Episode III one year on...

Rating: 7/10 (14 July 2006)

After watching ROTS for the first time last year I immediately wrote a very applauding review and gave the film 9/10. Here 14 months on and just having watched it for what must have been the tenth time, I feel suitable to deliver as fair and balanced an opinion of the film as ever am I to give.
Its far from perfect, standing equal with the Return of the Jedi in ranking and far above Episodes I and II. What it does provide however a solid bridge, uniting the trilogies and creating a saga. This is something it occasionally does too well, are we really to be convinced that technology and fighting skills will drop so drastically in twenty years, this is explained in great detail by many fans but reasons such as Obi Wan is too old to fight well etc. (then how come a 900 year old Yoda is so good?) will never satisfy the average cinema goer, but these problems are more a reflection of modern techniques than flawed storytelling... and its with storytelling where Episode III excels.
Its a less than perfect script, sometimes stilted, occasionally witty and very very star wars. But the basic storyline is a solid analysis of the manner in which power corrupts individuals and those around them. What we have is Anakin, a character with a desperation to impress as big as a desire for power. When he receives easier satisfaction from Palpatine than his more moral mentor Obi-Wan he gives in to the dark side, something enhanced by his desire for power and to protect the only thing in the universe more important to him than himself. It is only age and the moral actions of his son which make him see the clear way. I find it hard to believe he would slaughter the young-lings personally but every other one of his actions make sense once he has turned. The climatic clash, especially that between Anikan and Obi-Wan, also feels emotionally charged and is satisfying, even if it still comes second to the fight in Episode I in terms of choreography. The final shot is also beautifully understated and says more than any of the others, whether your watching it as the middle or the end of the saga.
The acting, which seemed so improved at the time, is now a matter of contention for me. Firstly Ian McDiarmand is still perfect for the role, calculated, charismatic and with a cold comfort as Palpatine, while raw, dark and villainous as Sideous, everything that could have been expected of the role. Frank Oz also provides a enjoyable last act for Yoda and Jimmy Smits deals well with what is demanded of the part. I also wish Christopher Lee was given a bigger role (Grevious (horrible) should have been cut and Lee given his role for the rest of the movie culminating in a rematch between Obi and Dooku). Ewan McGregor is very good in places as the witty and mature Obi-Wan of the earlier scenes but loses a level of emotion between the attempt on his life, at least until he is reunited with Anakin. Christensen, always over criticised, does improve vastly from Episode II, especially after falling to the dark side. He is still a stilted irritation in romantic scenes (indeed he and Portman were never a patch on Fisher and Ford), but makes up for it in the terrific last 10 minutes of his role, unleashing an emotional ferocity not seen since the death of his mother, it is a shame that Lucas did not allow him to spread his wings more earlier which may have improved the films and lessened criticism. There are however two weak links. Portman, who seemed suited to the royal dignity of Amidala in Episode I, never convinced as Padme and its often hard to understand why Anakin cares for her so much when she is portrayed with so little charisma. Addtionally Sam Jackson just seems to be on autopilot in 'badass' mode, frowning his way through the film and never giving any real reasons why his character is held in such high regard... he seems less in control of his emotions than Dooku even.
Finally the effects are still terrific, although I do wish more sets had been used along with a far greater number of locations (there was no need for Utapau to be entirely CG). The sound is perfect and one of the best examples in modern film. The score is also one of Williams best, full of dark crescendo's and tragic strings.
Overall though this is still one hell of a ride. Enjoyable, fast paced, it reminds you what it was like to sit back and enjoy a film at face value... to be carried away for a couple of hours and relax entirely into a alien environment. The light-sabre fights also rock...