Fridae

The space saga draws to a close with this final instalment, Episode
III: Revenge of the Sith. And whether or not you're a Star
Wars fan, you may understand why many of us are visibly relieved.

After all, Episode I: The Phantom Menace and Episode
II: Attack of the Clones were awful, awful films. They completely
ruined our fond memories of the original trilogy that began 28 years
ago. And they made those of us who rushed out to buy the new Star
Wars figurines of Jar Jar Binks and General Grievous feel really
stoopid.

Fortunately, this new film is somewhat better than the last two.
Revenge of the Sith is an action-packed and visually spectacular
curtain-closer that reunites Anakin Skywalker (played by Hayden
Christensen, rumouredly gay and sleepwalking in his role again)
with his wife Princess Padme (Natalie Portman), who is now pregnant
with Luke and Leia Skywalker.

As Anakin becomes very worried about the future well-being of his
wife and children, and whether or not he would be made a full Jedi
knight, he is persuaded by Supreme Chancellor Palpatine to switch
sides and join the new up-and-coming evil empire. As all you Star
Wars fans know, when Anakin abandons his destiny as the Chosen
One, he eventually turns into Darth Vader...

Revenge of the Sith is satisfying in that it gives the
audience the last remaining pieces of the story's jigsaw puzzle.
Those of us who enjoy good storytelling (and could care less about
the flashy special effects) will be gratified in this respect. However,
the problems inherent in the last two films are still here —
namely bad acting, clumsy dialogue and an unnecessarily convoluted
plot.

The actors, after all, are still performing against a giant green
screen (where the special effects and backdrops are later inserted)
and talking to green sticks (which would be replaced later by computer-animated
characters). Ewan McGregor, who plays Obi-Wan Kenobi, has told the
press that acting in Star Wars was an empty and joyless
experience because of the green screen — and it shows on the
actors' faces.

But the splendid space battles, the lightsabre duels and the gorgeous
apocalyptic imagery in the second half of Revenge of the Sith
are very thrilling. And though you know this soulless movie is calculated
simply to make more money for creator George Lucas and all his spin-off
markets like toys and books, you can't help but embrace this Dark
Side...