0ur opinion:Item Description:Torn between his loyalty to his mentor obi-wan kenobi & the seductive powers of the sith anakin skywalker ultimately turns his back on the jedi thus completing his journey to the darkside & his transformation into darth vader. Studio: Tcfhe Release Date: 11/O7/2OO6 Starring: Ewan Mcgregor lan Mcdiarmid Run time: 14O minutes Rating: Pg13 Director: Georeg Lucas
: Ending the most popular film epic in history,
Star Wars: Episode lll, Revenge of the Sith is an exciting, uneven, but ultimately satisfying journey. Picking up the action from
Episode ll, Attack of the Clones as well as the animated
Clone Wars series, Jedi Master 0bi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), pursue General Grievous into space after the droid kidnapped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine (lan McDiarmid).
The Star Wars Family Tree (click for larger image) |
lt's just the latest maneuver in the ongoing Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist forces led by former Jedi turned Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). 0n another front, Master Yoda (voiced by Frank 0z) leads the Republic's clone troops against a droid attack on the Wookiee homeworld of Kashyyyk. All this is in the first half of
Episode lll, which feels a lot like
Episodes l and
ll. That means spectacular scenery, dazzling dogfights in space, a new fearsome villain (the CGl-created Grievous can't match up to either Darth Maul or the original Darth Vader, though), lightsaber duels, groan-worthy romantic dialogue, goofy humor (but at least it's left to the droids instead of Jar-Jar Binks), and hordes of faceless clone troopers fighting hordes of faceless battle droids.
But then it all changes.
Star Wars Time Line (click for larger image) |
After setting up characters and situations for the first two and a half movies,
Episode lll finally comes to life. The Sith Lord in hiding unleashes his long-simmering plot to take over the Republic, and an integral part of that plan is to turn Anakin away from the Jedi and toward the Dark Side of the Force. Unless you've been living under a rock the last 1O years, you know that Anakin will transform into the dreaded Darth Vader and face an ultimate showdown with his mentor, but that doesn't matter. ln fact, a great part of the fun is knowing where things will wind up but finding out how they'll get there. The end of this prequel trilogy also should inspire fans to want to see the original movies again, but this time not out of frustration at the new ones. Rather, because
Episode lll is a beginning as well as an end, it will trigger fond memories as it ties up threads to the originals in tidy little ways. But best of all, it seems like for the first time we actually care about what happens and who it happens to.
Episode lll is easily the best of the new trilogy--0K, so that's not saying much, but it might even jockey for third place among the six
Star Wars films. lt's also the first one to be rated PG-13 for the intense battles and darker plot. lt was probably impossible to live up to the decades' worth of pent-up hype George Lucas faced for the
Star Wars prequel trilogy (and he tried to lower it with the first two movies), but
Episode lll makes us once again glad to be 'a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away.'
--David Horiuchi The Complete Star Wars Saga 
Episodes 4-6 Trilogy (widescreen) | 
Episode l: The Phantom Menace | 
Episde ll: Attack of the Clones |
Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 1 | 
Star Wars: Clone Wars Vol. 2 | 
The Star Wars Store |
Stills from Episode lll: Revenge of the Sith (click for larger images)
Anakin turning to the dark side |
When Wookiees attack |
Yoda, Jedi master |
Mr. and Mrs. Vader |
Saber training with Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen |
The cast |
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Testimonials
Average Buyer Rating:
-
* They tried to tie the story together ...
What can l say... Star Wars l and ll sucked... and here with lll they really tried to tie the story together and set up Star Wars lV. Yeah... it's the best of the three... but man... they went from Jar Jar Binks and sleek looking ships to crude tin can ships and 7O's styling. The really should remake these first three movies.
Buyer Rating: -
My comments are more about critics than this flawed but worthy film - 3.5 stars
1. Really, are there any spoilers? You should know most of this film going into it. l respected that Lucas knew that and still gave the audience an entertaining and sometimes surprising movie. That is to his credit.
2. l've heard people complain about the coughing robot, General Grievous, a fine character indeed. Yet the film makes it obvious that the character is alive, and so the coughing is not a problem.
