Shrugging off virtually all the negative aspects of the previous 2 prequels, Star Wars Episiode III Revenge Of The Sith is by far the best of the new Star Wars trilogy. This has mostly to do with the extremely strong script that starts off with one of the most technically complicated action sequences of the saga (a 25 minute space battle and rescue) and builds it's tragic narrative to it's inevitable conclusion.
Only a couple of awkward, early scenes between Portman and Christensen, as they re-declare their love for each other, suck. Apart from that Christensen handles the downfall of Anakin Skywalker well, his demise not from a mystical evil but from the simple desire to save his wife...at any cost, even if it means lying, betraying his faith, and killing kids. It's gripping stuff and the cast are on top form here. Portman's matured and plays her limited scenes with a subtle complexity. MacGregor's at his best with something to get his teeth into, playing Obi with the cheekiness he brought to Episode II, and also with the added embodiment of Sir Alec Guiness, who plays the role in A New Hope. Ian McDiarmand is excellent as ever. The outstanding scene of Sith isn't an action sequence but the Opera scene, as Palatine skillfully seduces Anakin with the possibilities that the Dark Side hold.
Indeed it's these interactions that are the key to Sith's success. Take the moment before Padme confronts Anakin on Mustafar; silently she contemplates her future... or the execution of Order 66 across the galaxy, signalling the culling of the Jedi. Another beautiful, wordless sequence is when Padme and Anakin gaze across the vast city at each other, as Anakin reluctantly chooses his fate.
The action isn't shabby though, with the Grevious Vs Obi Wan confrontation providing a midpoint adrenaline rush. But it's that swordfight...the one we've been waiting for for 19 years that takes the prize. It might not be as well choreographed as Episode I's duel, but it's loaded with an emotional punch as two mates slug it out for the fate of the galaxy. It's compulsive, sad and when it gets to poor ol' Anakin clawing his flaming body up the side of the volcano, you know Lucas has delivered on the promise of the prequels. The brilliance of the birth of Vader juxtaposed with the death of Padme is sadly undermined by Vader's brief Frankenstein impression. Yes, he's very upset, but considering the lenghth of time fans have been wating for the return of THAT suit, another way to show his distress might have been in order.
Still, it can't ruin a supurb, five-star movie that ends on an nostalgically moving note with the setting of Tattoine's two suns on familiar homestead. It's a shame that Episodes I & II couldn't have been as powerful as this, but it's obvious that without their existence, we would not have had a third entry as powerful and satisfying as this.
1 comment:
Revenge of the Sith is by far the best film of the Star Wars prequels. Basically because it contains all the really cool stuff we’d heard about in rumour and hinted at back-story for over twenty eight years. And it does (almost) all of it brilliantly.
Yes, the action and battles are fantastic and on a par with anything else in the saga, but what really elevates RotS are the quieter moments and the moments of high drama. The opera scene where Anakin is seduced further towards the dark side by Palpatine is one of the greatest scenes in the entire saga helped immeasurably by the supreme acting of Ian McDairmid. This scene is wonderfully written, acted and shot. Lucas allegedly had help on the entire script of E3 from playwright Tom Stoppard (who incidentally work as a journalist for the Western Daily Press and the Bristol Evening World in his youth). And it shows – especially here. The dialogue is wonderful. It oozes silky menace and subtle power.
Then there is the cross cutting Lucas employs in the final act - especially in the stupendous Order 66 sequence and where Anakin attacks the Jedi Temple. It’s simply breathtaking direction. The Beard may have trouble writing dialogue by himself as well as directing his (non-CGI) actors, but in filmic construction and editing he is a grand master. And the end face-off between Anakin and Obi Wan is (literally) the stuff of legend. Seeing this actually played out on screen was like my childhood returning. On first watch I was an awestruck wide-eyed schoolboy again. That’s the power of this saga, of this myth. For all its many problems (Ewoks, useless Stormtroopers, Muppets, wooden acting, ripe dialogue, Jake Lloyd) the central power of the Star Wars story and of its mythology is second to none. Even the awesomeness of The Lord of the Rings doesn’t quite compete - mainly because, for many people of a certain age (like me), Star Wars is simply hard wired in to our brain quite unlike anything else.
Yep, RotS is awesome. For me it is the third best of the entire saga after Empire and Star Wars. It still has problems (like the guys at Robot Chicken I’m not quite clear just why Padme dies; Anakin’s dark fall feels a little quick and Vader’s camp “NOOOOO!” is just hilarious) But these problems are all cancelled out by the many many things this film gets exactly right.
May the force be with you.
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