Review of Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005) by Luke S — 02 Apr 2017

To me, this was the whole point of the prequels- Anakin Skywalker falls from grace and becomes Darth Vader. Everything leading up to this premise- while entertaining and brilliantly done- is more or less padding because we know how it will end.

Consequently this is the episode in the prequel trilogy that 'feels' the most like a Star Wars movie for me. The inclusion of much loved characters like Chewbacca, R2D2 and C3PO feels more like lip service for the older fans.

What I personally enjoyed about this one was the Emperor's subtle coaxing of Anakin to the dark side. It was almost Faustian in the way it was played out. This only cemented Anakin's inner conflict which caused an inevitable rift with his friends and loved ones.

The isometric lightsaber duels are impressive in all their digital complexity but it is the emotional stuff that gives the film its thrust. When we see the final scene of Darth Vader rising from the operating table a la Frankenstein's monster, it feels like the emphatic moment in the third act that finally gives us logical continuity.