A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Star Wars, Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

Date Viewed: 5/29/05

Details:

Ewan McGregor

Natalie Portman

Hayden Christensen

Ian McDiarmid

Samuel L. Jackson

Jimmy Smits

Frank Oz

Christopher Lee

Anthony Daniels

Kenny Baker

Peter Mayhew

Written & directed by: George Lucas

Score: 0

The Review: Underwhelming.

Throughout the first two movies in this reentrant series, we've known that episode III will be, must be, a tragedy. We know that Padme must disappear from the scene, that Anakin Skywalker must become Darth Vader, that the Republic must become an Empire -- a series of tragedies ranging in scale from the intimate to the galactic. The inevitability of this transformation lurks in the back of all our expectations -- setting us up for something spectacular or for something of a dud -- and as the mechanism unfolds in Revenge, we sit transfixed in dumb horror at how boring and disengaging it all is. So yes, by the time the credits roll, we see that all the loose ends are tied up, nice and neat; we now know the origins of Vader, of Luke & Leia, and of the Empire. Yawn.

Many of us engaged with (the original) Star Wars (episode IV) because of its action, scope, attitude, heroism, humor, plot -- perhaps not in that exact ranking order. No matter that the plots of the serials from which Lucas took his inspiration were always a bit thin, but more than counterbalanced by character (even if sketchily drawn), action (certainly) and cliffhanger excitement (absolutely). The awe and wonder of Star Wars' space opera on a grand scale was generally enough to carry over a few lapses in plot or characterization, to briefly open only the tiniest crack in the suspension of disbelief required for enjoyment. And at the core of episodes IV through VI were a cast of characters that were attractive, interesting, entertaining, even occasionally dark -- people you could identify with and grow to like (or hate, as the case may be). And possibly, just possibly, the acting was reasonably good.

But in Revenge, we've come full circle to a long-anticipated resolution that has but little in the way of sympathetic characters, a modicum of acting, little attitude, less humor, and a veneer of heroism that is more than swamped by action, more action and special effects. Yes, the SFX are indeed grand and glorious, eye-candy for the audience and a wonder of computational systems. But where is the pathos, the indecision, the angst, the difficult and transforming decisions? Anakin's slide into evil appears to have no psychological opposition and only the merest hesitation. The real tragedy is that Lucas appears to have lost his ability to tell a good story, and in its place is a mere faerie substitute ability to paint vast galactic canvases with action.

World-building? There's little new in this episode, except the surprise that the Wookiee home-world actually appears to be a water-world with karst topography reminiscent of coastal Thailand or the Chinese province of Guangzhou.

Minor comments: There's no pod-race, but the requisite high-speed run-around scene has not been forgotten: there is a chase through the caves with the villain, General Grievous, riding a curious monocycle. Lastly, R2-D2 seems a lot more athletic here than in later episodes; I guess he got exhausted.

(29-May-05)

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