WOW... Just, WOW!

Rating: 10/10 (25 March 2006)

Lucas has finally pulled it together. He pulled together a film that completely redeemed himself from the disastrous first two episodes. In a story resembling more classic Greek tragedy than Science Fiction, in Revenge of the Sith, Anakin turns to the Dark Side, dragging down the Jedi order down with him. FAntastic performances all around, especially from Ewan Macgregor(more like Alec Guiness than ever), Natalie Portman (She's perfect in the scene between her and Obi-Wan, where she denies what Anakin has done), Hayden Christiansen (He must've taken acting lessons, but he was SO much better) and finally, Ian Macdiarmid as Palpatine. This final performance steals the show far and away. He is perfect in every scene he's in, notably the scene with Anakin at the opera and the scene of Anakin's conversion. The special effects have also taken a huge leap (Yoda is actually believable; it's like you're looking at the puppet again)and the lightsabers are flying. The many duels show almost every match's you could imagine, but the one we've been waiting for steals the show! The battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan is filled with such pent-up rage and sorrow, it brings you into it in way Phantom Menace could only dream of. The music by John Williams in this scene (and throughout the film) demonstrate a world collapsing in on itself and the classic tragedy that Lucas promised. Finally, the scene in which Vader returns to the screen hits you like a freight train, it's everything we ever wanted. The music used by Williams in this scene as well is fantastic, albeit recycled from Phantom Menace. If the Academy was truly an unbiased organization, this film would have been nominated in several categories, least of all visual effects. Well, I highly recommend this film to anyone reading this who hasn't, as well as encourage fans to return to this film one last time. And for all those who bash this film, hey, at least there are no Ewoks.