I finally got to the theater this weekend to contribute my 0.00000004% of gross revenue to George Lucas’ latest Star Wars-Chapter III Revenge of the Sith, and it is, in a word, incredible.
What was so incredible you ask?
Well, it was not the acting-it was boorish and plastic with one exception. I don’t know about other Star Wars fans, but I have yet to accept Hayden Christensen seriously as Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader. I’m not buying it. I think I could take him. Give me James Earl Jones any day. And Padme? Natalie Portman was too busy changing costumes and hair to make any impact. As for the others, Samuel L. Jackson and Ewan McGregor played it very stiff. The one exception, Ian McDiarmid is brilliant in his personification of evil as Supreme Chancellor Palpatine/Darth Sidious. His manipulation of the Senate and of young Anakin is masterful. He even made me feel creepy, and I know it’s just a story. The best character scene in the entire movie is Palpatine’s recounting of a Sith legend to young Anakin. Watch for it, McDiarmid is at his diabolical best in this bit. For all the hubbub about the story line relating Anakin Skywalker to President George W. Bush and his policies, there is no doubt in my mind that Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is the embodiment of Hitler and Stalin, in a galaxy far, far away. He even uses the same title Hitler did.
Except for Palpatine’s scheming, the dialog was not too incredible either. It could have been written by one of my not so smart puppy buddies. Lines like “Anakin, my heart is breaking,” delivered by Padme upon her realization that Anakin has fully embraced the dark side of the Force, were less than inspiring. During one scene describing his confusion over which path to take, Anakin moves from “What have I done?” after killing a Jedi buddy, to pledging allegiance to Darth Sidious without much time or thought in between. Perhaps George should focus on the special effects, and leave the script writing to others.
And this is unusual for me to say, but the music was not so incredible this time around. Although I generally enjoy John William’s scores, Revenge of the Sith is overpowering, has too many voices where instruments would do, and too much Africa style music for a science fiction movie. There were points where my ears thought I was hearing Black Hawk Down. Give me drums and horns and strings. Please leave the chorus at home John.
So you are probably asking why I think Revenge of the Sith was incredible. Well, it’s the best special effects space movie I have ever seen. Maybe I should remove the word “space” from the previous sentence. This flick grabs you visually right from the opening. You can read the scrolling lead in from 3 parsecs away. The first battle lasts 25 minutes, and doesn’t slow down from light speed for a second. I didn’t care that the dialog was weak, the music overpowering or the acting mundane, I was hooked. This is what space sci-fi fans live for, at least this one. Give me ships blowing up and planets disappearing and missiles and laser beams and blasters and cannons and death and destruction, I love it.
Now that’s incredible!
Copyright © 2005 Robert McNickle, all rights reserved.
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