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Revenge of the Sith - Spoiler Free

Finally.

The painfully asinine “The 20” had come to an end, the trailers had finished running. The theater was dark and silent for the longest 3 seconds of all time. Then it happened, the Fox Fanfare that we are all so familiar with rolled as the logo lit the room. We’ve all seen this moment so many times, and yet knowing what is to follow sends short burst of electricity up my spine. Then it happens. The Fox Fanfare is coming to a close as the writing on the wall takes form…Lucasfilm…

Then it goes silent and black all over again.

One second passes…then…

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away… The crowd explodes in applause.

Star Wars was back!

I have waited with excitement and a fair amount of cynicism for this movie. I will be the first to admit that a year ago I was not excited in any way to see this film. I was absolutely convinced it would be the last film in a lack luster and poorly made trilogy. Sure, I was going to see it, but I had no desire to be there opening night. I wouldn’t be there out of joy, or fandom, or geekiness. Sadly, I was only going out of a sense of duty, a desire for closure. As opening day grew closer and closer my cynicism began to die down. The pictures I was seeing looked good. The trailers were impressive, and not in the simple flashy way like the previous two films. No, the trailers for Revenge of the Sith were connecting with me on an emotional level; the same as the original trilogy had all those years before. By May 1st I was hooked. I couldn’t wait. I wanted to be there opening day. Hell, I wanted to be there at 12:01 Thursday morning. Dammit, I wanted to wait in line all day with my fellow Geeks. This was it. No more Star Wars. This may sound strange to some folks, but in 40 years I want to be able to think back to those glorious hours of waiting in line for the last new Star Wars film in the theater!

Damn was I still nervous though. I was still terrified that Lucas would not live up to my decades of support and expectations. The suckness of Phantom Menace took your friendly neighborhood Geek months to get over. If Revenge of the Sith had sucked, I was worried it would have forever tainted my love for Star Wars…all of it!

Thankfully, with the opening shot all of my trepidation was gone faster then the Falcon making the Kessel Run! Star Wars was indeed back and it was going to kick ass again.

The first 20 minutes of Revenge of the Sith is nothing but old school sci-fi Star Wars action fun. The camera panning all around the various Republic Star Destroyers and Separatists Cruisers had me grinning from ear to ear. Clone Trooper fighters in their early X-Wings trading blasts and running blockades against the heartless Droid Fighters. My heart raced as Anakin and Obi Wan deftly ducked and weaved their Jedi fighters through the galactic carnage. Sure, I knew both of these guys would survive for another 19 years, but I still found myself being concerned for them. With each daring maneuver I actually found myself cringing, how the hell were they going to survive this attack, how would they live through wave after wave of Droid Fighters?! The banter between these two Jedi was that of best friends who had been through hell with each other and were still able to have a laugh over a couple of drinks at their local cantina at the end of the day. No matter how many times either character asked to be left behind; for the other to finish the mission, it simply was not going to happen. These were Jedi, these were brothers and they were going to save the day, the galaxy, and dammit they were going to do it together! Watching Anakin and Obi Wan storm General Grievous’ ship reminded me of Luke and Han brazenly charging the halls of the Death Star. These were heroes with a job to do, and they would do it well. Against all odds the Jedi would win the day!

There have been some complaints that the droids and everyone’s favorite Astromech droid were too cute. I’m not sure I agree with that. Go back and really pay attention to the original trilogy. The droids have always been the primary source of humor within the trilogy. While I still have a continuity issue with R2-D2 having jets, I will admit to clapping for the domed one as he got to play the hero that all us Star Wars fans know him to be. Good stuff.

Our first (of many) Lightsaber duels within the throne room of Count Dooku are compelling with shades of the final duel at the end of Return of the Jedi. It is no coincidence that the chair Palpatine is “tied” to has a striking resemblance to a certain throne in a certain Death Star. It’s no spoiler to say that Anakin strikes down the evil Count Dooku. However, it is the manner in which it is done that we see the seeds of darkness growing within the galaxies most powerful Jedi. It is in that moment that you understand just how the vile Palpatine is able to mold the once young and innocent boy to his side.

It is actually quite difficult to write this review without giving away any spoilers. So many of the emotions and events in Revenge of the Sith are tied in to very specific scenes. The film often bounces from great hope and joy to the deepest levels of despair and depression. Cheesy as it may be, the moments between Anakin and Padme are actually quite touching, a few poor lines aside. I found myself wishing it could work between these two. Even knowing what I know (and all fans know), I was hoping that maybe, just maybe these two young people could find the peace and happiness both were so greatly desiring. The Senator, who was always doing her duty, always worrying about other people and never taking time for her own happiness. The young Jedi who so very much wanted approval and love of those he looked up to, of never wanting to be alone again in the darkness of his own nightmares. It broke this Geek’s heart to know that neither would receive their desires. That darkness, evil, manipulation, and arrogance would take it all away.

