Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith Movie Review

Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

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Written by: George Lucas
Directed by: George Lucas
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Natalie Portman, Ewan McGregor, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels
Rated: PG-13
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Plot
Three years into the Clone Wars, the Jedi rescue Palpatine from Count Dooku. As Obi-Wan pursues a new threat, Anakin acts as a double agent between the Jedi Council and Palpatine and is lured into a sinister plan to rule the galaxy.

Verdict
Episode III finally brings together all the pieces of the story and provides something meaningful. It leans heavily on the original trilogy to do that because the draw of the prequel trilogy is what happens later, but the last hour of this movie is the best of the prequel trilogy. We've known the payoff from the beginning, but getting to actually seeing it is still special. Did we need Episodes I & II to get here? Maybe not.
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Review

The Star Wars Skywalker saga is done. I hadn't seen the prequel trilogy since it came out. With the saga complete, I went back to see the original trilogy, and then the prequel trilogy. The original trilogy is still really good, with my favorite being The Empire Strikes Back. I didn't recall liking the prequel trilogy, and the rewatch didn't change my mind, though I did enjoy Revenge of the Sith the most of the prequel trilogy.

Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen play Obi Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker.

This starts with a big space battle and then Anakin showing off his skills. It's a great way to start. Anakin has been hailed as a future hero, but in Episode II, he's just annoying. In this movie he's better, but still entitled. He wants to be a Jedi Master since he'll be on the Jedi Council. Every Jedi on the council is a master and he feels he should get the rank too despite not having earned it. He neglects the fact that Palpatine forced the Jedi to put him on the council. Instead of touting how he's proven himself in battle he resorts to technicalities. He's ambitious, but not in a way that matches his skills or that's likable. Anakin isn't likable. In Episode I he was, but the story does the character no favors.

Padme is pregnant, but how does no one realize it? Looking at her, it's obvious. Padme is just a prop in this movie, though she does finally confront Anakin. How did she never suspect the darkness in Anakin? It was clear in Episode II that he was vulnerable to rage. She should have seen it, and that's an issue with the writing. Despite knowing Anakin would succumb, the story never presents it as something that could go either way. It should have.

Ian McDiarmid plays Chancellor Palpatine.

Palpatine wanting to convert Anakin to the dark side isn't subtle. Palpatine preys on Anakin's fears for Padme's safety. I'm being hard on the movie, because already knowing that Anakin chooses the dark side dampens the impact. While Palpatine could be more subtle, he does play into Anakin's ego as he should.

Anakin blames Obi Wan as he always has, but he lashes out in a believable way. You look at the performances of Padme and Anakin; there's a stark difference in how believable each is.

Darth Vader's first appearance in the prequel trilogy.

On paper, this trilogy sounds great, but what's on screen isn't as tantalizing. As with Solo, knowing more about how characters developed doesn't always pay off.

Darth Vader was only conceived as Luke's father during The Empire Strikes Back. During A New Hope he was a separate character that killed Luke's father. It's a great change that makes the battle between Luke and Vader more fascinating and heartbreaking. While the prequel trilogy was always part of Lucas's narrative, I wonder how the lineage affected the story. At times the trilogy feels like it's trying to answer questions that were never asked.

What makes Episode III great is that what's been teased from the beginning finally happens. We finally see the turning point of Anakin to Darth Vader.

Mace Windu and the Jedi are ready to fight.

The showdowns are a lot of fun. Every Yoda fight is great, and this has a good one. Anakin and Obi Wan face off. This really is the pinnacle of the entire prequel trilogy. Anakin was the chosen one to destroy the Sith and balance the force. Instead he joins the Sith and destroys the Jedi.

This trilogy has been CGI heavy, with each scene very busy. This is the first movie in the prequel trilogy that slows down and asks the viewer to think. There is a great scene cutting between Anakin and Padme separately looking at the city scape. There isn't any dialog to inform us of what to think, we get to ponder as a viewer, and it's unfortunate that didn't happen more. These movies don't slow down and put it on the viewer to think, 'Would I turn to the dark side to save my family?' It's always a forgone conclusion. Despite know Anakin's fate the movie could have played with that narrative a lot more.

The last hour packs a punch, with big battles and emotional moments. The imagery is also some of the best. This is the best of the trilogy, because the prior two movies were both leading to this point. As we get to the end of this story, there's a sense of familiarity because we know what happens in the next trilogy. It's that knowledge that gives the conclusion a boost. I'm not sure we ever needed to know more about Darth Vader, though the final hour of this trilogy became what I always wanted it to be. It only does that when it begins to rely on the narrative of the original trilogy for an emotional impact.