The hugely popular 'Star Wars' film series draws to a close with
this dark sci-fi adventure which sets the stage for the events of
'Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope' (1977) and brings the saga
full circle. As the Clone Wars rage on, the rift between
Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) and the Jedi Council widens
with young Jedi Knight, Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen),
caught in the middle, his allegiances torn. Seduced by promises
of power and the temptations of the dark side, he pledges himself
to the evil Darth Sidious and the Sith Order, becoming Darth
Vader. Together, the Sith Lords set in motion a plot of revenge
against the Jedi, in attempt to destroy them all. Jedi Master,
Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) tries to turn his old Padawan
learner back to the light side, leading to a climactic lightsaber
battle that will shape the e of the galaxy forever.
From .co.uk
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Ending the most popular film epic in history, Star Wars: Episode
III, Revenge of the Sith is an exciting, uneven, but ultimately
satisfying journey. Picking up the action from Episode II, Attack
of the Clones as well as the animated Clone Wars series, Jedi
Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) and his apprentice, Anakin
Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), pursue General Grievous into
space after the droid has kipped Supreme Chancellor Palpatine
(Ian McDiarmid). It's just the latest manoeuvre in the on-going
Clone Wars between the Republic and the Separatist forces led by
former Jedi turned Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee). On
another front, Master Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) leads the
Republic's clone troops against a droid attack on the Wookiee
homeworld of Kashyyyk. All this is in the first half of Episode
III, which feels a lot like Episodes I and II. That means
spectacular scenery, dazzling dogfights in space, a new fearsome
villain (the CGI-created Grievous can't match up to either Darth
Maul or the original Darth Vader, though), lightsaber duels,
groan-worthy romantic dialogue, goofy humor (but at least it's
left to the droids instead of Jar-Jar Binks), and hordes of
faceless clone troopers fighting hordes of faceless battle
droids.
But then it all changes.
After setting up characters and situations for the first two and
a half movies, Episode III finally comes to life. The Sith Lord
in hiding unleashes his long-simmering plot to take over the
Republic, and an integral part of that plan is to turn Anakin
away from the Jedi and toward the Dark Side of the Force. Unless
you've been living under a rock the last 10 years, you know that
Anakin will transform into the dreaded Darth Vader and face an
ultimate showdown with his mentor, but that doesn't matter. In
fact, a great part of the fun is knowing where things will wind
up but finding out how they'll get there. The end of this prequel
trilogy also should inspire fans to want to see the original
movies again, but this time not out of frustration at the new
ones. Rather, because Episode III is a beginning as well as an
end, it will trigger fond memories as it ties up threads to the
originals in tidy little ways. But best of all, it seems like for
the first time we actually care about what happens and who it
happens to.
Episode III is easily the best of the new trilogy--OK, so that's
not saying much, but it might even jockey for third place among
the six Star Wars films. It's also the first one to be rated
PG-13 for the intense battles and darker plot. It was probably
impossible to live up to the decades' worth of pent-up hype
George Lucas faced for the Star Wars prequel trilogy (and he
tried to lower it with the first two movies), but Episode III
makes us once again glad to be "a long time ago, in a galaxy far,
far away." --David Horiuchi, .com