It was chilling to see Palpatine manipulate young Skywalker. It was deeply troubling to see Anakin responding to the only person who treated him as an equal. The young Jedi, no matter his raw talent and power was still that young boy on Tattooine wishing for a parent to look up to. It was depressing to see the vile and evil Palpatine understand this desire from within the young Jedi and twist it. The soon to be Emperor recognizes Anakin’s desire for love and acceptance and twists in the most unforgiving and terrible of ways. Again, knowing how the movie MUST end I found myself saddened as Anakin was drawn further and further from his friends, his brother, his wife; all due to the manipulation of a monster who craves only power…masked in compassion. Some have expressed disbelief at how quickly Anakin is turned by Lord Sideous / Palpatine. (No, that’s not a spoiler, if you didn’t figure that out by now…dude). I don’t agree with those fans. I understand why and how young Skywalker is able to fall so quickly.

Anakin is the boy that is told he is the chosen one. That he has this great power, and will indeed become the most powerful of all Jedi. Yet, for all his power and prophesized greatness, he is ignored by the very people with whom he is destined to save. The Jedi do not treat him like an equal. They do not even trust him, and while Palpatine manipulates the young Jedi he masks it within the veil of concern and even love… The Jedi Council’s manipulation of Skywalker is saddening and angering. He sees the duality within the Jedi Council; they have become flaccid in their philosophy. While still the guardians of truth, justice, and peace there is an air of superiority to their commands. Anakin sees the fault in their attitude and when he questions them, they turn him away; they never accept this young child, this promise of a better tomorrow. It is Palpatine that fuels Anakin’s concerns regarding the Jedi. It is Palpatine that twists Anakin’s desire to bring safety to the people of the Republic, peace to his pregnant wife, and family to that frightened boy on the Dune Sea. Anakin’s acceptance of Palpatine as his master, as his father is both painful and completely understanding.

The final duel that all fans of Star Wars have known must occur for 30 years is epic, it is vibrant, and it is heart breaking. Watching Obi Wan and Anakin circle each other, Lightsabers drawn you find yourself wishing they can talk it out. I found myself begging from within for these two to not fight. For these Jedi to not throw away the friendship, camaraderie, and love that they spent years fostering through trial and tribulation. All Geeks know that this fight must occur. That Anakin must fall into hell, into the abyss so that he may rise up years later as the hero he was always meant to be. With each clash of their weapons I found myself cringing. I wanted them to stop. I wanted them so very badly to throw their Lightsabers aside. For the first time in all of the prequels I found myself damning continuity. I didn’t care; I didn’t want them to destroy each other. My heart was begging for them to stop. I wanted Obi Wan to extend his hand in friendship and forgiveness, and I wanted Anakin to take it. I wanted them to defeat the newly crowed Emperor together. I wanted these heroes, these Jedi, these friends, these brothers that assaulted Greivous’ ship together with a smile at the beginning of the film to walk side by side again. Sadly, as we all know, that is not how this confrontation ends. Both trailers to Revenge of the Sith ends with Obi Wan crying out: “You were the chosen one”. While it gave me the chills to see that image on the trailer, in the context of the scene I am not too proud to say it brought tears to my eyes. It is utterly crushing. Obi Wan was not crying out to a fellow Jedi, he was calling out to his friend, to a brother, possibly even to a son that he could not save…

There are so many smaller plots that needed wrapping up, that it is difficult to review them all. Suffice to say, that Lucas does a surprisingly smooth job of bringing them all together. The acting was leaps and bounds better then the previous two films. Even the ever so wooden Hayden Christian did a good job (which leads me to believe that the guy can actually act when he is lead by a good character director). The effects are excellent as to be expected. John Williams turns in the best music of the prequel films. While my stance may change when I watch the movie again lacking to fervor of Geekstock, I think I can claim that only The Empire Strikes Back had a greater emotional impact on this Geek. I give Star Wars – Episode III – The Revenge of the Sith 4 out of 5 Critical Hits.

I thoroughly enjoyed Revenge of the Sith. It is ironic that Lucas renewed my hope in Star Wars with a film that is so dark. Thankfully, for all its darkness, Revenge of the Sith does end with pleasant melancholy, like that feeling of watching a friend move away knowing they are moving on to a better place. Finally, at the risk of sounding too fanboyish… Revenge of the Sith does end with the promise of a brighter future… A New Hope.