
being a badass Jedi that had to suffer one of the many tragedies in Sith.
To the crew who was able to make the digital character, Yoda, some one
you can care for and believe in. And, finally, to Hayden Christensen whose
acting is so many notches above the previous film.
The Star Wars series has finally come to a close, and now all I want is
more. I will finish by wishing, in a slight sense of melancholy, a ton
of thanks to everyone who worked on the Star Wars movies during
the last three decades for bringing one of the greatest, and now most
tragic, film sagas to ever hit the big screen. Now we all are able to
finally see both the good, and the dark, in Vader.
Score:  
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