The Best Since 'Empire' - An Absolute Triumph in Film-making!

Rating: 9/10 (28 May 2005)

I have to say, I was extremely enthusiastic about seeing this movie. I really like Star Wars, and this was supposedly the last film they'd ever have. It would tie up all the loose ends of the saga, and complete one of the most loved and successful movie sagas of all time. The whole ride over to the movie theater that was playing 'Revenge of the Sith', the Star Wars theme was playing in my head, and I was beyond anxious to see how good (or unfortunately, how bad) this film would be. I read good and bad reviews of the third episode of the Star Wars films, some said it was the best one since 'The Empire Strikes Back', and other said it was just a poorly written, loud and expensive peace of Hollywood junk. I had an idea I would enjoy the film, but I didn't know how much. After waiting in line for a half an hour, and sitting in the movie theater for forty-five minutes, those legendary opening credits started to roll, and the crowd started screaming and cheering in excitement. After the film was completed, I knew that this was the best Star Wars installment since 'The Empire Strikes Back', and maybe even better. 'Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith' is more then just a great movie, it's a triumph and a hell of a way to end a mind-boggling Sci-Fi saga. I loved it!
The third episode of the Star Wars film's story is very pessimistic in almost every way. It's the downfall of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) as a good guy and his turn to the dark side and his eventual transformation into Darth Vader. Anakin is a good and honest jedi, but he's very arrogant and pompous. When he's invited to be a part of the jedi council but not made a master, it infuriates him and causes him to become distant from his trainer, Obi-Wan Kenobi (played masterfully, of course, by U.K. film actor Ewan McGregor), and become closer with the corrupt and evil, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), who's secretly the Sith leader (the Jedi council's biggest enemy). Anakin slowly but surely becomes seduced by the dark side, and it effects his relationships with Obi-Wan and his secret wife and former Queen of Naboo, Padme (Natalie Portman - in a very different role then her's in 'Garden State'). George Lucas' latest Star Wars installment, definitely contains the most mind-boggling visuals and action sequences then any of the other Star Wars pictures, with another stand-out fight scene with Yoda kicking Sith butt, and a powerful and visually stunning lightsaber duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan over a river of hot lava.
Although the film's action and story line is truly genius, the film's acting is a little iffy. Ewan McGregor is outstanding as to be expected as the wise jedi master of Anakin, giving the best performance of the film. Natalie Portman is good as always as Padme, and McDiarmid and Samuel L. Jackson give first-rate performances in their roles. The real disappointment is Hayden Christensen. I could think of many actors who could play the role so much better then Christensen. The problem is Christensen isn't that good of an actor, he's very one-dimensional, and to play a character as confused, conflicted and complicated as Anakin Skywalker, you need to be a multi-dimensional actor. He never really made you believe he was going through harsh changes, and that kind of affected the film's greatness. Fortunatley, all the other undeniably wonderful aspects of the film almost make up for his lackluster and tiresome performance. George Lucas does a excellent job directing and writing this soon to be classic, and it's such an improvement of his work on both Episode I and II.
All in all, when everything is said and done, 'Revenge of the Sith' is an incredibly remarkable achievement in science fiction film-making. The reason why Star Wars is such a wonderful and well-received saga, is because the original 1977 film (now known as Episode IV - A New Hope) was such a stride and landmark in American cinema. The original Star Wars really changed the world of film-making forever, and not many people have forgotten that. In closing, 'Episode III' is not only such an important film because of it's extraordinary quality, but because it concludes the film series with the biggest cult following in history -- STAR WARS! Grade: A- (screened at AMC Deer Valley 30, Phoenix, Arizona, 5/22/05)
MADE MY TOP 300 LIST AT #131