S10 Reviews: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

Rating: 9/10 (29 May 2005)

The Clone Wars have fully consumed the Galaxy as Count (Christopher Lee) Dooku's droid armies (now lead by the sickly part robot General Grievous) engage the Senate's forces. In a daring move Grievous takes The Chancellor (Ian McDiarmid) hostage and it is the job of the two premier negotiating Jedi Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor) to rescue the Chancellor. After a rousing success the Jedi head back for their next assignment but not before Padme reveals in secret to Anakin that she is with child. In the time between films the Chancellor and Anakin have grown closer but all takes a turn for the worse as Palpatine offers Skywalker his knowledge of the Dark Side to prevent Anakin's premonitions of Padme's death in childbirth from coming true. Confused the young Skywalker reveals the Chancellor's identity to the Jedi council and Mace (Samuel l. Jackson) and company head in to shut him down. But Palpatine has manipulated all for one purpose, to create the first Galactic Empire and with Anakin's allegiance proclaimed to Palpatine he seals the fate of the Jedi and destroys all those around him.
It's been said a lot so I'll say it one more time, Lucas finally redeems himself. After releasing two decent but lackluster prequel's the circle is now complete with "Sith". Still high in eye candy, Lucas finally amps up the drama and delivers better dialogue (but still lacking) to turn out a film that is easily the best prequel and seats itself close to the original trilogy. "Sith" is full of some excellent set pieces including the opening space battle, the Order 66 sequence, and Anakin's march on the Temple and of course the Lightsaber duel to end them all not to mention the return of Vader. Grievous was a letdown as was John William's score (it lacked anything that really stood out) but the ways that Lucas tied in the new trilogy to the Classic trilogy were priceless. "Sith" was well worth the wait and suddenly "The Phantom Menace" and "Attack of the Clones" don't seem so bad.