A Rousing Good Film!

Rating: 8/10 (4 July 2005)

George Lucas saved his best for last - at least that can be said with no doubt for the second trilogy he put together. Revenge of the Sixth expertly weaves together a story that brings closure to the first three sagas of Star Wars and leaves a window open for the next three(those previously made decades ago). The line binding the two - save for obvious technological differences - is almost seamless. Everything of pertinent nature is explained, characters are set up to correspond with future actions, and the theme of the force vs. the dark side is as strong as ever. The dazzling CGI special effects of this film dominate a large portion of this film's success. They are most impressive(as they have been throughout the entire trilogy). Lucas directs with his usual abilities to "tell" a good story visually. The acting is generally very good with some very worthy performances. Ian McDiarmind, one of a handful of actors to appear in ALL six films, steals each of his scenes and gives his best performance on screen. Definitely an Oscar-worthy nod! McGregor and Portman do very credible jobs again. Hayden Christiansen, though no great thespian, does better this time round. But acting aside, the film is carried by story and special effects and by one's memories of what is to take place in Staw Wars(1977). For me, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is a very rewarding experience in that regard. One scene in particular summed up all those feelings...seeing Wayne Pygram - not even uttering a word and having less screen time than 30 seconds - standing there looking out in space with his sallow, sunken cheekbones as the young Moff Tarkin. He is the spitting image of the late, great Peter Cushing. Christopher Lee has a short reprisal as Count Dooku in the beginning of the film, and, in a way - if one really stretches things, it is like Lee and Cushing had one more film to share their names in the credits. But nostalgia notwithstanding, see Revenge of the Sith for the story, the special effects, McDiarmind's performance, and for closure of a kind.