the final installment

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2005)

There's something about the Star Wars movies that have reached a grand culmination with Revenge of the Sith, the final installment of the prequel trilogy, and of Star Wars completely as a saga- the storytelling has reached a peak (much like with the other two masterpieces A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back). The visual effects, the sound, the music, all of the background elements are perfectly suited to tell the story. Of course this is how it also went with Episodes 1, 2 and 6, but this time George Lucas has reached a peak with the visual effects that has been increasing since Episode 1. Some of the visuals may be more formidable and concrete than others, however as a viewer I was completely wrapped in the story most of all, emotionally and even intellectually. And, of course, the challenge is to still make an entertaining, compelling film with what everyone who's seen a Star Wars movie knows is the climax- Anakin Skywalker turns into Darth Vader, and Skywalker offspring become separated at birth amid the end of the Jedi and the democracy of the republic. The journey is what counts, and it's a spectacular journey. I would even go as far to say that for one not expecting much from the ashes of the first two entries, this is not only one of the top pictures in the saga, it's also one of the best films of the year.
I would dare not to reveal anything crucial to the story, except to say that the story takes shape of Anakin Skywalker (played with a crucial bravado and intensity by Hayden Christensen) and his path to the dark side. All of the supporting and key players- Obi-Won Kenobi (Ewan McGregor, terrific as always), Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid, perhaps one of the key villains in recent movie history), Padme (Natalie Portman, a dependable force), and the usual cast of characters (i.e. R2-D2, C-3P0, Chewbacca)- come together to add more to the vision of the film than I could've guessed. One of the only flaws of the past two prequel episodes was the borderline edge of falling into melodrama by way of some of the dialog and characterizations. This time none of that is on the table, as it is indeed a space opera more than anything else. And, Lucas also connects with the Shakespearian qualities of his story of the fall of Anakin Skywalker, and by doing that the film reaches even more power.
To put it another way, by way of the hypnotic, strange special f/x, the chilling score by John Williams, and the strengths of Lucas' storytelling talents that have been strongest throughout the films (even during the Jar-Jar and Ewok bits), Revenge of the Sith can keep one on the edge of their seat, almost catching for breath. Would this mean that a non-Star Wars fan could come to this movie and find it a good movie? It's hard to say, as it almost requires that you have seen one or two of the previous films. But should the film be suffice to feed the fans of the series, especially those who doubt Lucas' mind after 1 & 2? Absolutely- at the least for the battle/fight sequences, two of which I would rank up there with the first Death Star attack and Luke vs. Vader in 'Empire'. I guess it's part of that simplicity of a Saturday Matinée serial that Lucas wanted to capture that has made the saga so appealing to millions of people. This isn't exactly the most 'simple' film of the lot, and it's arguable whether the PG-13 rating was worthy from the content. But, as some would argue for Return of the King with the Lord of the Rings, 'Sith' does what is practically has to do- take the story full-circle and give the people a good show, while at the same time making Star Wars, as one big movie, feel all the greater.