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

Product Details

Actors: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson
Directors: George Lucas
Writers: George Lucas
Producers: George Lucas, Rick McCallum
Format: Subtitled, Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Widescreen, NTSC
Language: English (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround), Spanish (Dolby Digital 5.1 EX)
Subtitles: English
Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Number of discs: 2
Rated: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Studio: 20th Century Fox
DVD Release Date: November 1, 2005
Run Time: 140 minutes

Price : $31.59

Client Critiques

I have frequently believed upon viewing the prequel trilogy, the intervening years among the original and the new. To be certain, most of the criticisms of the new trilogy are adult in nature. We speak ill of wooden dialogue and acting, convoluted storylines, and themes that are not true to the nature of the purity of science fiction. I was only 5 when Episode IV was release, so my only criticism of that particular film came in the form of whining to my folks that I couldn't see it once again and once again and again.
My point is this: George Lucas has his flaws, most of which are associated to him being out of the director's chair for extra than 20 years ahead of embarking on his new trilogy toy, but I consider, alot more importantly, that we as a filmgoing populace have changed as well. The fact that Lucas has been in a position to bridge that gap successfully (even though telling the story backwards, to boot!) demonstrates the man's immense talents. Perfect? Far from it, but damned entertaining, nonetheless.
Which brings me to the crown jewel of the prequel trilogy. "Revenge of the Sith" is the second perfect film of all six, ranking only behind "The Empire Strikes Back" in terms of depth an substance. The acting is greater and the writing, if not terrific, is helped by a game cast and a pace that does not enable you to catch your breath. Hayden Christiansan, for the most component, owns this function, displaying an adult gravity he was unable to display in the dramatically clunky "Attack of the Clones" The rage, frustration, and worry contrasted with Anakin's heroism and confidence in the face of battle produced for a complicated character who you located your self rooting for regardless of the story's preordained outcome.
The unique effects, as usual, are outstanding, but for the most component serve the film this time. There are points for the duration of the initially two prequel films that you really feel Lucas and Co. are merely showing off some of their shiny new toys, but in this film there is a extra concrete sense of purpose.
Significantly the film belongs to Ian McDiarmid. His performance creates the suitable balance of charm and villiany and by carrying out so makes Anakin's turn all the way more believable even even though the turn itself feels a tad sudden. In fact, I dare say that I enjoyed McDiarmid extra when he was under the guise of Palpatine than when he totally reveals himself as Sidious. The scene in the course of the opera is one particular of the excellent dramatic highpoints of any of the six films.
As for the flaws: sure, there had been a couple of. I would like to have seen a far more galvanizing series of events top to Anakin's turn, possibly some more perceived betrayals at the hands of the Jedi Council? I would like to have observed a a lot more fleshed out efficiency by Natalie Portman, who seems to be far more of an afterthought than a character in the third film. (On a side note, Portman is a terrific actress, but was, in this humble reviewer's opinion, the most ill-served of the whole cast by the clunky dialogue that pervades all three films.)
The 1 part to which I did not object that seemed to be the bane of several Star Wars fans is the scene involving the birth of Vader. I liked the allusions to "Frankenstein" for that is what Vader's story eventually becomes in the following trilogy: a search for his humanity, significantly like Mary Shelley's creation.
I also didn't have a predicament with Vader's reaction to the fact he'd caused Padme's death. You have to don't forget that, despite the truth that he now has James Earl Jones' booming voice, he's still Anakin and still particularly young. It does sound odd, I admit, but it is still absolutely in character. You also have to don't forget that Darth Vader will have a great 20 to 25 years to complete his transformation into the cold, remorseless killing machine we come to know and adore in Episode IV.
In all, "Revenge of the Sith" does a terrific job of tying issues together in a manner that harkens back to when I was a youngster watching Star Wars for the 1st time. It's impossible, as an adult, to completely dismiss some of the flaws in the later films, but Episode III absolutely comes close. It is a magnificent piece of escapist filmaking that has heart, soul, and character and I would very advise it to any person, Star Wars fan or no, seeking for a enjoyable time at the films.

