Alex Reviews

Star Wars: Blu-Ray Edition

Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

So, we come to the final Star Wars film created and the end to the prequel trilogy following the story of Anakin Skywalker and the emergence of the Empire that takes focus in the original films. Blu-Ray has been kind to this film, perhaps because it is the most recent, and so each piece of CGI is as vivid as it can be, with clashes of lightsabers and acrobatic piloting of starships immersing the audience with ease. And, despite a few flaws, this is probably the better of the three films, successfully tying off the loose ends to make way for A New Hope.

But yes, there are flaws in the Star Wars magic here. The dialogue can often be weak, and the relationship between Anakin and Padmé is more sickening than convincing. Somehow Obi-Wan Kenobi has taken on the role of comic relief in this film, as if George Lucas got a memo that fans weren't warming to his grumpy demeanour in the first two. But at least his haircut is more sensible this time around. I'm not sure if I am alone in this feeling, but I feel that the budget of the films and the development of CGI has in some cases hindered the grand moments of space-battle. The original films, with the first and second assault on the Death Star, just seem more gritty and satisfying than the battle over Coruscant that takes place at the beginning of Revenge of the Sith. I think that in some cases, the development of technology that allows props and actors to do more or less anything (such as somersaulting out of a spaceship that is crash landing, or jumping between high platforms whilst duelling with sabers) provides more of a disconnect between the audience and the film. It makes the Jedi seem cool and all, but not the same as Han Solo cool, or Lando Calrissian cool, or Boba Fett cool, and so on. 

What really sets this film up is the story behind it; for fans, the knowledge that it's all going to end badly. You would wonder how the films would have been received if they had been played out in order, perhaps an experiment to play on younger audiences who have yet to see where the saga takes them. Hayden Christensen is able to convincingly portray the confusion and torment going on in young Anakin's mind, and the careful steps taken by Darth Sidious to bring his evil plan into fruition are borderline genius. The powerful conclusion won't leave you satisfied - but this isn't to say it is bad. Instead, you will mirror the feelings of Obi-Wan and Yoda, that evil has won this time - the good guys have failed and hope is lost in this wonderful universe that you have grown to care for. And in this sense, it is a great film; to set up A New Hope as the next chapter in the saga.