A Victory for Great Story

Rating: 10/10 (6 June 2005)

This is not some profound film of ideas, but simply a rattling good yarn, told at pace.
Finally, the bridge between the two earlier prequels and the original trilogy is built. How did it do? I thought great. Lucas balances off the fire cracker special effects and the more human scenes. And goodness, the light sabre duels are something else.
I could mention flaws: the dialogue is stilted in places, and the two doomed lovers don't quite cut it - particularly Padmé, but in the overall power of a strong story line, that does not matter.
Anakin Skywalker is a flawed hero crippled emotionally by a gut-churning terror of death to those he cares for. This was set up effectively in Attack of the Clones. His dark mentor, Palpatine effortlessly exploits this. His near end in the duel with Obi-wan is heartbreaking, as is his descent into evil.
And it is Palpatine's film, or I should say Ian McDiarmid's. Portraying on the one hand the charming and urbane Chancellor of an internally corrupt republic, and on the other hand, what is surely the Evil Overlord to end all Evil Overlords, in Darth Sidious, and brilliantly bringing the two together in malign symbiosis to create the Emperor - this a performance that never falters.
Ewen McGregor finally grows into the role and provides an Obi-wan who is the younger version of the man we meet, played by Alec Guiness, in "A New Hope". His grief at the fall of Anakin is one of the most moving parts of this film.
Honourable mention to John Williams for a triumphant score which builds on the previous music, easily some of the most recognisable motifs to a generation of film goers, and creates a magnificent stand alone classical suite. I recommend the soundtrack CD as a superb listening experience.
One last thing - not for the younger child, and most emphatically not for the more sensitive.
All in all a smashing experience - I've seen it twice, and hope to go again.