Just when we've all dismissed Lucas as a sell-out and a business-man... he reminds us what he stands for in the movie business.

Rating: 9/10 (3 September 2005)

by Dane Youssef
It's all over. The saga is complete. Lucas has come full-circle and so has the universe and it's inhabitants.
After episodes I and II, Lucas had been accused to selling out on his creation and one of the greatest serial-movies of all time.
He had lost the way. Lost his voice. He'd become the worst thing an artist can be... a businessman. With all the technology and control in the world... he had become lazy.
At times, the movie feels unnatural and at times, I would call this one of the best thing Lucas has ever done.
But this is truly a movie not to be missed.
Ever since I was a little boy, when I first saw Darth Vader, I asked myself, "Is he supposed to be a robot? An alien? Why does he wear that strange suit? Probably just to make him look scary." For those who've all wondered the same, Episode III answers that and a lot of others. And you will never look at "Star Wars" the same way again.
"Sith" is more of an opera than a fairy tale. There is a sad aura of inevitable doom and gloom in nearly every scene. Even in what would be the most upbeat and cheerful scenes, there's a reason for sorrow rather than celebration. "Episode III" contains a dark interior lining in every silver cloud.
George Lucas seems to be trying to make amends for his later and lesser films, and I for one, think he succeeds wholly here.
Lucas runs the gamut totally here and shows the world (just like he did in "THX 1138" and "American Graffiti") that he is a force to reckoned with, even feared. The force is not merely with him, he is controlling it here.
Of course, throughout his whole career and even now, poor Georgie boy has never been able to write so much as a line of realistic dialouge.
I don't like to give things away in movies, but really, what's to give away? EVERYONE who has seen "Star Wars" and anyone who's seen any of the first three released chapters knows EVERYTHING COMING.
We know that Anikan will convert to the dark side and become Darth Vader. We know that the traitor in the midst is Chancellor Palpatine, who will become the Emperor. Padme will bore Luke and Leia. Even in Episode IV, Darth Vader tells us how a showdown between him and Obi-Wan turns out.
But to see how it all came to be is just plain shocking and even a little disturbing. There is such cruelty and sadness in this chapter. Haven't we all grown up laughing and smiling and looking to "Star Wars" for fun and upbeat cheer? "Star Wars" has always stood for escapist fantasy.
His movies are about visual worlds and dreams, not sparkling conversation. Lucas pretty much does it all here, so he exposes all his talents and faults clearly. But he is truly a dreamer. Perhaps Lucas wanted to do it all so he could see (and the whole world could as well) just how good he truly is and what good he's at.
I truly believe that if Lucas wasn't a filmmaker, Lucas would be that older guy sitting around the campfire telling stories. Old, long forgotten legends of ancient lore and spinning some new ones. Lucas is an homage-payer in his movies.
The battles are so amazing, we can forgive everything Lucas has done wrong so far.
He creates beautiful galaxies and worlds, especially the planet Mustafar. Another moment comes in a showdown between one of the great Jedi masters and the great Sith masters.
Perhaps one of the problems was Lucas has all but done away completely with sets. All of his movies since 1999 are filmed in front of green-screens (or are they called "green-rooms"? I forget).
You can finally see why Lucas has abandoned real sets, Muppet's and locations in favor on green-screens. Finally, after all this time... you've never seen a movie like this! The first-class FX are all seamless. I know that this is all a movie... all actors, sets and props... but Lucas made me forget.
Christensen and Portman feel more natural here than they did in "Clones." Probably because their flat, clunky lines (courtesy of Lucas himself) doesn't go on nearly as long.
When Padme' tells Anikan she is pregnant from what they've been doing together (see "Episode II." Or rather DON'T), Anikan seems like this'll get in the way of his becoming a true Jedi knight.
Lucas has problems directing dramatic scenes and even more writing them. As for his love scenes, Good Lord.... But a moment where Padme' expresses her pain at where Anikan is headed and we see his....
The ending is so sad, so heartbreaking. We have to remember that this is only Episode III of VI.
The average American household (or any other country in the world) has Episodes IV-VI waiting for them at home. After Episode III, IV would be good to wash away this downbeat feeling.
"Star Wars" has always been a hallmark of childhood fantasy, but in this entry, everyone does a lot of growing-up. You'd think all this reality and contemporary sadness would ruin the memory.
But no. It doesn't ruin "Star Wars." As a matter of fact, it deepens it.
This is a movie that needs to be seen by every "Star Wars" fan. This is a movie that needs to be seen by every movie fan. This is a movie that needs to be seen by everyone.
See it now.
--May "Star Wars" Never End, Dane Youssef