Among Star Wars fans who despise the prequels, Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is known to be the best of the three movies. The film certainly has its problems, but it also feels more like Star Wars than the previous two films. This is the story that every Star Wars fan was waiting to see from the beginning.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is the third installment in the Star Wars saga, and is the story of Anakin Skywalkers' turn to the dark side and conversion into Darth Vader. While this certainly is the most predictable film in the Skywalker story, it does have some moments of surprise. We already know what happens in the movie, but we do not know how or why. This movie explains everything in detail, and wraps everything up in an Imperial bow at the end. So let us begin, as always, with the good parts of the film.
As in all the Star Wars films, the action sequences and lightsaber duels are absolutely thrilling to watch. More specifically, the opening shot in the film is something I find quite breathtaking. Visually speaking, everything (including the kitchen sink if you watch closely) is included in the shot. This leads us to a 2-on-1 lightsaber duel with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) battling Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). If the first fifteen minutes of the film do not feel like Star Wars, I do not know what does. It also goes without saying that the planet and sound design is top-notch. Because this movie is much closer to A New Hope in the timeline, certain ships have familiar sounds. I also love all the different noises the creatures and droids make. The planets of Mustafar and Utapau are extremely creative, and are inhabited by beings that are equally as creative, and look quite menacing. Speaking of the ships, I like seeing early versions of X-Wings and TIE Fighters, and knowing that these ships existed long before we saw them in A New Hope. I also enjoy seeing the bond that has formed between Obi-Wan and Anakin. They no longer argue with one another, and have become more like brothers. We also see Anakin pilot, as Obi-Wan puts it, half a ship into the atmosphere and land it. We have seen Anakin pilot ships in the previous films, but this sequence shows that George Lucas being off his rocker is not necessarily a bad thing. I remember being in complete awe of this sequence when I saw this movie in the theater. Also, and maybe this is just me, I find the scenes between Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala (Natalie Portman) to be quite good. Anakin is still hesitant about expressing his feelings, but Padme is always there to comfort and reassure him. Padme also sports a hairdo towards the beginning of the film that will make fans of the original trilogy smile. Speaking of Padme, this is where I would like to start talking about the "how and why" of Star Wars. We all know from the original trilogy that Anakin Skywalker turned to the dark side and became Darth Vader, and we also know that Luke and Leias' mother is not in these films. Revenge of the Sith explains all of this. Anakin Skywalker begins to have visions of Padme dying in child birth, and turns to the dark side so that he can learn its power to save her. This is an incredibly emotional hook that I find to be quite dark, and I particularly like it. As far as Padmes' death is concerned, this is where you can start to psychologically analyze this movie. At the climax of the film, Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) briefly touches the forehead of a mutilated Anakin Skywalker who is lying on the cliffs of Mustafar. There is a theory among Star Wars fans that, because of how powerful the Emperor is, he drained Padmes' life-force from Anakin when he did this, and in so doing, the Emperor killed Padme. I must admit that I cannot completely discount this theory. There are several other theories including: Padme dying from Anakins' force-choke, Padme actually dying in child birth, and Padme dying from a broken heart which is the one I like best. I do not find it completely implausible that, after learning that her one true love committed such horrible acts, Padme could not deal with it, and was so overcome with grief that she could not bear to live anymore. Is it a little too science-fictiony for Star Wars? Maybe. However, one could argue that using mosquito blood to create dinosaurs was too science-fictiony for Jurassic Park but it works for that movie. Also, during the lightsaber duel between Palpatine and Mace Windu, Palpatine just so happens to lose his lightsaber and supposedly give up the fight right when Anakin arrives. Did Palpatine know that Anakin was going to show up to save him? Also, there is so much mystery as to how and why Palpatine ends up looking the way he does. Did Mace Windu really do that to him, or was he using the Sith Mask technique to conceal his true features? Perhaps more importantly, did he know that Anakin was going to get mutilated by Obi-Wan on Mustafar? He always said that Anakin was going to be more powerful than him, so perhaps he sent him there on purpose so that Anakin would not overthrow him. Moving on, I also love the fact that Anakin turns to the dark side while Obi-Wan is away on a mission. I feel that it adds more emotional weight between the characters because Obi-Wan was not around to witness Anakins' acts because had he been there, he might have been able to help him. This is the part of the blog where I address a major complaint about this movie among Star Wars fans. There is a moment in the film where Yoda (Frank Oz) says, "Into hiding I must go. Failed, I have", and to this day I hear people ask how and why he says this. Let me explain: During Yodas' duel with the Emperor, we quickly see a close-up on Yoda where his eyes narrow and he is visibly getting angry. It is because of his anger that he is able to deflect the Dark Force Lightning back at the Emperor. It is also because of his anger that Yoda realizes he can only defeat the Emperor if he turns to the dark side, which he refuses to do. Yoda knows that if he turned evil, he would be even more powerful than the Emperor and the galaxy would be in even worse shape. So, there. Do with that explanation what you will. Whew. Okay, now I shall examine the negative aspects, and see if this movie really is the best of the prequels.
