'Sith' Happens

Rating: 8/10 (19 May 2005)

Revenge of the Sith, is the binding tie. Its the movie that has been long awaited by Star Wars fans around the globe as the movie to link the six chapters together, and as a scene setter for the original three movies, George Lucus could not have done better.
In a trio of prequels which started rather acrimoniously with Phantom Menace back in 1999, Lucas seems to have redeemed himself with the final two instalments, which fit together so much better, and in so doing he has succeeded in presenting us with six of the greatest films ever made and the ultimate space saga to which all others will be compared to but never equalled.
The planets, characters, organisations, weapons and equipment are all now household names and part of the daily lexicon, and I do not believe there is another movie or series of movies that comes close to achieving the popularity and the hype that the Star Wars movies have achieved.
When outlining this movie, it is pointless in trying to avoid posting spoilers as to what is going to happen, as its already been explained to us all in the original Star Wars movie, episode IV. As a result the movie itself isn't exactly loaded with 'surprises' but pure entertainment is still to be found as Lucas and his talented team of actors, weave and complete the final well known story, of the rise of the empire, the destruction of the republic and the Jedi Order, and Anakin's final surrender and defection to the 'Dark Side' I'm sure George Lucas had good reasons in starting his movie series, in the middle of the saga, but I do feel, that no matter how good these prequels are as movies in their own right, they do suffer slightly for the audiences knowledge of what is to come.
Gripping 'edge of your seat' action scenes are denied us, as we know, when Anakin and Obi-wan take each other on in a battle to the death, that it will be nothing of the sort, as both characters feature in the next three movies which we of course have already seen.
But lets not try and let these misfortunes get in the way of a classic movie. This is definitely the best of the prequels, and one that puts us all in the mood, to return home and watch A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, all over again.
Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christiansen, Natalie Portman, Samuel L. Jackson and Christopher Lee all shine throughout, and there is not one bad performance in the entire film, but special mention to McGregor, who took on the Alec Guiness persona to almost perfection, leading us on to Guiness' own Kenobi in A New Hope with added credibility.
The only things Star Wars fans have to look forward to now, is the special edition box set DVD or a theatre brave enough to show all six films back to back in a Star Wars Marathon, and for what it's worth, you can put my name down for both.
May the Force be with you........always.