Disappointing Finale to an Epic Legend...

Rating: 6/10 (21 May 2005)

Bah...Humbug! I went into the theater full of eager anticipation...and I left feeling as if I should have written the script! I had no exhilaration like I felt when I left after the previous two in this trilogy. I thought back to what I liked, or didn't like, about the original trilogy  Episodes 4, 5 & 6. I remember seeing Episode 4 - A New Hope, when it debuted in 1977 and I was disappointed in that one too. I thought it was boring. I ended up loving Star Wars by Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi. I was quite pleased with Episodes 1 and 2. The storyline, casting, writing, direction and special effects were totally amazing. I fully expected George Lucas to do the ULTIMATE with this last movie - to 'Bring it all Home'...but he failed to do that. In scenes that could have been real tear-jerker's, the dialog was lame and the acting was pitiful! I read somewhere that Francis Ford Coppola offered assistance to Lucas in writing dialog  but ego inflated George refused the offer. Now how dumb was that? He is great with creating special effects, but lacks any forethought and skills in writing the dialog for his characters. No depth at all. So did most of the actors just lose their interest in entertaining the audience due to poor script writing? I expected so much more PASSION from Hayden Christensen as Anakin when he was giving in to Darth Sidious and crossing over to the Dark Side! He came across like Eeyore having another bad day! (You know, the sad little donkey from Winnie the Pooh) 'Whoa is me...I guess I give in to you Master...OK, you win...whoa is me'. His inner 'anger' just wasn't there  he seemed more like a punk, spoiled rotten kid than someone whose misery had gotten the better of his good side.
Even though I knew the time would come for Padme to die, I thought I would be choking on my tears when it happened...nope...not a drop. The scene lacked any amount of emotion  it just happened. . . I loved Natalie Portman in Episodes 1 and 2  but she was truly a 'un-actress' in this last film! So pitiful and unbelievable! Blame it on the script  the character of 'Padme Amidala' seemed like a 'have to do it toss in'  there was no substance to her part in this film; other than the supposed reason that Anakin decides to succumb to the Dark Side (yet the first two films led us to believe that it is an accumulation of ALL his disappointments  like his bitterness over slavery and the death of his mother). Natalie Portman was so strong in the first two that it was a real let down to see her lose the spark she had brought to Padme Amidala! Of course, I have to question whether it was her acting abilities and lack of enthusiasm, OR was it the writing and directing of this film???? There is also a type of 'token' scene tossed in; when Yoda tells Obi-Wan that he could teach him how to communicate with the deceased Qui-Gon in the afterlife! (like Luke Skywalker was able to do later with Obi-Wan). Of course that was never expanded on. Lucas should have just left that part out totally - it had NO POINT. Just an 'oh-yeah- by-the-way' toss in).
Everyone knew how the end would (or should) be with this film, but it could have been done so much better. Most of the scenes seemed like they were rushed  just slammed together to get to the finish line. There wasn't much forethought put into the development of the dialog or scenes at all. George Lucas puttered-out as a director totally. It was in his realm to bring the actors together to put forth the passion and emotion necessary to draw the audience in. It appears like the actors were just piping out their lines like they would at a line run-through rehearsal and NOT putting themselves into character. It makes me wonder if any of them even wanted to be in this film  seemed like they were forced to do it as it used to be with contract actors so long ago. . . in a galaxy far, far away. . .
The best of the acting came from Ewan McGregor, Frank Oz and Samuel L. Jackson (although his death scene and realization that Anakin was really in cahoots with Sidious was rather weak). The rest of the main players were just embarrassing! I did like Chewbacca and the other Wookies! They were right on target! The costuming and special effects are fantastic! At least 'Master Lucas' didn't let us down in this regard. Unfortunately, a Rose is a Rose, and Star Wars, Episode 3  Revenge of the Sith, is more like a patch of Poison Ivy. I sat in a full theater, and none of the audience seemed thrilled when it was over. How about a remake in 10 years to do it right the next time around? Stranger things have happened in HollywoodMay the Force Guide Lucas to Fix this Mistake!