Sith goodness and tragic greatness

Rating: 6/10 (18 May 2005)

May 19, 2005-----1.52 Lucasfilm logo. We all cheered.
The opening battle was true Star Wars, yes, I'm going to stick with that. It was in the right spirit. Once the camera tilts over the first massive starship, with the new music, and the extraordinarily colorful battle was uncovered, a genuine smile of pleasure and excitement made its way across my face. Just kept on expanding. This never happened once during TPM or AOTC, FYI. My God, that was one of the coolest dog-fights, space battles ever. Perfect, perfect goddamn way to start this film which was all about war and loss and tragedy. And oh yes was this a tragic film.
Decision to remain spoiler free paid off as I was generally stunned by all I saw.
The seemingly never-ending action and snappy, wittier dialogue is just what the prequels needed. Something which added to the whole beginning was how the Clone Wars series led into this battle down to the last minute. Grievous was well set up too. Ah, General Grievous. A general resurrected by Count Dooku and Sidious, apparently, who fought in the former Geonosis battle. Quite a lovely parallel between him and Vader later on I think. Aren't Star Wars physics great? Hehe, like Watto's small wings. But Grievous some would consider the scenes in Clone Wars topping even this, which I could agree with, but within the frame and mindset and building vs. suppressing action of this last chapter it worked just right. He wasn't made to be another Darth Vader, which I appreciated, something which showed in his voice especially. Since the setup in Clone Wars was so fulfilling, the payoff on Utapau with Obi-Wan was great. Ahhh that green, lizard, archaeopterix-like creature was fantastic (a Boga?!?). Everything just kept topping and topping and just kept on being damned unexpected in this film. So thankful I stayed away from geek forums this time.
OH, I'm still excited inside. I need to see it again. Very soon.
Funny how they tweaked the battle droids' voices. Really put a new spin on the slapstick acts. Ah, and that Super battle droid kicking R2 to the ship's hull was the single most malicious deed throughout. Stunning intro though. The 'recovery' of Palpatine was memorable and it all went so quickly that I almost wished he had stood up and said that he wanted to be captured all over again, by the Wookies perhaps. Poor Dooku, disposable friend. I wonder if George Lucas ever considered giving Dooku more screen time, having a battle between him and Anakin over who'd be apprentice. Hmm. Oh and I first believed Mace Windu would have his big moment fighting Dooku (something I thought I saw in the trailer) instead he's brought right to the core of the conflict.
The reunion of Anakin and Padme couldn't have been better. I was on the verge of wincing but I never did since it was kept short and they really worked together. I quite liked the love sequences and scenes since the dialogue was definitely a step away from the more sophomoric rantings of two would-be love birds as in AOTC (which I honestly don't mind that much). One of the stand-out sequences for me was the silent call Anakin and Padme shared, a la Luke and Leia in Empire, with the ethereal song. Dammit that was great. Establishes a strong link between family. Ah, the Skywalkers rule.
I don't remember where it came about, but I did develop a lump in my throat. Later, it really was tragic to see the end of many Jedi. But, YES, I'm glad I saved my touched self for the birth of the twins. I did shed a few tears when Bail Organa and his wife look over their adopted daughter. It's such a beautiful moment. Princess Leia's theme playing which inevitably spurred countless images from the 'good IL' days.' Leia, I love you! And. "You were the chosen one!" Kenobi vs. Skywalker. (Somewhere inside me I still don't consider Anakin a Skywalker). The longest cinematic duel in history apparently. Some Duel of the Fates recycled and strangely played when Palpatine fights his "little green friend." The Battle of the Heroes music was pretty damn cool. Lucas really worked Kenobi's aging well and the fight leads very well into the next film. Ah, what the hell. It was awesome. 'Nuff said.
I very much loved that I was taking pleasure in each frame of the plot, and not wishing for the 'fight to end all lightsaber fights' to come. That really says something. And never did I think of my watch, something which has plagued my cinema visits lately. We all left the cinema very happy and what I found funny was the intense silence after the show. Hmm. But that sadness and maybe dread I felt before was naturally a foreboding of this very moment. The resolution and the fact of conclusion to this tale almost thirty years in the making. The mysticism. Actually now when I got home I almost immediately began working on my step-outline for my story. It was like this really ended a chapter in my life and now I was free to do anything.
Naturally, I could go on and on about the little things, but I won't. This one really sums up what the prequels were all about - a new glimpse, a different take to an already beloved story. Everything happens in this one that we've all thought and dreamed and scratched our heads about in awesome wonder. And it was all done so beautifully. It really, really did not disappoint me and I am so damn happy that this last one hit the right notes. This really was a great film and maybe, hehe, OK the best of the new bunch. Going to see the later episodes quite differently now. Luke: "Do you remember your mother?" Hoho!