Rational Review, Better than I and II, Visually Amazing, but Still Something Missing

Rating: 8/10 (20 July 2005)

Let me begin by stating growing up that I was a huge Star Wars fan. I was one who was extremely disappointed at the Phantom Menace (e.g. I hated it) and thought Clones was just going through the motions.
With Revenge of the Sith Lucas has somewhat redeemed himself. Visually, the action sequences are stunning. I saw this movie at a Digital Theatre in Manhattan, which is the way you should watch it.
Lucas, has the basics elements of a great story in Sith. In the opening sequence Anakin gives into his emotions (aided on by Palpatine) to kill Count Doku after he has defeated him in battle. Basically, the emperor has arranged this to see if Anakin is the future apprentice that he wants. You realize that really everything (including the war) is being arranged by the emperor.
Basically, the story revolves around the fact Anakin wants to control the future and things that occur around him, rather than letting them play their natural course (which is the Jedi way). If anything he is guilty of loving too much, when Jedi's are not suppose to have possessive love or attachment. In his fear of losing his wife Padme he is seduced by the Dark Side into thinking giving into it is the only way he can save her. The Jedi's advice on the other hand (provided by Yoda) is to let things play out. Many do not like the fact that lucas makes Vader a more pathetic creature in the end, rather than this almighty evil being we thought he was when we first saw Star Wars. However, I think after seeing what Vader looked liked, underneath the mask in Empire and Return we should have known that was really his story. A guy who could not control his demons.
However, this is the problem that Lucas runs into. While he can still come out with a great story plot, he really cannot write one. The love scenes in the movie are clunky and badly written. The witisms that made the first three movies and especially Empire and Star Wars so great are few and far between. The acting in the movie is not bad. The real problem is the writing is so weak any actor would have difficulty pulling many of the lines off.
In addition, there seems to be no real reason in Anakin turning. Yes, he is weary of the Jedi's (they are using him to spy on the emperor, which actually ends up being justified), yes he is tortured by the thought of his wife dying. However, in one scene he is telling Obi Wan how much he respects him, then himself wants to destroy the emperor then boom! he turns to the dark side, there seems to be no real trigger for him to do so.
In addition, I have also found that the pace of the this movie like episodes I and II is lacking. Even though the special effects are superior to IV - VI the movie seems to move much slower.
Putting that aside the last 1/2 an hour or so of battle between Anakin and Obi Wan is brilliant. There is a real emotional battle occurring. Anakin fights with a real hatred that you would expect a Darth Lord too. And FINALLY in the first three movies you get a real emotion connect, as you see Anakin burning up writhing in pain telling Obi Wan that he hates him. Obi Wan yelling at him telling him that he loved him like a brother etc... before walking away in pity and disgust.
Then of course you see the birth of Vader etc... Many people had a problem with Vader asking about his wife, thinking it made him too human. However, remember it is not until years of distancing himself from Anakin that he truly becomes Vader.
Overall this is easily the best of the prequels, but when you watch the first trilogy you realize there is still something missing to this movie. However, it almost, almost makes up for it by being visually so stunning.
7/10 Sincerely, Freedave