A Rousing 'Revenge'

Rating: 10/10 (23 May 2005)

"A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away...
These words have appeared at the opening of five previous films. They have come to herald adventure, romance, excitement, drama and intrigue. They have ushered audiences into a world of complete fantasy, a place where children young and old could lose themselves for a time, a place where dreams are born. Star Wars, to many of us, has become the new Neverland. And Revenge of the Sith is our last adventure there.
The first two Star Wars prequels received Luke-warm responses from critics and were met with disappointment from fans. The complaints were many and varied, and the debate is ongoing as to which of the two was better (it's Phantom Menace, in case you were wondering). People began to wonder whether George Lucas could bring back the passion we shared as a culture for his original trilogy. He has.
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is a triumphant return to the adventure, romance, and tragedy that have characterized the best of the Star Wars films. This is the story of the downfall of Anakin Skywalker and the destruction of the Jedi order, events that were hinted at but never described in the original films. If Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi tell the story of Luke Skywalker and the redemption of Anakin, then then this new trilogy belongs to Anakin and his descent into evil. It's all been building to this.
To describe the plot is futile, unnecessary and unfair. The parts you know have to happen happen in high style and pack an emotional wallop. The parts you may not know about should simply be seen and enjoyed, without foreknowledge.
What made us accept Star Wars in the first place was the characters. We could relate to them, and the actors embodied their roles and made us believe in them. In Sith, they do so once again. Hayden Christensen's Anakin begins as a brave, strong, powerful Jedi Knight. He believes in democracy and freedom. He also longs for power and recognition, and is plagued by nightmares of his true love's death. He makes us believe his descent into evil, and we feel sad for him even as he makes us hate him. Portman is striking as Padme Amidala, finding just the right tone for her prophetic and broad dialogue, turning obvious, grandiose mythic statements into sad comments. For the first time, Ewan McGregor is not simply doing an Alec Guinness accent and playing some other character; he embodies Obi-Wan Kenobi. His sadness and torment as he watches his friend and pupil betray and destroy all which he has built his life on is strong and real, and shows on screen. The real revelation, however, is McDiarmid. One of the few cast members to reappear in this new trilogy, he is a slimy, underhanded, evil presence, imposing his plans on the Jedi and Anakin subtly and quickly. He has the confidence and the arrogance of the great movie villains.
The effects in the film are some of the best ever created. Everything on screen is utterly convincing. CGI has been more effective only in The Lord of the Rings. Armies of soldiers come to life, weird worlds populated by weird peoples are set in front of us, and fleets of mammoth starships hover in space right before our eyes. The space battle that opens the film is incredible, the digital equivalent of the traditionally created one from Return of the Jedi. The lightsaber duels are fast and furious, the actors so proficient in their swordplay that CG is not needed to enhance the fights, only to provide the surroundings.
This film is the most emotionally involving of the series aside from Empire. The sweeping scale of the events and battles that occur in this chapter never supersedes the importance of the human characters caught up in them. This is the story of Anakin Skywalker, his love, his betrayal, and his turn to evil. A true sense of loss, disappointment, and crippling grief emanate from the film.
Revenge of the Sith is chronologically the third of the six films. In reality, however, it is the sixth in the series, the capstone, the episode we've all been waiting for since Obi- Wan told Luke the truth about his father. This is the crucial moment in the Star Wars mythos. George Lucas has pulled out all the stops, bringing back old friends and enemies, tying all the threads of the Star Wars universe together in a neat bow, and reminding us once and for all why we get goosebumps on our arms when we see the words "A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..."