Lucas' masterpiece!!

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2005)

Star Wars Return of the Sith is one of those rare movies that is not just a film, it's not just a story, but it is an experience. It's sometimes hard to put into words what these films mean to me and many others. They represent my youth, my passion and everything that I love about film. They take you away to that galaxy far far away, a long time ago. This is nothing short of perfection and not just in ways that are visual, or emotional. This is the epitome of perfection in every sense of the word. It ties everything together, it furthers the story and bridges the gap between the old trilogy and the new one. As Star Wars fans, we have always wanted to know what it is that turned Anakin Skywalker from the promising young jedi into the most evil man in the universe. You meet this cloaked figure in black in ANH and are right away struck by his anger, his power and his pain. There must be pain behind someone who can destroy planets, kill at will and torture for convenience. Where did that pain come from, and what drives him to his insatiable desire for absolute power? All of your questions are answered here. You can see once and for all that Vader/Anakin is one of the most tortured souls in the universe. Knowing that you are powerful, knowing that you have a gift that some just can't appreciate and many don't trust, that can be painful. Seeing what you can see, knowing things ahead of time but yet are seemingly powerless to do anything about it. Darth Vader was born out of pain. He was born not out of a lust for power, but out of the need to save the one he loved. Darth Vader's power comes from hatred, sure, but the genesis of his transformation to the dark side was sealed when he wanted to save the one he loved.
The acting is very well done, especially from Hayden Christnesen and Ian McDiarmid. The dialogue in the film, perhaps in the love scenes is still a little sappy, bit it is just right enough to understand Anakin's descent into the darkside. And this is where the film exceeds all expectations. The path to the dark side is a treacherous one, and Anakin tries to fight it, valiantly, but comes up very short. To say he is seduced by the dark side is like saying Rambo was a good soldier, it is an understatement. And his descent ion into the dark corner known as the dark side of the force is final, it is unfortunate and it is frightening. You can see him fighting it every step of the way, but like Luke in Jedi, wanting to strike down the emperor with his sabre, it is futile. There is just too much that the dark side can offer him, too much that the dark side can trust him with and too much that the dark side can become. Being a jedi is altruistic, being a Sith Lord is all about what is best for you, and only you. Anakin's slow but perpetual descent to the dark side in SITH is the best part of the film. He resists it for as long as he can until one fateful moment when he helps Palpatine out of certain death. And once he crossed that shady area, once he killed without a purpose other than what serves him and only him, he was lost and had now turned to the dark side. The rest was inevitable.
Which brings us to the last half hour of the film. I can't describe the intensity and the brilliance of the film. . By this time Anakin has now fully turned. He is not the master just yet, but he is clearly a better raw jedi than Obi Wan, but as Darth says to Luke in Empire, he is not a jedi yet. Their epic battle amongst flowing lava and red rocks is beautiful to see. The tragedy of watching it is another thing. And then to finally see what happens to Anakin is tragic. More intense yet, is to see how Obi Wan handles it, is actually quite shocking. This is one of the most emotional times in the film. Anakin did it to himself, but to see his fate, no matter how evil of a person you are, you wouldn't wish that on anyone.
To put together three or four story lines at once and captivate the audience at every turn is not easy. But not only does Lucas do it, he exceeds. If there was one word to describe this film, it is masterpiece. Empire is still the best of the series, but to rank the others, you'd have to put this one second...only slightly ahead of ANH. This is everything I had hoped for and more. It bridges the gap and makes you want to go home and watch ANH which I did when I arrived home from the theater. For all of the SW nuts that were disappointed with the two new ones, this is George's vindication. This is his opera, this is his opus to SW fans. He has done it, and he has exceeded far beyond my expectations. To see the six films in the chronological order is a thing of beauty. To remember them for what they stand for is enlightening. SW has changed my life, and even if it doesn't quite do that for some, it is at least is as entertaining as they come.
10/10