Movie Night: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Review #144: Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith.

Cast
Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi), Natalie Portman (Padmé Amidala), Hayden Christensen (Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader), Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine / Darth Sidious), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Christopher Lee (Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Kenny Baker (R2-D2), Frank Oz (Yoda), Jimmy Smits (Bail Organa), Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca), Oliver Ford Davies (Sio Bibble), Ahmed Best (Jar Jar Binks), Matthew Wood (General Grievous) and Silas Carson (Nute Gunray and Ki-Adi-Mundi) Directed by George Lucas (#113 - Star Wars, #141 - American Graffiti, #142 - Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace and #143 - Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones)

Review:
Greetings. I have fixed this review in terms of grammar and slight fixes to phrases in honor of the recent release of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which is set after this film. Enjoy this review if you can, written in Season 2 - not exactly my favorite season of Movie Night.

This is the last film of the franchise (1977, 1980, 1983, 1999, 2002, 2005) to be released by 20th Century Fox, but is it better than the two films released before it? The answer is yes. It is definitely better then The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, yet it is not as great as A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and (despite what some say) Return of the Jedi.

The acting (like the last two prequels before it) is good from some of the cast, such as Ewan McGregor, probably the best actor in this trilogy. Ian McDiarmid is consistently brilliant even with silly makeup (and some moments of full blown joke material). Natalie Portman prevails fairly enough, even if she does have to say some pretty lame lines at times that seem to border on romance novel junk. Hayden Christensen, while better than how he was in the last film is fairly servicable in the fight scenes and some of the scenes with Kenobi, still has moments to make fun of (such as nearly any scene with Portman), though it works better than the other two films. The writing is somewhat better (in the grand scheme of things), though Lucas still can't write a good love scene, nor close a movie properly without making it feel endless. Did I really need a scene of Yoda explaining that Qui-Gon Jinn found a way to retain consciousness after death? Some scenes work such as the beginning space fight, the dialogue between Anakin and Palpatine, and especially the last lightsaber fight. The scene with the younglings is certainly dark, but it still feels ridiculous, especially when Obi-Wan mentions it later (while covering his mouth with his hand). With all the action, the movie still feels short when it comes to really caring about these characters along with trying not to make fun of it. The film ends a Prequel Trilogy that will be remembered for how it could've been such more rather then what it was while the Original Trilogy will be remembered for its good, if not great quality. This is an okay movie that could've been better, but at least it is better the other two prequels, and I guess that means something. This Star Wars saga is now complete. For now.

Countdown to #150: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6...

Overall, I give it 7 out of 10 stars.