It has been interesting, to say the least, to follow the buzz surrounding the final Star Wars prequel film, from the time ahead of the film was released in theaters to now, four years afterward. In the beginning, many people had been claiming that "no one cares about Star Wars anymore" just after the 1st two prequels (in spite of their getting produced almost $750 million total in domestic box workplace, and that Ep.II was generally regarded as an improvement and a step in the ideal direction just after Ep.I), and that Ep.III was going to be an additional "bomb". Then, lo and behold, just when some people were salivating at the opportunity to rip apart however one more SW film, the important reaction to "Revenge of the Sith" came back positive, with accolades from Time, Newsweek, the NY Occasions, USA Currently, and other people who had hated the prior films several declared Ep.III the finest entry considering that "The Empire Strikes Back", and 1 reviewer even liked it way more than the original "Star Wars". The film would go on to make more than $380 million to become the biggest blockbuster of 2005. It seemed that rumors of Star Wars's death had been drastically exaggerated.
That is...till just after the movie had been out of the theaters for a handful of months, and then all the usual suspects came out, nitpicking and complaining like they often do. It became "cool" and "hip" to trash this film just like its predecessors, and soon factors were ideal back to the way they were just before, with consumers claiming that Ep.III was also a "flop" that no one particular seriously liked, pretending that the film's important and commercial achievement in no way occurred. And so here we are once more, with the perpetually disgruntled fanboys crying about their "raped childhoods", etc. (It is ironic that this time the mainstream critics were mainly way more forgiving than those know-it-alls who consider George Lucas personally OWES it to them to make his films to their exact specifications.)
Anyway, it is THEIR issue if they don't "get it", NOT Lucas's, or anybody else's. "Revenge of the Sith" completes the prequel trilogy in fine form, and brings SW full circle, as nicely. Ep.I began in a rather muddled style, attempting to balance introducing the characters with a plot focused on compact, localized events. In Ep.II (which was a decent movie in its personal right), the grand plots sweeping the entire galaxy began to take shape, and events began on a galactic scale to lead inexorably to Ep.III, wherein we witness the fall of both the Republic, and Anakin himself.
In the critical function of Anakin Skywalker, Hayden Christensen is clearly much more comfy this time out, capturing Anakin's conflicted emotions and insecurities that rage beneath his ostensibly heroic persona, which cause him to grow to be disillusioned with the Jedi and his own lot in life. This leaves him open to the manipulations of Palpatine -- the second critical character right here. Ian McDiarmid does a masterful job as the Emperor, who is revealed as the driving force behind the events in the saga to that point. The relationship in between Anakin and Palpatine, his trusted father figure who leads him astray into creating his Faustian bargain, is the heart of the movie, and is what makes it perform. Indeed, a single of the most emotionally powerful sequences is << SPOILER ALERT when Anakin betrays Mace Windu and pledges his loyalty to the now disfugured Palpatine and his lead to, then receives his initially orders as Darth Vader -- efficiently marking the birth of the evil Empire. However, it seems clear that Anakin is still conflicted and unsure of himself, even as he commits way more evil acts, up till his final transformation at the finish -- by which it is as well late.
The third player is Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan Kenobi, who continues to fight for the doomed Republic ( I specially like the battle with General Grievious, who swings multiple light sabers like whirling neon helicopter blades) till he is forced to take action against his former pupil the aftermath is specifically moving, inspiring pity not only for the mortally wounded Anakin, but also for Obi-Wan, who seems to suffer just as substantially. McGregor has practically produced the character his own he could virtually be the "Han Solo of the Prequel Trilogy" -- which lends a bit of irony to Han's remarks about Kenobi in Ep.IV...
Lastly, there is Yoda, who seems to feel the final defeat of the Jedi as a personal loss. His duel with the Emperor, exactly where they both unleash their powers to the greatest extent however, was also 1 of my favorites. The deleted scene on the DVD showing Yoda's arrival on Dagobah, though not very important to the story, did capture the melancholy of his situation perfectly.
All these components, wrapped up in the usual barrage of sights and sounds that can only be identified in a Star Wars film, make Ep.III a classic that ranks appropriate up there with the Original Trilogy the entire final act of the film has a pervasive mood of sadness and melancholy, coupled with the exhiliration one gets from watching the very best tragedies. All the cards are laid on the table -- the covert plots and foreshadowings of the preceding 2 episodes are lastly brought to fruition, and the previously hidden conflicts are now waged openly, leading to the civil war of Eps.IV-VI. The fall of the Republic is symbolized by the transformation of Anakin into Vader, and the original series can now be viewed as his struggle for redemption, as much as the Empire vs. Rebellion conflict. Vader has been redefined as a tragic figure, rather than a purely evil 1 it is impossible for me to see Vader now without having imagining the brooding, grieving Anakin behind the mask. It also sheds light on the true nature of Vader's and the Emperor's relationship as master and slave, having been from the starting based on lies, deception and betrayal -- a theme that would resurface throughout the original films. (In truth, this was hinted at even prior to the Anakin/Obi-Wan duel, when Anakin refers to "his empire" in his speech. It suggests that he was NOT acting purely for unselfish causes [saving Padme, etc.] when he chose his path, but also for his own secret desire for power.)
As for the Emperor, he shows his correct nature in his reaction to Vader's scream when he realizes what has happened. (Several criticize this scene, but it is a fitting illustration of the Faustian themes of the film, with the Emperor as the grinning devil and Vader as the tormented soul in Hell.) Yet, at the similar time, when Palpatine rescued Anakin following he was burned and close to death, he showed hints of the fatherly affection that he might possibly have indeed felt for him, in spite of his twisted motives.
At the end of the day, the Prequel Trilogy, with Ep.III as its crown jewel, proficiently fleshes out the background of the Star Wars saga. Whilst some components of the PT had been uneven, it tends to make it achievable now to view the original films with a new sense of the history behind them. And "Sith" is a film that truly improves just after repeat viewings, which allow a single to catch all the nuances that could possibly be missed the first time about. With this movie, Lucas rewarded the fans who stuck with him, and brought the Star Wars series full circle.
...And now, the saga is full.