Tale of the Tragic Hero.....

Rating: 10/10 (22 May 2005)

My ticket to the midnight screening was bought a few weeks in advance. The two hour drive from Los Angeles to San Diego was hampered just a little by routine L.A. traffic on southbound I-5. I could've stayed in Los Angeles and caught the film at my favorite theater, the Arclight,but the experience just wouldn't have been the same without my friends who were just as loyal and enthusiastic to see this film as I was.
Going to the midnight screening was a first for me. Never before have I gone out of my way to skip a day from work and travel a couple of hours to see a movie. But this was no ordinary sci-fi fantasy flick. It was an international cultural event spanning the last 30 years. A cinematic experience that defined a generation and ignited the wonderful possibilities of storytelling and the magic of film-making.
I arrived at my buddy's place about a quarter to 10. Getting affected and hyping ourselves up before the main event. I consider myself an eager and hopeful fan, but certainly not to the extent of strapping a plastic toy light-saber on my belt or dressing up like a miniature Chewbacca. I'm a healthily obsessed fan, not a Star Wars zealot. But I admire those who express the spirit of the Star Wars universe, wearing handmade Jedi robes, and dressing their children in Darth Vader costumes. Those memories will serve them well. One of my friends brought his camera to snap digital Kodak moments of the last of the (supposedly) last chapters of the franchise and I couldn't help but feel a sense of communal warmth in a theater filled with droves of dorks of all ages celebrating a film that was much more than just mere entertainment.
After waiting nearly a couple of hours and getting to know our fellow spectators around us, the lights dimmed to showcase 15 minutes of crappy trailers that didn't matter. Then the curtains widened to the edges and the trademark drumbeats of Twentieth Century Fox and the Lucasfilm, Ltd logo rolled the audience to silence and soon immersed us in a tale that happened a long time ago, in a galaxy far far away.....
I will not give the story away, but I will say it opens with a bang as a film on such an epic scale rightfully should. Intense action sequences seem to leapfrog one right after the other. Lightsaber duels are majestic and visceral, having saved the best duels for last. John William's moving score masterfully delivers near perfect ensembles reflecting moods to scenes. The special effects are, in a word, awe-inspiring and by far showcases the most realistic CGI surpassing any previous film, Star Wars or otherwise.
Revenge Of The Sith is a much darker chapter that focuses on the transformation of misguided Anakin Skywalker, as he plummets a downward spiral to the dark side and eventually becomes Darth Vader. It is the most fully realized story of the sextuplet series dealing with the decimation of the Jedi Order under the boots of Darth Sidious and the death of the Republic to be reborn as the Galactic Empire. No longer is Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader seen just as the villain of all movie villains, but as the sympathetic tragic hero, the Chosen One who is played like a pawn in a political game between Chancellor Palpatine and the Jedi Council. Eventually succumbing to the dark side of the force in order to do what he thinks is right. The actual reason for his turn to the dark side may be best described as romantically heartbreaking. And yet, as the series chronologically progresses to Episodes IV, V, and VI, we realize that indeed he fulfills the Jedi prophecy. In that Anakin finally destroys the Sithand brings balance to Force. It is precisely this kind of storytelling modeled after the early Greek tragedies with hints of Macbeth, Hamlet, and Titus Andronicus, themes of pride drowning in self- conflict, that we have all come to identify with and love.
In the Star Wars universe characters speak with stilted dialog and the military use tactics akin to medieval war. Critics may bash these shortcomings as negative aspects to the film. But these have been the trademarks of all films in the series and, in my opinion, wouldn't be Star Wars without them.
The film's earnings since this posting has earned over $50 million since it opening day.....it's opening day. That is quite an achievement for an independent filmmaker like George Lucas and his rebel posse.
Annoyingly, some thieves have managed to steal a copy for downloading off the internet. But what is the sense of that? Revenge Of The Sith is not a film to be experienced through a bad DVD copy with shitty audio on a small screen, especially when it's out in theaters. Star Wars films are meant to be seen on the biggest screen possible supported by the best audio system available. And it is meant to be experienced as a community. Not in the confines of your own home. That's what going to the movies is all about. It is supposed to be a shared experience. Those assholes who think they gain an upper-hand by making poor quality pirated copies are truly missing the point.
When I see a good movie I make it a point to tell everyone I come in contact with to see it as well. This is the last of the Star Wars franchise where Mr. Lucas controls the helm. I hope we continue to see stories from his universe for generations to come. It is a universe unlike any other filled with limitless stories to explore.