And so started everything

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2005)

The Revenge of the Sith is the movie which completes the trilogy of prequels of Star Wars, storying the rise of the Empire, the transformation of Anakin to Vader and the begin of the conflict shown in the original Star Wars film and trilogy.
From many points of view the film reaches perfection. The picture is amazing. Graphics of battles, mechanics, creatures, planets etc. are state of the art. The plot is self-contained and completely free of decorative and redundant elements and scenes, while it still binds perfectly elements and facts of all 5 other Star Wars Episodes and it still serves the goal of storying the domination of the Sith and the fall of Anakin. New elements are brought without annoying or disturbing. The hole mystery/ history of characters and facts of Star Wars is revealed in the best possible way and the continuity to Episode IV could not have been better managed. As Anakin gets closer to the dark side, with the help of Palpatin, the spectator conceives the dark side and its philosophy of power as never before in Star Wars. Finally, acting and dialogs are much more improved than in all other Episodes.
And some remarks: after the slow-moving plot of Episodes I and II, III had to catch up with an overload of action and events. The film is quite condense. The spectator is challenged and overwhelmed (prefer watching the film someplace where film breaks still exist). Padme's role, though well played, is much more passive than in I and II. C3PO is put too much aside. The Jedi/Sith dismemberment fetish of George Lucas will test your stomach bearing. Connection problems: Ewan McGregor is too young to become Alec Guiness in IV, Palpatine is too old to exist in V, the Death Star was in much too advanced construction stage, only to be inaugurated in IV, Leia knew her mother far too little as to be able to speak about her in VI and Anakin is much younger and more good looking than the Jedi ghost originally shown in VI.
There is a great generation bias in grading and commenting a Star Wars Episode. However, if you, like me, belong to the generation which first show Star Wars on TV screen and first lived in theaters the 90ties film industry then this will be an Excellent Movie and will become your Best Star Wars Episode.
May the Force be with you (Es moege die Macht mit Ihr sein)