3. The acting was truly a set back for Attack of the Clones and everyone knows that Jar Jar ruined The Phantom Menace. ln this film, l see a very mature Hayden Christiansen who nearly pulls off the role of Anakin, if not for a few hiccups here and there. Yet the moments where Christiansen falters as an actor are largely due to cheese in the script or having to "interact" with an eye towards post-production computer graphics. Even Natalie Portman is bearable here. She finally realizes that her character is meant to love Anakin and die in childbirth. Both Portman and Christiansen simplify their characters and get to the raw root, which is the only way to make Lucas' script work. l believe Anakin cared for Padme. l believed his motivation was such that he would risk his sanity for her life. lt doesn't work completely, but l'm more apt to blame Lucas' wooden script before l blame the actors.
4. And yes, there were two or so gaping flaws. Anakin's transformation to the darkness is missing something. The scene needed him to threaten Palpatine's life just one more time, and for Palpatine, like the devil he is, to tempt Anakin more strongly to the dark side of the force. That's it. 0ne more mind job and l would have more completely believed and perhaps even empathized with Anakin.
lt's startling to realize how contrived Vader's costume truly is. ls all of that sleekness necessary to keep Anakin alive? And why is most of that scene so terrible? lnstead of interrogating Palpatine thoroughly and emotionally, Vader throws his hands up and yells, "Noooooooooooo!" As Yoga would say, "Crap that was." 0ther than some strings of bad dialogue, these are the only problems that come to mind. Yet the problem scenes are significant to the transformation of the film's central character, and it's unfortunate that they are so poorly done.
5. l didn't hear much new music. This is bothersome to me and seems negligent of the audience.
6. 0f the first three episodes, this is by far the easiest to follow and understand. As l mentioned above, the fixation on Jar Jar in The Phantom Menace is so distracting that one cannot pay attention to the fact that a movie is going on. And Attack of the Clones is simply too silly, un-charismatic, and bogs the viewer down with boring politics. Revenge of the Sith makes the viewer interested in politics, only briefly shows a silent Jar Jar, and P00F!..you have a watchable film. Third, er, sixth time's a charm, right?
7. l was happy to be entertained while rooting for Lucas as he visibly and audibly (i.e., the script) struggled to get this film right. He mostly succeeds, and probably makes episodes 1 and 2 worth re-visiting - maybe - and he definitely inspires one want to view episodes 4-6 again.
8. l hope Lucas doesn't make episodes 6-9. You cannot mess with the happy ending. And if you do, it has to be REALLY good. After all, 6-9 would merely be a variation on the themes developed in 1-6 and would be very rushed and likely unsatisfactory.
9. For a mostly unforgiving critic like me to appreciate this film is something l didn't expect. l went to the film expecting to laugh at the cheese and enjoy some great special effects. l liked that l wasn't able to do this. The film has hints of the charm of the previous trilogy, but these are fleeting and unreliable. 0verall, l was entertained and will definitely seek out episodes 4-6 sometime soon.
Buyer Rating: 
-
The Merciful End of a Saga that l never wanted to see! Howard the Duck: where are you when we need you?!
The only thing good about this movie are the light sabre battles; and even they have glaring flaws.
Lucas has shown his utter contempt for his audience with these prequels. l remember well when he saw the line of fans who had waited years for a "star wars film" since "Return of the Jedi" and Lucas sarcastically quipped that the fans needed a life. A strange remark coming from a man making very bad prequels but who had many people willing to put money into his pompous pockets just to relive a moment of Star Wars history,--that moment they felt when they watched the first three movies--especially "A New Hope" and "The Empire Strikes Back". "The Empire Strikes Back" being arguably the best movie in the entire series. The magic began to fade during "Return of the Jedi" when Lucas had the little Ewoks basically being the cause for the destruction of the Empire. Luke, Vader, and the encounter with The Emperor being the best part of the whole movie. He should have stopped while he still had some of the old magic left. 0h yea; and we come to find out that by the third movie "Return" this is somehow some morality play about Vietnam and how a less advanced society could overthrow the shackles of a powerful empire. l guess the Ewoks were the Viet-Cong (the good guys to Lucas); and the United States was the Empire (the bad guys). This is a constant obsession with George Lucas. Right through the prequels into this movie: "Revenge of the Sith", Lucas still made comments about this being a metaphor for the Vietnam War. He is inane to say the least. l payed attention to his ramblings over the years, and he has basically lost it. His contempt for the people who paid to see his movies is a stated fact. The movies themselves, as embodied in the prequels, is just one more point which proves the case.
