Major milestone in Star Wars saga

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2005)

This movie wares the term "movie" rightfully: It truly moves the viewer. And in a wonderful and exciting way it ties all the loose ends in the saga and bind them together to a harmonic whole structure. "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" describes the path to the dark side and at the same time the way (and perverted art) of political manipulation and manipulation as such, represented by Chancellor Palpatine (played by Ian McDiarmid). Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) see through Palpatines motives and recognize him as Darth Sidious. He passes the knowledge on to Master Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and the knowledge spreads to Master Yoda (voice by Frank Oz) and Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor). Yet Anakin indulges himself to go down the path of the dark side in order to save his wife Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) from dying. She is pregnant with their first child and Anakin has in nightmares similar to the ones he had when his mother Shmi Skywalker (Pernilla August) died some years earlier ( see Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones) seen that Padmé will die when she gives birth to their child. But this is but one of many facets in this colossal filmed mosaic. Go and see it, and watch the other five ones in the saga as well. If you do so you might find that Anakin Skywalker is not only the axis of the saga, but at the same time he is a Faust figure. Like Faust he represents the modern human being who confronted with overwhelmingly obstacles - here in Episode III the possibility of an early death of the love of his life Padmé Amidala - turns to seductive and destructive mental tools and the possibilities connected therewith. In this context it is the dark side of the force which leads to selfishness and black magic, as it is later shown in Episode IV and V where Darth Vader kills an Admiral through the skills of the dark side of the force. In Goethes 'Faust' John George Faust is redeemed through that he never is satisfied with the circumstances of his life even into the moment of his death. Therefore Satan loses his bet with God and Faust can die with peace because his lust for life and his curiosity towards life itself never stops. His devotion to never stop learning and to continue to ask crucial questions to everything that surrounds him and the situation of his life saves him. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader is redeemed through the help of others. He is redeemed and saved through the love and trust of his yet unborn son Luke, and beyond his death is forgiven by Leia (see Episode VI) but that is another story. Conclusion? Episode III is a 'must' to see together with the other episodes!
Johannes A.D. Sveigaard