Redeemed...

Rating: Null/10 (28 January 2006)

You speed through backroads toward the highway, heart beating in your ears, pores pumping sweat, and eyes alight with childish excitement. You jerk into the parking lot, spring to the front door, tear it open, buy your ticket stub, and smile wide as you pass under a banner that reads STAR WARS: EPISODE III: THE REVENGE OF THE SITH. The day you've been waiting for has finally come. Three long years of eager, sometimes heartbreaking anticipation and finally, the yellow words blast upon the screen for what may be the last time. STAR WARS.
It was a beautiful day, one of the best. And from then on this movie only gets better. It is, Star Wars saga aside, a very good film in its own right that fires on all cylinders and delivers everything it sets out to. But, when considering it as a part of the series, it is even better, because not only does it connect everything, wrap it all up in a beautiful package and leave you feeling sad, happy, and drained, it entertains and enthralls with amazing lightsaber battles, and scenes of dialogue (yes, even dialog), that are honestly emotionally gripping.
I found Episode II to be a disappointment, to say the least. But after seeing this film, I can accept Episode II and I see how necessary it is to the series. And for anyone who dislikes the prequals altogether, they cannot deny the fact that Episode III is an excellent film and an excellent STAR WARS film. It links the the original series to the new series, and it taps into the old sense of desperation you felt for Han, Luke, and Leia, especially towards the end of the film when everything literally goes to hell, Anikan goes on his rampage, and Obi-Wan and Yoda team up and go after the Sith.
EVERY scene between Palpatine and Anikan is amazing, insightful, and even written well. The look of this film, its darkness and emotion, create and experience that will affect any movie-goer but especially those who loved the original Star Wars as children, because, if they're willing to see passed whatever disappointment they had with the previous two sequels, if any, they will see a film that speaks to them, that does a good job of clearing things up and bringing finality to a tale that is surprisingly tragic.
Even if you hate this movie for a variety of reasons, it is worth it for the lightsaber battles alone, particularly the parallel fights of Yoda and Palpatine and Anikan and Obi-Wan. There are some remarkable moments in this movie, particularly the climax of the final duel, and the very last shot itself. And, one of the greatest moments in the history of film, a moment that is destined to become classic, is when the helmet finally locks in place and Vader takes his first, deep breath. This film is an homage to the original in many ways, and for all those wondering if Lucas redeemed his series with this film, he certainly did. It's an excellent and enjoyable piece of work that certainly isn't for the faint of heart.