It always bugged me that we did not get to see the Clone Wars in Star Wars movie. We saw the beginning of it in Attack of the Clones, and the end of it in Revenge of the Sith. Now, was that made up for by the 2008 Clone Wars animated series? Absolutely. I just would have wanted to see more of the actual war on film. One of the big problems I have with this film is the lack of time we see Darth Vader in his black suit. The marketing campaign for the movie promised that we were going to see it, even going so far as to feature it prominently on the poster. Then, it is only in the movie for five minutes!!! What the damn hell?!?!?! Now, towards the beginning of the film, Obi-Wan says, "Chancellor Palpatine, Sith Lords are our speciality." Really? Because I seem to remember you and Anakin got your butts whooped three years ago by Count Dooku. Also, towards the beginning of the film, Chancellor Palpatine reminds Anakin of the time Anakin told him about what he did to the sandpeople after they killed Anakins' mother. When did Anakin tell him this? It was not during the last film, and it sure was not during the battle with Dooku. In regards to the battle, why does General Grievous (Matthew Wood) not kill Anakin and Obi-Wan??? It seems to me that the situation would be more grave if they were killed, and Grievous escaped with the Chancellor. Oh, right. The Chancellor is really Sidious, and the battle is all one big test for Anakin to see if he is worthy of being Sidious' apprentice. So, why was this not set up previously in the film? It would have made the entire sequence less confusing. Also, why is Obi-Wan nicknamed "The Negotiator"? What events transpired for him to receive that title?? Moreover, why does Anakin not get a nickname?? What did he do wrong?? Also, what is the "business on Cato Neimoidia" that Obi-Wan refers to towards the beginning of the film after Anakin crash lands the ship?? When the hell did that "business" happen?? Later in the film, Obi-Wan tracks General Grievous to Utapau because the Jedi Council received a message that he was there. The only thing is, before this scene happens, Yoda tells the Jedi Council, "Hiding in the Outer Rim, Grievous is". How did Yoda know Grievous was there BEFORE they got the message??? Then, General Grievous sends the Separatists to Mustafar. He says, "It is a volcanic planet. You will be safe there." How the blazes is a volcanic planet safe??? After that, Obi-Wan drops in on Grievous but does not kill him. He instead gets surrounded by droids in the process. It seems to me that Obi-Wan and Grievous get plenty of chances to kill each one another, and they do not follow through. And how the hell is Grievous trained in the Jedi Arts??? He is a robot!!! While Obi-Wan is on Utapau, Yoda goes to Kashyyyk. Only, Yoda already has an escape pod hidden on the planet before he gets there! How did it get there? I am fairly certain Yoda did not arrive in it. There is also a scene in the film where Obi-Wan says that Anakin has never let him down. I mean, really?? Does he not remember three years ago when Anakin disobeyed him and left Naboo with Padme, thus getting the both of them captured??? Later, during the opera scene, Palpatine tells Anakin to remember his early lessons. What lessons??? When did those happen?? Also, the scene where Anakin tells Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) that Palpatine is a Sith Lord has several writing issues. Anakin says, "I've just learned a terrible truth. I think Chancellor Palpatine is a Sith Lord". How can it be a truth if you only think it is?? Should you not know it?? Then, Mace Windu says, "We must move quickly if the Jedi Order is to survive". Then they proceed to SLOWLY WALK down the hangar bay. Why are they not running as fast as they can to the Chancellor's office to arrest him??? Speaking of which, why did they Jedi not investigate what was going on with the Senate, and arrest Palpatine sooner?? Why did Anakin have to spy on Palpatine? Also, in the hangar bay scene, Mace Windu says, "If what you have told me is true, you will have gained my trust". So, all that business three years ago about sending Anakin on his own mission and being confident with that decision was all a lie??? Next, in the duel between Palpatine and Mace Windu, Palpatine loses his lightsaber. However, when he fights Yoda later he magically has it back? How is this possible? And when did he get it back. Finally, during the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin at the climax of the film, Obi-Wan says, "It's over, Anakin. I have the high ground." What does that mean? Has Anakin had bad luck going uphill before? Also, I would liked to have seen some dialogue between Anakin and Padme where they discuss naming the babies instead of Padme just coming up with them on the spot. And why does the fact that Padme is carrying twins such a mystery for a majority of the film? There should have been a scene where Anakin and Padme find this out.
