Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
4/4
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, and the voice of Frank Oz
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images
With every rise, there is a fall...and in George Lucas' space opera, that fall is guaranteed to be spectacular.
With "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," Lucas has finally completed the story that took him six films and twenty-eight years to tell. It's a grand, epic tale and the most recent chapter is among the finest in the series. It is also the grimmest.
The Clone War is in full swing. Casualties are catastrophic on both sides, and the Jedi are spread thin across the galaxy trying to lead the Clone troops. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) and his padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) are in the midst of a space battle and are attempting to free Chancellor Palpatine (McDiarmid), who has been captured by the Sith Apprentice Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). After freeing Palpatine, the Jedi Council sends Obi-Wan to find the other Separatist General, Grievous (voice of Matthew Wood), whose capture or death will signal the end of the war. Meanwhile, the Council has grown suspicious of Palpatine, and secretly assigns Anakin to spy on the Chancellor. Anakin is wary of this assignment; Palpatine has been his mentor all his life, and he is growing increasingly frustrated with the Council for not making him a Jedi Master. He is also stressed over nightmares he's been having about his wife Padme's (Portman) upcoming childbirth.
The acting is excellent across the board. Hayden Christensen is particularly good, a significant improvement over his acting in the previous film where he was uneven. Here, he's much more focused and intense. He's also considerably darker. With his longer hair and darkened eyes, we immediately sense that Anakin has grown into a much more menacing individual. Ewan McGregor plays Obi-Wan with a mixture of wariness and steadfast optimism. Natalie Portman gives us a much more vulnerable Padme. The most important role goes to Ian McDiarmid, who expertly sows doubt, fear and distrust in Anakin. He is the Serpent in the Garden, turning Anakin over to the Dark Side without him realizing it.
The film opens up in a traditional action scene, but once the story takes off, things get grimmer by the minute. And the final ninety minutes, which represent the operatic collapse, are nothing short of masterful. Lucas has always embraced grand gestures, but Anakin's descent into the Dark Side is like watching a train crash. It's grand, powerful and absolutely devastating.
As usual, the visuals are dazzling. The film is worth watching over and over again just to see what small details you missed. The night shots of Coruscant are especially beautiful. But Lucas is smart enough to not allow them to drown out the storytelling. Rather, they enhance it.
Although there are a few hiccups here and there, and this is not a particularly strong four star review, it is a great deal better than Episodes I and II.
Starring: Hayden Christensen, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, and the voice of Frank Oz
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images
With every rise, there is a fall...and in George Lucas' space opera, that fall is guaranteed to be spectacular.
With "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith," Lucas has finally completed the story that took him six films and twenty-eight years to tell. It's a grand, epic tale and the most recent chapter is among the finest in the series. It is also the grimmest.
The Clone War is in full swing. Casualties are catastrophic on both sides, and the Jedi are spread thin across the galaxy trying to lead the Clone troops. Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (McGregor) and his padawan learner, Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) are in the midst of a space battle and are attempting to free Chancellor Palpatine (McDiarmid), who has been captured by the Sith Apprentice Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). After freeing Palpatine, the Jedi Council sends Obi-Wan to find the other Separatist General, Grievous (voice of Matthew Wood), whose capture or death will signal the end of the war. Meanwhile, the Council has grown suspicious of Palpatine, and secretly assigns Anakin to spy on the Chancellor. Anakin is wary of this assignment; Palpatine has been his mentor all his life, and he is growing increasingly frustrated with the Council for not making him a Jedi Master. He is also stressed over nightmares he's been having about his wife Padme's (Portman) upcoming childbirth.
The acting is excellent across the board. Hayden Christensen is particularly good, a significant improvement over his acting in the previous film where he was uneven. Here, he's much more focused and intense. He's also considerably darker. With his longer hair and darkened eyes, we immediately sense that Anakin has grown into a much more menacing individual. Ewan McGregor plays Obi-Wan with a mixture of wariness and steadfast optimism. Natalie Portman gives us a much more vulnerable Padme. The most important role goes to Ian McDiarmid, who expertly sows doubt, fear and distrust in Anakin. He is the Serpent in the Garden, turning Anakin over to the Dark Side without him realizing it.
The film opens up in a traditional action scene, but once the story takes off, things get grimmer by the minute. And the final ninety minutes, which represent the operatic collapse, are nothing short of masterful. Lucas has always embraced grand gestures, but Anakin's descent into the Dark Side is like watching a train crash. It's grand, powerful and absolutely devastating.
As usual, the visuals are dazzling. The film is worth watching over and over again just to see what small details you missed. The night shots of Coruscant are especially beautiful. But Lucas is smart enough to not allow them to drown out the storytelling. Rather, they enhance it.
Although there are a few hiccups here and there, and this is not a particularly strong four star review, it is a great deal better than Episodes I and II.
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