spectacular finish to the saga

Rating: 8/10 (5 July 2005)

With "Star Wars: Episode III - The Revenge of the Sith," we finally end up back where we started 28 long years ago with the original groundbreaking film. In this final piece of the puzzle, we learn what it is that causes Anakin Skywalker to finally give up his Jedi knighthood, cross over to the Dark Side, and become the dreaded Darth Vader.
"The Revenge of the Sith" is more consistent in tone and feels more of a piece than the previous two installments, though, I must confess, that those earlier works - especially "Attack of the Clones" - have grown some in stature on subsequent viewings. What makes "Sith" an effective film is that it has a real human drama at its core, as an individual of great potential undergoes a tormenting inner struggle between light and dark, love and hate, good and evil. And even though we know which of those choices he will end up making, we are still fascinated to finally see how exactly it comes about. For the most part, Lucas paints Anakin's conversion in believable, telling strokes, and we are surprised to discover that it is prompted more by fear and love than by greed and hunger for power. And if the dialogue isn't always up to snuff, well, one doesn't necessarily expect Shakespearean language in a work designed for mass media consumption - even if that work deals in such grand Shakespearean themes as pride and honor, courage and envy, jealousy and betrayal.
Although Anakin (Hayden Christensen) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) have been granted ample screen time in this episode, it seems a shame that Padme (Natalie Portman) has gone from being an elected queen in "Phantom Menace" to a senator in "Attack of the Clones" to little more than a simpering housewife in this installment. It sure doesn't do much to enhance Lucas' reputation as a 21st Century feminist. Oh well, at least Jar Jar Binks has been reduced to little more than a silent walk-on part. That's some compensation at least.
On the technical level of computer-generated backgrounds and special effects, the work here is on a scale and of a quality never before seen in any motion picture. Indeed, it is safe to say that every single shot in this film is a visual masterpiece, an extraordinary evocation of a world that could only exist in the mind of a creative genius like Mr. Lucas. He has achieved wonders here far beyond anything we thought even he was capable of doing. For that alone, the film will earn its niche in movie history.
But even more impressive is the fact that, with "Sith," Lucas has accomplished something no filmmaker ever has before. He has brought his audience full circle, completing an epic adventure at the place where it originally started. The sense of satisfaction is immense at the end, as we see the seeds being sown for the adventure we know lies just down the road a bit, with characters whom we came to love three decades ago. He almost single-handedly proves that media res works can have their own poignancy and power.
Our hats are off not only to Lucas and his army of master craftsmen who have brought this monumental effort to completion, but to the audience who never wavered in their faith and who had the fortitude and patience to stick it out with him even when the prospects didn't always appear so encouraging. All I can say ison to Episode 7?!