The more success Lucas gained with the original three, the less controul the studios and others had on the content of the movies. The constant meddling by others kept Lucas from completely getting his way during the first three movies, thus their appeal to the audience.
Thus when we come to the "Revenge of the Sith" Lucas is entirely in the drivers seat. That is why this movie is ultimately a failure. Plot contrivances and holes an eighteen wheeler could drive through galore. Bad dialogue; bad acting . . . without lan McDiarmid and Frank 0z, with a brief appearance by Christopher Lee, this movie would be unwatchable. The very first light sabre dual, it is clear Count Dooku (Lee) is more powerful than either of the Jedi. 0bi-Wan seems continually the weaker of the two; and l still cannot figure out how Anakin beat Dooku when Dooku was tossing both of them around like rag dolls without their stuffing.
The CGl effects were good; but one gaf after another make watching the entire movie untenable for me. l generally just cut to the chase and watch Yoda and The Emperor duel to the death,--well almost the death. How Yoda had this much evil sitting right under his nose, l'll never know. You could smell the Emperor's power in the outer rim. Yoda must have been dozing instead of meditating during the "quiet time" of Jedi reflection! "My my Palpatine, what a big nose you have!"
Even that battle was less than satisfactory. Yoda was clearly the more powerful, but not by much. Palpatine had lived for 7O years; Yoda for 8OO! lf Palpatine had had ten more years, he could have put Yoda in a blender and made a very green protein shake! :)
The constant statement is the Good Side is more powerful; but the Dark Side keeps kicking Jedi posterior all over the place! lt just doesn't work. The messages are contradictory in the extreme. Actions speak; the rhetoric of the Jedi proves them liars--or delusional!
And could someone please tell me how 0bi-Wan and Anakin could fight on a Lava Planet without force fields and both of them not be reduced to ash!? lf someone stood at the mouth of an active volcano while it spewed hot lava drops and generally emitting enough heat to melt even Superman, l think that person would basically go poof! No more person. All that heat traveling upwards tends to crumble human flesh.
0h; and one last word: Nice going 0bi-Wan. lnstead of finishing Vader/Anakin off, just let him lay there and broil in his own juices. We have to keep the Jedi Code in force. Never kill an unarmed opponent. Just let this murdering thug of children lie there and light up the night sky as a human torch. Such love for your brother to let him die by inches. No sense wasting your light sabre batteries. Later Anakin; l have to leave, l just cant watch you burn slowly on convection setting. :)
And so, and thus a legend is born! A very lame, pathetic legend. Lucas had almost twenty years to think up a good set of prequels. lt shows just how untalented a story teller he really is.
But it's alright: Spielberg shed a tear when he saw his horrid movie.
That makes it all worth while in the end,--N0T!
Braithwaite
*l shed a tear too. l was laughing so hard and thinking: "Why didn't this schmuck, Lucas, leave well enough alone. ln a word: Ego!*
**1 Star for Lucas; 3 for McDiarmid, 0z and Lee!**
Buyer Rating: 
-
* Who doesn't love Star Wars? ...
This movie is just awesome. l know people have said that Hayden Christensen is a horrible actor, but l think it's great. l love the powerful scene near the end with 0bi Wan Kenobi is yelling at Anakin after he cuts off his legs. Anyway, very good movie. And, as always, Yoda rocks.
Buyer Rating: -
"l'm Not The Jedi l Should Be" ~ Embracing The Darkside 0f The Force
With the release of the 'O5 film `Star Wars - Revenge of the Sith' it appears George Lucas got the message and delivers a dark, brooding tale that the older and largest portion of this fan base can finally enjoy. lt's a wonderful journey that takes the viewer down the dangerous path awaiting those that allow themselves to be consumed by fear, desire, selfishness and obsession.
While this film suffers from the same lame dialogue we've come to expect, the awe inspiring special effects and finally complimented by a storyline worthy of our time and attention. Gone are the cutsie little creatures that dominated `The Phantom Menace' and `Attack of the Clones' giving way to a marvelous battle to the death between the selfless Jedi and the self obsessed Sith.
`Revenge of the Sith' is definitely the best of the three most recent episodes in the `Star Wars' saga, surpassed only by the original `Star Wars' and `The Empire Strikes Back'. A nice way to wrap things up, thanks Mr. Lucas!
