Best of the Prequels and second only to Episode V

Rating: 10/10 (30 December 2005)

I've been a Star Wars fan for what seems like an eternity. I absolutely adore Episode IV, V and VI, and I also enjoyed Episode I and II, despite their flaws. So one can guess I was excited when I went to cinema on May 18 this year. First, I was a little undecided on what to think of it, but after the second viewing, I can just say: the saga ends with a bang! I guess everyone knows the story by now, so only a few words about it. The movie takes place 3 years after the end of Episode II and the beginning of the Clone War. We're at the climax of the conflict between the Republic and the Separatists, with a space battle in which Anakin and Obi Wan try to save the abducted Chancellor Palpatine. After his rescue, we witness the conflict between Palpatine and the Jedi as well as Anakin's role in all this. So much for the story. Of course it's getting more complex as the plot thickens, but I take it everyone knows that it ends with the rise of the Empire and the downfall of Anakin Skywalker. What makes Episode III such a great experience, why is it simply the movie of the year and one of the best of all time - in my opinion? There are several reasons, and I'll start with the CGI. Of course, one can expect ILM to create incredible special effects, but with Episode III they have outdone themselves. They're creating whole creatures, soldiers, landscapes and even worlds out of nothing, and everything looks so stunning. The landscape of Mustafar, the different worlds on which the Jedi are murdered during the "Order 66" sequence or the opening space battle are so full of beautiful details that it's a joy to watch. Every single frame contains an undeniable beauty, and in fact Episode III is perhaps the visually most stunning movie of all time. This time, ILM also has created some unbelievably realistic CGI-creatures. Yoda looks now much more like his Episode V equivalent, and General Grievous as well as his Magna-Droid bodyguards are not only impressively detailed and textured, but also show how good the interaction between human actors and CGI creatures can be, something you can see in Ewan McGregor's fight scene with Grievous and the magna droids. It looks stunning, and I give a lot of credit to Ewan and the ILM crew for creating such complex fights. The action and lightsaber fights are magnificent and above anything we've seen this year, whether it is the breathtaking opening space battle or the dramatic final duel between Anakin and Obi Wan. In the field of sound and music, Episode III surpasses all expectations. The sound effects are clear and cool as always, no much news here. But John Williams' score is near perfection. Not only does it bridge the gap between the Prequels and the OT in a marvelous way, but it also shows the drama of Anakin Skywalker with sheer beauty. Hearing some pieces really brings tears to my eyes. So in the technical field, Star Wars Episode III fully succeeds. But what about story and characters? They're great, really. I already mentioned that the storyline gets more complex during the running time as the Clone Wars end, the Republic falls and Anakin turns to the Dark Side. You really should have seen the other movies in order to understand everything. What's so great about the story is the fact that it leads into Episode IV almost perfectly, almost every single question a fan could have asked is answered. The story also succeeds because of the actors. Yes, you heard that right. The actors in Star Wars are terribly underrated, and I don't know why. They all get the job done, and some are stealing the show with stellar performances. Ewan McGregor was great in Episode I & II, he was always the perfect Obi Wan, but in this one, he's even better. You can really see the sadness Obi Wan feels because of Anakin's betrayal; McGregor does a great job portraying that. Hayden Christensen was heavily criticized for his acting in Episode II, although he did well back then. In Episode III, he manages to play the complex character of Anakin in a believable way, we can really understand his reasons for his actions. Natalie Portman wasn't that important in this one, and she's not that great, slightly above average. The supporting actors are also quite good, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Jimmy Smits and Frank Oz get the job done with ease. But the real star in this movie is Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine/Darth Sidious. His acting is outrageously brilliant, especially in the scenes where he is trying to lure Anakin to the Dark Side. He obviously enjoys being in the spotlight, and his performance is even better than the one he provided us with in Return of the Jedi. The dialogues are mostly okay, nothing to complain about, except for some exchanges between Anakin and Padmé. Episode III is, as George Lucas mentioned, really a dark film. The atmosphere is sometimes depressing, as the end of the movie is already clear: everything is lost, we can only wait for the new hope in Episode IV. And some scenes portray this mood perfectly: I'll just say Order 66, a masterpiece thanks to Lucas' direction, Williams' music and ILM's work, and it will certainly make you cry. There are also some scenes unfit to be seen by a younger audience, like Anakin's fate on Mustafar. All in all, Lucas has created a worthy final for the Star Wars saga, and thanks to Episode III, Star Wars will go down in cinematic history as the greatest saga ever. Thank you for all the years of fun and excitement, Mr. Lucas!