“The circle is now complete’ , as Darth Vader put it to Obi-Wan during their lightsaber battle in A NEW HOPE – and in 2005 it seemed that this would be the last of the STAR WARS films for George Lucas, even though it was promised in 1980 (and then fulfilled eventually from 2015 – 2019), as he stated in a convention on-stage Q and A in 2005 that this was essentially ‘The Darth Vader story’.
Given the optimistic tone of A NEW HOPE, it was logical that the third film in the ‘Prequel’ trilogy, REVENGE OF THE SITH, would have to end on a dark note. Leia did touch on the fate of her mother during a conversation with Luke during RETURN OF THE JEDI, but REVENGE is where we actually see what does happen.
The action and energy of what is essentially the best film of this trio is set with an amazing space battle from the opening crawl which tops anything ILM and Lucas ever did, as we watch two Jedi fighters sweep in and around a fleet of mega-ships battling it out like a classic space swashbuckler if Errol Flynn was still around.
The fighters, piloted by Obi-Wan and Anakin, are out to get General Grievous, a part robotic, part organic alien who is holding Chancellor Palpatine in his midst. Getting on board, they confront the evil Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), whom Anakin kills by beheading him, which prompts Palpatine to seek Anakin as a new set of ears as he is not trusted by the Jedi Council.
Anakin is resentful of the recent decision of the Council not to grant him the status of Jedi Master, but he has other problems on his mind, not least in that Padme, now his wife, is pregnant.
Palpatine has bigger plans, but for Jedi Mace Windu (Samuel L Jackson) and Obi-Wan, Anakin’s attachment to Palpatine has become a little too uncomfortable – and a bigger conflict is inevitable….
STAR WARS fans pretty much know the score of the films by now if they have seen them countless times, but for those of you who haven’t, this is perfect family entertainment with dark moments admittedly and should be enjoyed with all the trimmings of good escapist entertainment.