And so the saga is now complete...

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2005)

Star Wars: Episode III  Revenge of the Sith
As the Clone Wars continue, General Grievous (voiced by Matthew Wood) launches a daring attack on the planet of Coruscant, and kidnaps Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his long-time apprentice and friend, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), successfully rescue Palpatine, who rewards Anakin by making him his official representative on the Jedi Council. But Anakin soon realises that all is not well with the council members, who instead order him to spy on Palpatine. He is also plagued by disturbing visions of his beloved wife, Padmé (Natalie Portman), and fears for her safety in these uncertain times. As he is torn between what he feels is right and the people he loves, he must decide whether or not he must stand alongside his fellow Jedi, or succumb to the Dark Side of the Force forever.
In my eyes, the original trilogy of 'Star Wars' can hardly be considered classics, but they were enjoyable and lively enough to cause a monumental letdown when the long-awaited first two chapters of George Lucas's seminal space opera were released years later. 1999's 'The Phantom Menace' had all the elements to make another great entry in the franchise, but the film was just lacking in the energy so abundant in the first three instalments. In some ways, 'Attack of the Clones' was even worse, not completely mauling the series, but pissing on its legacy with its bloated cornucopia of cartoon-ish special effects, poor pacing and dull acting. If it took George Lucas two whole films to see through the gravy and realise that the same formula can't work all the time, then 'Revenge of the Sith' almost makes the other two prequels forgivable. Maybe it's the lack of expectation from this film that it actually surprises, or maybe George Lucas really did get around to pulling his pants up, but whatever the reason, 'Revenge of the Sith' ranks right up there with the original trilogy.
It doesn't start out that way, though. I'd be hard-pressed not to feel waves of nostalgia as the John Williams theme booms and the opening scrawl rolls up the screen, but when the film starts, one might fear that Lucas has failed once again in his efforts to wash the spirit of the originals over the audience. The opening sequences are a marvellous spectacle to behold, realised greatly by ILM's team (in their best ever work on the prequels), but hardly involve the feelings like, say, the attack on the Death Star in 'A New Hope'. However, later in the film, once the pieces start moving around the board to get into position in time for the next entry, you will sure to be hooked. 'Revenge of the Sith' is probably the darkest 'Star Wars' film to date, even after 'The Empire Strikes Back'.
And so the saga is now complete.
~ 8/10 ~