Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith

Cast: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Jimmy Smits, Peter Mayhew, Ahmed Best, Oliver Ford Davies, Temuera Morrison, Anthony Daniels, Silas Carson, Kenny Baker
Director: George Lucas
Screenplay: George Lucas
Genre: Science Fiction/Adventure/Action
Rated: M moderate science fiction violence
Running Time: 140 Minutes

Star Wars: Revenge Of The Sith - The Saga Is Complete

Synopsis:
The Galaxy is weary after three long years of war. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi have become legendary heroes in their campaigns against the droid forces of the evil General Grievous. Anakin and his secret wife, Padmé Amidala, have been separated for months, and he finally reunites with her to learn that she is pregnant. He is plagued by visions of her dying in childbirth, haunting images of a possible future. Anakin is determined to stop her from dying, no matter the cost. This is leads Anakin down a dark path to commit terrible deeds. Obi-Wan Kenobi must face his former apprentice in a ferocious lightsaber duel on the fiery planet of Mustafar.

My Verdict:
Surely there aren't too many people who haven't heard of the infamous Darth Vader and surely there aren't too many people who don't recognise the John Williams theme music to Star Wars and Darth Vader's theme? In this final instalment, albeit episode III of VI of the Star Wars franchise, 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith', we finally get to see just how and why young Jedi apprentice Anakin Skywalker becomes Darth Vader and it has definitely been worth the wait. Writer and director, George Lucas has somehow craftily timed the revelation of central figure Darth Vader's metamorphosis perfectly, leaving no stone unturned and completing what has become a truly epic series of the science fiction genre.

Sitting in the cinema and listening to the instantly recognizable and imposing opening music of 'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith' sends a shiver down the spine as the scrolling credits familiarly introduce this episode. The movie opens with a very impressive space battle in the skies above the planet of Coruscant, home of the Jedi Knight's, with Jedi Knight's Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) trying to rescue Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from the evil General Grievous, leader of the droid army whilst trying to destroy General Grievous at the same time.

Anakin has been leading a double life as a Jedi Knight along with his secret marriage to Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman) and Chancellor Palpatine uses this information along with the knowledge that Anakin has been having visions of a troubled future including the death of Padmé in childbirth, trying to convince Anakin that there is another side to the Dark Side of the Force and that this is his destiny. Anakin is confused as to where his allegiance lies and spends plenty of time ruminating about his feelings, Obi-Wan senses his turmoil and confronts Anakin, which results in a tense climatic battle between the two. This is a really terrific scene, set on the volcanic molten planet of Mustafar, where the two fight out the only battle in the entire Star Wars saga where the lightsabers used are of the same colour.

There are plenty more sub-plots along the way, that answer more questions and also allow for a smooth transition to Episode IV, including the birth of Padmé's two children, Luke and Leia, the reason behind Luke and Leia's upbringing, the deaths of Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson), Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and General Grievous and the reason behind Yoda's self-imposed exile.

General Grievous is this epsiode's new character and is a sinister looking and sounding being a combination of alien and droid, where the alien is living inside an outer shell of a droid. He is very evil, aided by an almost Darth Vaderish voice, courtesy of Matthew Wood, and is yet another unique character created to add to the wide variety of colourful and novel characters introduced previously, such as C3PO, R2D2 and Chewbacca, who all have small roles.

Fortunately, Hayden Christensen has stepped up a notch as Anakin Skywalker, although he has retained the broody and sulky pout but he has at least given Anakin some more depth and feeling, leaving behind the inexpressive and wooden character from 'Attack Of The Clones' (Episode II) and he convincingly justifies his behaviour. Natalie Portman spends most of her time bemoaning about the growing distance between her and Anakin which grows a tad tiresome, Ian McDiarmid just carries on with Chancellor Palpatines's lifeless personality, Ewan McGregor manages to get some of the funnier lines and Samuel L. Jackson spends his time covering a role where the most important aspect is to be dead-set serious at all costs.

There are the occasional moments where it is disappointing to have too obvious computer generated images, but in the vast scale of the movie these really can be excused. There are also some disturbing scenes involving Anakin, which may make some scenes unsuitable for the very young.

'Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith' really is an outstanding movie, from the relentless whiz-bang special effects, the endless array of planets, the space battles, the light-saber duels, the original characters and the fabulous musical score there really doesn't seem to be an end to the imagination of George Lucas, and for that even those in a galaxy far, far away will be eternally grateful. Thank you George Lucas.

Rating : ****½

Christina Bruce