Revisiting Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith


Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker opens on December 20. It is meant to be an end to the saga we've known for more than 40 years, and that includes 10 previous movies (eight in series and two stand alone tales in the world). In the run up to that release, I'll be revisiting all 10 of the released Star Wars films and sharing thoughts as we prepare for the final chapter.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
Starring: Ewan McGreggor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jimmy Smits
About: The final installment of the prequels. I was out of college and working for a local newspaper in 2005 when this one debuted. I also remember that, on the way to this film, was the last time I got a speeding ticket. Amazing the things that you remember about movies. I also remember the long line to get in, and how the first two prequels were playing on the big screen in the courtyard. Obviously Episodes I and II weren't quite what people had hoped for, including me. But I still hoped this final chapter would be better. And it was. We all knew where it had to end. Anakin (Christensen) was never going to be the good guy. His love story with Padme (Portman) was never going to have a happy ending. And it was never going to go well for the republic. But this film is still pretty solid. I feel like the performances are better, maybe because you don't have to suffer through some of the "romance" dialogue of Episode II. It's not a perfect film, but it's easier to make a case for this one approaching some of the lower-end offerings from the other trilogies. The opening sequence to save Palpatine (McDiarmid) is good, and the final confrontation between Obi-Wan (McGreggor) and Anakin is solid. I like the visuals and some of the action there. And the moment when he becomes Darth Vader, though expected, closes the loop. If nothing else, the prequels help to fill in some of the story gaps, for good or for ill. "Revenge of the Sith" will never be a top tier "Star Wars" movie, but I think if often gets unfairly lumped in with the other prequels. It is a better movie from beginning to end, and is more interesting. And that's a win. Plus it has some great and iconic moments, and it bridges the story to the point it needs to get.
Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images.

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