For one week at the end of April, the conclusion to Star Wars’ Prequel Trilogy returned to theaters. Has the movie stood the test of time?
by Boris Nusinzon & Jameson Butler
THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
When “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” first released in theaters in 2005, it was met with cautious optimism. The final installment of George Lucas’s prequel trilogy sought to deliver on promises the previous two entries, “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones,” had struggled to fulfill—namely, a compelling character development from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader and a deeper sense of narrative weight. At the time, many criticized the contrived dialogue and underdeveloped character motivations; nowadays, many view the film in a more positive light. The question then remains: Was Revenge of the Sith truly a good movie, or has nostalgia blinded viewers after 20 years?
“Revenge of the Sith” has certainly received heavy criticism for many aspects of the film—criticisms that are similar to those that viewers had towards Episodes 1 and 2. Much of the dialogue in the film remains painfully clunky and unnatural; while some of the banter and emotional scenes do carry weight, a good portion of the movie is dragged down by poor dialogue writing. This has always been one of George Lucas’ worst flaws: He struggles to write realistic, grounded dialogue that does not come off as overly flowery or childish.
To no one’s surprise, this is worst nowhere but in the scenes between Anakin and Padme. Their romance feels closer to that of schoolchildren rather than mature adults who have been married for years; the interactions between the two are oftentimes painful, with their conversations coming off as incredibly formal and forced. Much of their dialogue—and other scenes throughout the film—feel practically Shakespearian, like the viewer is watching a play from the 16th century in which everyone speaks in a stilted manner.
This does mark an overarching issue that Lucas generally struggles with, especially in the prequels—he stumbles when it comes to translating story concepts into actual writing. The concepts that drive the Prequel Trilogy are grand and exciting, but he consistently fumbles when it comes to cohesively putting these ideas down on the page. Certain characters like Padme and C-3PO seem overshadowed and sidelined in the film; additionally, the movie often feels excessively rushed and fast-paced, breezing through the plot—though, in Lucas’ defense, the plot encompasses a very short timeframe.
The acting can be poor at times too, particularly with the lead star of the movie; while certain parts of his performance are superior to “Attack of the Clones,” Hayden Christensen delivers many lines in the most steely and wooden of ways. It can be a struggle to understand why he is so unemotional during pivotal scenes—or, conversely, why he is so petulant and whiny. “Revenge of the Sith” makes a better attempt at showcasing a complex and multilayered Anakin, but he can still be incredibly unlikable and irritating.
It is somewhat strange but understandable that people have grown to ignore many of these problems and warmed up to the movie—after all, there are a bevy of things that the movie got right. Much of the acting in the film does stand out; for example, Ewan McGregor delivers a compelling performance as Obi-Wan Kenobi—his final battle with Anakin may be his finest moment in the entire trilogy, one that also highlights better acting from Christensen. Ian McDiarmid as Chancellor turned Emperor Palpatine also performs his role with ease, bringing a sense of theatricality and careful manipulation to the fall of the Republic—particularly during Order 66, the beautifully eerie scene that brings about the conclusion of the prequel trilogy.
Another area in which the film undoubtedly succeeds in its choreography: Revenge of the Sith is widely renowned for its complex and dynamic action sequences. The lightsaber duels throughout the film—particularly the climactic battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan on Mustafar—are among the most elaborate and emotionally charged in the franchise. The stylization of these scenes compliment the emotion and intensity of the film, with all five exciting duels perfectly coordinated and performed.
Quite a bit of the writing is a marked improvement over the previous two films. The Battle of Coruscant at the beginning of the movie has plenty of snippy and well-executed dialogue exchanges between the characters; the scene between Palpatine and Anakin at the opera is filled with beautifully manipulative interactions and iconic lines; the Jedi and the Republic are as flawed and maddening as ever; and Order 66 and the two duels at the end of the movie are extremely climactic. These days, the writing is also brought down by the fact that a large portion of the movie’s dialogue and one-liners have become a joke in the online community—though perhaps that is due to the dialogue’s somewhat cheesy nature.
Composer John Williams returned for the sixth time in this film, producing an unsurprisingly masterful score with pieces such as “Battle of the Heroes” and “Anakin’s Betrayal,” both beautifully crafted themes that fit the exciting yet haunting scenes that they accompany. Williams weaves old and new motifs together to create an emotionally resonant masterpiece, even in comparison to his other work on the series.
The 20th-anniversary re-release wasn’t just about nostalgia, either—it was about experiencing “Revenge of the Sith” the way it was meant to be seen. More recent installments such as the TV series “The Clone Wars” and “Kenobi” add a certain depth and drama that was not present during the original release. The introduction of new characters and the expansion of old ones have gone a long way towards improving the movie in people’s minds.
The legacy that “Revenge of the Sith” has left is complex. The movie is still plagued with many of the same issues as its two predecessors, yet is viewed much more positively by the public today. “Episode III” certainly does improve in many aspects—CGI, impressive duels, and a good chunk of the acting and writing—but the movie still falls short in many aspects. But all of the prequel memes and the more positive outlook on the movie after the public outrage towards the sequels—combined with the posthumous boost from shows like “The Clone Wars”—have helped this movie to become the favorite of many Star Wars fans.
Grade: B