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

            After 28 years, we finally conclude the double trilogy of Star Wars, a film that took movie audiences by storm in 1977 with the first episode.  The story was released first in episodes 4,5,6, followed by 1,2,3.  Over that span of years, the cast has changed somewhat consistent with character deaths, births and aging.  And during that time computer animation techniques have developed enormously.  What was achieved with elaborate models in Episode IV has been implemented using computational power in recent years.  The overall effect has been to reduce the role of dramatic storyline and to increase the amount of special effects.

            Episode III closes the gaps in storyline: How did Darth Vader get his Halloween mask?  Where did Luke Skywalker and Princes Leai grow up?  How did the Emperor get so ugly?  Did C-3PO and R2-D2 have a life before the junk pile?  And finally, how did Obi-Wan Kenobi achieve immortality as a hologram?  Over all, the combined screenplay is a masterpiece of archetypal characters in a traditional plot progression through rising action to climax and conclusion.  The peculiar sequencing of episodes solves the problem of beginning with a significant conflict, since Episode IV sets the stage with an evil emperor who has taken over the galaxy and captured the beautiful princes Leia.  Unfortunately, this forces half of the episodes into flashback and flashback story telling has the disadvantage of being a second cousin to the initial thrust of the story.  Furthermore, this last Episode III is locked into the job of setting the stage for Episode IV, so we know how it has to end.  We just don't know exactly how it gets there.  Knowing the ending tends to spoil the fun!

            My final criticism, a problem that is typical of many action films today, is the domination of screen time with computer animation.  This is particularly true for Episodes II & III.  The result is stimulation with little emotional impact.  The vast numbers of droids, explosions, collisions and destruction creates a kind of numbness to events that causes my eyes to glaze over.  This is not to say that there are no redeeming sequences of acting involving the characters.  The story moves on even if it seems to take a back seat to battle scenes.  It's too bad that none of the later episodes depicted the heroism, camaraderie and emotional dynamics in the original Episode IV.

            Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen play the roles of Obi-Wan, Padmé and Anakin Skywalker in both Episodes II & III.  Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker have been the voices of Yoda, C-3PO and R2-D2 in all the episodes. 

            Reviewed November 20, 2005                      Copyright 2005 Charles T. Markee

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