“Oh, I have a bad feeling about this.” —Obi-Wan Kenobi
Today’s quick review: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. After years of fighting between the Separatists and the Galactic Republic, the Clone Wars have come to a head, and Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), a brash but talented Jedi Knight, faces a crisis. Tormented by visions of the death of his wife Padme (Natalie Portman), Anakin grows distant from the Jedi Council, including his friend and mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a sci-fi action adventure and the final film in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Revenge of the Sith chronicles Anakin’s temptation by the Dark Side of the Force and the last days of the Old Republic. Large-scale action, polished special effects, and a compelling story make the movie a step up from the other prequels. However, it has enough flaws with its storytelling that it falls short of the classics.
Revenge of the Sith is where the prequel trilogy finally comes into its own. The dramatic arc of the trilogy reaches its climax, Anakin’s character finally strikes the right balance of good intentions and flawed decisions, and Palpatine’s plans for the Jedi and the Republic finally come to fruition. Revenge of the Sith is darker in tone than its predecessors, dropping most of their comedic elements in favor of conflict and tragedy.
Revenge of the Sith also features some of the best action in the franchise. From the opening battle with Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and the forces of General Grievous (Matthew Wood) to the climactic fight of the trilogy, Revenge of the Sith delivers action in spades. Iconic lightsaber duels, memorable set pieces, and large-scale battles all give the movie an amazing sense of spectacle, all supported by CGI that holds up surprisingly well.
Revenge of the Sith still suffers from some of the same issues as the other prequels. Anakin’s descent towards the Dark Side isn’t handled with quite the delicacy it needs. The movie’s acting decisions are questionable in places, and several of the lines of dialogue that are meant to carry the most weight are awkwardly phrased. Even so, Revenge of the Sith has fewer of these issues than Episodes I or II, conveying its story with fewer distractions.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a strong pick for fans of the action-oriented side of the sci-fi genre, and it’s arguably the best entry in the prequel trilogy. Though it falls somewhat short of the original trilogy in terms of storytelling and impact, Revenge of the Sith remains an enjoyable watch for anyone invested in the characters and something close to a zenith for the unique style of action Star Wars is known for.
7.5 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it the same for strong action and a more polished story than its predecessors, albeit with a few notable flaws.