I agree with theOven in his blog entry ‘Star Wars III…my conclusion…’ (note permalink not active) that Star Wars III ‘The Revenge of the Sith’ (directed by George Lucas) had a stronger storyline to the previous two episodes. I felt that the characters and the narrative were more evolved than in episode I and II. However, I was disappointed that the relationship between Anakin and Padme wasn’t developed further. Neither was there the tension that I had expected between Obi-wan and Anakin, at Anakin’s final turning point when he kills Mace Windu, before he turns to the darkside.
CGI and SFX used in the film were stunning but in contrast to Butch and theOven I didn’t like the opening scene. I felt that it was completely overwhelming and was longer that it needed to be. I tend to be more in agreeance to Maragaret and David’s film review . I think it would have been a better film with more drama, more dialogue and if the fight scenes had been used to enhance the story rather than as a display of SFX.
What I did like was the way in which the themes resonated in a contemporary global sense. In particular the parallels between the war against terror and the dark side’s war against the force. The film also highlights the potential for political corruption within a democracy. The Senate, as with governments, are given powers to make decisions but the power is abused and directed towards the darkside. Although the film presents the dark side and the force (good side) it also explores the many shades of grey in between. An example of this is highlighted when Obi-wan leaves Anakin for dead but doesn’t kill him. Obi-wan is incrediblely angry with Anakin, but he is also grief stricken having lost the ‘chosen one’ who he had thought of as a son and who he had mentored and nurtured since he was a youngling.
As theOven suggests in his blog the main reason audiences will go and see Star Wars III is to see the cycle completed. Revenge of the Sith links the original trilogy episode IV - VI with episode I and II. It is this episode that brings all the threads and missing fragments together. The Star Wars website has a trailer of episode III ‘The Revenge of the Sith’.
