 It is sometimes hard for huge blockbuster movies to live up their hype. And with legions of Star Wars fans eagerly anticipating the release of the final installment of the Star Wars saga, there was certainly a lot of hype for this movie. Fortunately, Epsiode III delivered on many levels.
This movie picks up awhile, perhaps a few years, after the second movie left off. Anakin is still training as an apprentice under Obi Wan, but his power and "knowledge of the Force" has grown significantly since the end of the previous film. Since this movie serves to bridge the gap between the new prequel movies and the old final three movies (I know, it's confusing), the focus is on Anakin for most of the movie. The story development is very strong in this movie, as it follows the evolution of Anakin from a young Jedi apprentice to the powerful Darth Vader. The reasons for changes in Anakin's loyalties are explained well, if perhaps made even a little too obvious.
Episode III makes use of many of the classic Star Wars sceneries, including the other-worldly lands, the spaceship interiors, and of course, the obligatory space battles. The opening scene of the movie is a classic outer space battle that outdoes any of the previous movies. It is followed by several light saber duels that are wonderfully choreographed and demand the viewer's unequivocal attention for several minutes at a time.
Because there is so much character development required in this movie, there are a number of long dialog scenes that seem to drag on too long. Granted, it is necessary to explain the changing relationships and to successfully bridge the first and second trio of movies, but I felt there were times when less words could have been used to achieve the same purpose. That being said, the acting is better in this movie than Episode II, which had a few scenes that were hard to watch. Anakin also is more believable in this movie, which is important, since the focus is on him for most of the film.
While there were some soft patches in the movie, they were easily remedied by a plethora of light saber battles. I dare say that Episode III had more light saber fighting than the other five movies combined. There was seldom a scene where someone didn't have his light saber drawn, except for the long dialog scenes. And even those usually ended up in a light saber battle. While the special effects were overall impressive throughout the movie, the light saber battles are what really made the action in the film come alive.
The final battle between Anakin and Obi Wan, which had been building throughout the entire movie, was simply incredible. It seemed to last for half an hour. However, I didn't especially like the lava backdrop used for most of the battle. While all the other scenes had classic Star Wars landscapes, the lava background had me wondering if they would destroy the ring in time. It certainly added to the suspense of the battle, but the scenery seemed a little out of place for Star Wars. Fortunately, the battle between Yoda and Darth Siddius in the Senate room was beautifully done. If you liked Yoda's light saber fighting in the second film, Episode III will blow you away.
As dictated by the story, this movie is the darkest of the Star Wars films. It is not a "feel good" movie, where you expect everything to turn out fine. It is a classic battle of good and evil, but the good side does not necessarily triumph in this film. Because it is a darker movie, there is more violence than Episode I or II, so it may not be appropriate for younger children. That being said, the graphic violence is kept in check, and the language is rather tame. Revenge of the Sith is one great thrill ride, and whether you are a loyal Star Wars fan or not, you owe it to yourself to see this classic of our time. |
