Return of the FUN

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2005)

Well, i just got back from the midnight show and... wow.
Let me try to break that down a little.
First, the CGI work is fantastic, magical, and it feels real in a way that, say, jar jar never did. Besides the (very true) criticism of jar jar as being annoying and stupid, "he" was also a bad effect -- he always seemed super-imposed on the film, not quite real (however good the animation, in isolation, may have been). This movie has conquered that problem. The equally-all-CGI General Grievous, for example, really feels like "he" is sharing scenes with Ewen McGregor and Hayden Christensen. The battle scenes, especially the opening space battle, are astonishing, it's like being on a thrill ride. The light saber battles -- and there are many -- are far beyond any that have come before. The only one that even comes close is Luke-Vader in Ep. V -- and that was so good more for the emotional content than the sword-play.
Which is a nice segue to: the emotional landscape. Lucas has received (much deserved) criticism for paying more attention to his special effects than to his actors, and this film doesn't completely turn that problem around. However, the film does have a powerful emotional pull. The friendship -- the love -- between Obi-Wan and Anakin is very well portrayed in the first half, which is essential to the overall film, or Anakin's fall into darkness wouldn't be so moving. It is surprisingly affecting -- I guess I didn't expect to feel upset about Anakin turning into Darth Vader, since I've known that fact for 25 years. But knowing it and seeing it play out on screen are very different things... there are many little moments where I found myself thinking "if only..." or "don't treat him like that! don't you know what you are driving him towards?" The only way to describe what is being portrayed is "tragedy," in the classical sense. Perhaps that's a little high-falutin' for a popcorn flick, but like I said, it was surprisingly moving.
The Padme-Anakin "love" affair (and its disintegration) is less-well realized, for two reasons -- first, Lucas has never (in this film or in Ep. II) shown us this supposed love, he just has the characters say "I love you" a lot -- which is NOT the same thing. (By contrast, Obi-Wan and Anakin show that they love each other, without saying it -- which is much more effective.) Still, Lucas does a good job of linking Anakin's love for -- and, more importantly, fear of losing -- Padme to his descent to the dark side. Second, Natalie Portman just isn't as good as Ewen McGregor, who does a great job of communicating his love for Anakin -- and his anguish over what he becomes. Which leads me to...
The acting. Well, Hayden is better than Ep. II, but still not great. He does a very good job in the first half, playing the charismatic hero, but can't fully pull off the (admittedly difficult) task of conveying Anakin's conflicting emotions, loyalties, fears, doubts... Still, he does a passable job.
Natalie Portman is a fine actress, but in this film, she seems lost most of the time. In fact, she has taken a step backwards from Ep. II, where I actually believed she was a politician trying to solve the complexities of the Republic's dying days. Here, she seems passive, and can't negotiate the conflicting emotions her character is supposed to be feeling. She isn't a liability, however; it's just that she could have done more with the material (and probably would have in the hands of a more capable director).
The two actors that shine are McGregor (as Obi-Wan) and Ian McDiarmid (as Palpatine). These two basically put the film on their backs and carry it throughout -- and a fine job they do of it, too. McDiarmid obviously relishes being able to blossom into the Emperor's full evil, but it is his subtle -- and not-so-subtle -- manipulation of Anakin, orchestrating his fall into the dark side, that really steals the show. Ewen McGregor is the best actor here, however (with all due deference to the amazing Samuel L. Jackson -- the Mace Windu role simply doesn't give him enough room to do what he does so well, although he does have more to work with in this film, compared to Eps. I and II). McGregor does an outstanding job of communicating the tragedy of Anakin's fall, through the prism of the man who knew -- and loved -- him the best. i can't say enough good things about him.
Other elements: John Williams' score is top-notch, with more of the familiar themes from Eps. IV-VI cropping up. Everybody else involved in the production was either good or excellent, with the visual and audio FX taking top prizes. great cinematography, costumes, sets. it's really a visually stunning work.
Bottom line: I say 8 out of 10 for this one, a thoroughly engrossing and enjoyable film (if not a classic destined to endure the ages...).
The "Saga" final rankings, best to worst (IMNSHO):
1. The Empire Strikes Back (V)
2. A New Hope (IV)
3. Revenge of the Sith (III)
4. Return of the Jedi (VI)
5. Attack of the Clones (II)
6. The Phantom Menace (I)
good job, George.
edit: I am a parent of two boys (9, 6) who have been very excited to see this film, but I had to make the tough decision that my 6 year old cannot go, and my 9 year old can only go if we skip some of the most disturbing scenes. I would strongly advise parents of kids under 12 or 13 to see the movies first, THEN decide whether your kids can go.