Well, there you have it. In terms of the narrative and plot points, I personally think that Revenge of the Sith is the worst of the prequels. It certainly feels more like Star Wars than the other two, but I just cannot get past the clunky dialogue and gaping plot holes. I know that I have said in the past that I despise comparing sequels and prequels to one another, but if other Star Wars fans are doing it, so will I.
For me personally, the standout performance is Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine/Darth Sidious. McDiarmid lets all the evil flow in this movie, and it is glorious to watch. I love what he does in the opera scene when he is talking about Darth Plaeguis because you can tell that Sidious was Plaeguis' apprentice, even though he never actually says it, just by the way he delivers the dialogue. Also, the scene where he gives Anakin his new title as Darth Vader is delightfully creepy. If there is one good thing about this movie, it is McDiarmids' performance.
George Lucas returns to the directors' chair for Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith. There are actually a number of things Lucas does well with this film. I love that we see several tie-ins to the original trilogy, such as Obi-Wan saying, "So uncivilized" when he uses a blaster to kill General Grievous. Next, the sequence where Anakin is at the Jedi Temple and Padme is at home, and they are both looking across Coruscant at one another is particularly moving. You get the sense that even though Anakin does not want to do these evil things, he will because he wants to save his wife. The sequence with The Great Jedi Purge is also emotional, although I would have preferred it look more practical and not so computer-generated. I also enjoy the scene where Palpatine creates the Empire. This scene shows how much influence he has over the Senate, and having him raise his hands in glory is so brilliant. I have to say that what I love the most about this movie is that Lucas does not shy away from showing the consequences of Anakins' arrogance. The scene where Anakin gets burned alive on the slopes of Mustafar is haunting to watch. Every Star Wars fan wanted to know how Anakin got inside the black suit, and it was important to show those reasons on screen. For the record, I would just like to say that I claimed that Anakin would be knighted Darth Vader before he got the suit BEFORE I saw the film. I also love that the film is edited in a way that shows the birth of Vader, if you will, while Padme is dying at the same time. The choice to cut back and forth between these events is extremely emotional, and gives off a different feeling than if they showed Padmes' death AFTER Vaders' birth. Also, after Vader receives his armor, there is a scene where he shows his full fury with the Force on the medical bed and destroys everything. This feels very much like an homage to Frankenstein, and Vader is the monster. I love it. Finally, at the end of the film, Yoda tells Obi-Wan that he will teach him how to commune with Qui-Gon Jinn, his old master. It is reasonable to assume that communing with Qui-Gon is how Obi-Wan learns to become one with the Force, and speak to Luke in the original trilogy. George Lucas puts forth his best effort in this film, and that is probably because this is the part of the story that he always wanted to tell.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith brings the original trilogy full circle, and blends the old with the new in a beautiful way. Unfortunately, there are so many problems with the story line that you cannot help but roll your eyes at what George Lucas is thinking. If you enjoy the original Star Wars trilogy, and want to see how Anakin turned to Vader and all that jazz, you will at least like this film. If you hated the other two prequel movies, you will hate this one too. That is all I have to say about this cinematic dungheep.
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