Buy It on DVD

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
(May 2005)

If you were born in the late 60's or early 70's then chances are this is the movie you've been waiting your whole life to see. You might have not known it at first. But the moment you sat down, heard the first note of the opening theme music you got goosebumps, then you knew. The once wide eyed 7 year old that watched the x-wings and tie fighters fly across the screen with such wonder, now 31 and still watching in wonder as the story you've always known comes to a finish. What a finish it is.

Revenge of the Sith opens, throwing us headfirst into action. Anikan and Obi-wan have been sent to rescue Chancellor Palpatine who has been captured by the evil General Grievous. A few lost limbs later, the Chancellor is saved and Anikan has slipped further down the dark path. Back on Couresant Palpatine appoints Anikan as his representative to the Jedi council, but he is not made a master. While Anikan pouts Palpatine whispers into his ear playing on Anikan's wounded ego an his fear of losing Padme. What's a guy to do?

Everything ends as it must, with tragedy and the loss of more limbs. Anikan's path to the dark side started by his caring of Padme and wanting to save her from dying. Anikan's path to the dark side ended at the moment when he could have left, he could have saved her, but at that moment he cared only about himself. This is how this movie needed to be and it was amazing to watch.

Sure there are some clunky parts in Revenge of the Sith. Lucas still cannot write a love scene. The supposed to be touching moments between Anikan and Padme too often sound emotionless and dry. Natalie Portman seemed tho be on auto pilot throughout the movie only briefly coming alive too late at the end. "Anikan, you're breaking my heart..." With so much of the movie filmed in front of a green screen the actors sometimes don't act as though they have a sense of how big the scene they are in is. Do they not see the world collapsing around them? Luckily, not all is lost. Ewan McGregor continues to shine in the role of Obi-Wan. He improves every scene that he is in. Also, worth mentioning is the outstanding performance by Ian McDiarmid (Chancellor Palpatine). The conversations between Palpatine and Anikan are some of the most crucial to the story and McDiarmid really made them come alive.

Rating: PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images.