Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005) Review
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
cinema
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My Review
In “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” director-screenwriter George Lucas brings the “Star Wars” story full circle back to the original 1977 “Star Wars” movie. Lucas clearly depicted the tragic descent of Anakin Skywalker into the dark side of the force and his emergence as Darth Vader. He skillfully brought the story to the screen as he did in the five previous films. George Lucas was involved in every detail, demonstrating once and for all that he is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman returned as Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, whose romance and marriage grinds to a calamitous end. There was some criticism of Christensen’s performance at the time, as well as negative commentaries on Lucas’ screenplays, but they have held up over time. The prequel trilogy, which are Episodes 1-3 (1999, 2003, 2005), had more direct involvement by Lucas overall than in the original trilogy, Episodes 4-6 (1977, 1980, 1983). Ep. 1-3 did have a bit of a different tone than Ep. 4-6. (The sequel trilogy were Episodes 7-9, 2015, 2017, 2019, all produced under the wings of Kathy Kennedy and the Lucasfilm division of The Walt Disney Company. Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 for about four billion dollars.)
The rest of the cast is essential to “Episode III,” especially Ewan McGregor returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan’s life and Anakin’s life are intertwined, irreplaceable to the entire franchise. Ian McDiarmid as the Chancellor-turned-Emperor is also a key character. Ditto for Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Frank Oz as Yoda, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse as Owen and Bru Lars, Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, and Temuera Morrison as Commander Cody and the entire group of clone troopers. Movie veteran Christopher Lee is very impressive as Count Dooku.
The efforts of others are also worth mentioning: Rick McCallum (producer), John Williams (music), David Tattersall (cinematography), and the countless thousands involved in the creation of the marvelous FX. “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” was a smashing success at the box office for Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox, the second-highest grossing film of the year. It received one Oscar nomination, for Best Make-Up, and one Golden Raspberry win, for Hayden Christensen for Worst Supporting Actor.
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (2005)
cinema
My Review
In “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith,” director-screenwriter George Lucas brings the “Star Wars” story full circle back to the original 1977 “Star Wars” movie. Lucas clearly depicted the tragic descent of Anakin Skywalker into the dark side of the force and his emergence as Darth Vader. He skillfully brought the story to the screen as he did in the five previous films. George Lucas was involved in every detail, demonstrating once and for all that he is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time.
Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman returned as Anakin Skywalker and Padme Amidala, whose romance and marriage grinds to a calamitous end. There was some criticism of Christensen’s performance at the time, as well as negative commentaries on Lucas’ screenplays, but they have held up over time. The prequel trilogy, which are Episodes 1-3 (1999, 2003, 2005), had more direct involvement by Lucas overall than in the original trilogy, Episodes 4-6 (1977, 1980, 1983). Ep. 1-3 did have a bit of a different tone than Ep. 4-6. (The sequel trilogy were Episodes 7-9, 2015, 2017, 2019, all produced under the wings of Kathy Kennedy and the Lucasfilm division of The Walt Disney Company. Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney in 2012 for about four billion dollars.)
The rest of the cast is essential to “Episode III,” especially Ewan McGregor returning as Obi-Wan Kenobi. Obi-Wan’s life and Anakin’s life are intertwined, irreplaceable to the entire franchise. Ian McDiarmid as the Chancellor-turned-Emperor is also a key character. Ditto for Anthony Daniels as C-3PO, Kenny Baker as R2-D2, Frank Oz as Yoda, Peter Mayhew as Chewbacca, Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse as Owen and Bru Lars, Jimmy Smits as Bail Organa, Samuel L. Jackson as Mace Windu, and Temuera Morrison as Commander Cody and the entire group of clone troopers. Movie veteran Christopher Lee is very impressive as Count Dooku.
The efforts of others are also worth mentioning: Rick McCallum (producer), John Williams (music), David Tattersall (cinematography), and the countless thousands involved in the creation of the marvelous FX. “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith” was a smashing success at the box office for Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox, the second-highest grossing film of the year. It received one Oscar nomination, for Best Make-Up, and one Golden Raspberry win, for Hayden Christensen for Worst Supporting Actor.