Special Review: "Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith"

Not so long ago, in this very galaxy, people lined up outside of movie theatres to see an intergalactic adventure from the mind of George Lucas. It is no surprise, then, that when tickets went on sale for sixth and final installment of his saga, people waited in line for a week before the first showing just to get a good seat.

At 12:01 am on May 19th, audiences were treated to the first public showing of Star Wars: Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith (PG-13). Tickets for these showings were sold out almost immediately after being released. Approximately 600 people lined up outside of the Cine Capri at the Harkins Scottsdale 101 theatre one full week beforehand.

This installment focuses on the events that lead Anakin Skywalker, played by Hayden Christensen, to the dark side. Fans of the saga know that Anakin is the evil Darth Vader and the father of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia. Therefore, most of the suspense is lost and no real surprises are offered. Still, seeing the motivations behind the action is fascinating.

The first scene features a long, boring fighter jet sequence that delivers nothing new. The first 90 minutes of the flick is generally tedious with a lot of dialogue pulling it down. This dialogue that tries to be Shakespearian is overly simplistic and far from poetic, therefore the film gives off a lackluster feeling. However, a few select scenes help keep things moving steadily. One is a comical elevator scene involving R2D2. More stimulating, though, is the scene in which Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Ewan McGregor, does battle with General Grievous, who skillfully handles four light sabers at the same time.

The most impressive part of the movie is the final hour. This is when Anakin makes his move over to the dark side, courtesy of Chancellor Palpatine a.k.a. Darth Sidious, maniacally played by Ian McDiarmid. The chaotic nature of the events that ensue are purely exciting. Considering this is the best piece of the film, I think it is best not to give away any details about it so that you can enjoy it for yourself.

I have never been a Star Wars fan and this film doesn'’t change that. However, as a huge fan of movies in general, I get a kick out of how these flicks bring audiences to the theatre. I love these big blockbusters simply because they bring people together. That said, this is probably the best selection of the recent Star Wars trilogy. In a way, this is George Lucas'’s opus with a very tragic ending. Still, fans know there in a new hope.

The biggest weakness of each of these Star Wars movies is the lack of a solid plot that gets tied together by the end of each installment. This is not necessary, but it would make the individual films stronger. Nonetheless, part of the charm of these flicks is the familiarity of the concepts and characters, whether that be Yoda, Chewbacca, or Padme Amidala, played by Natalie Portman.

Fans will certainly love this flick and other people may enjoy the special effects and powerful latter half as well. It is a fun ride but I still don'’t see why so many people take the Star Wars saga to heart. However, regardless of whether you are a jedi master, a sith lord, or a normal human being, one thing is obvious after this release - Officially begun, the summer movie season has.

Review: "The Interpreter"

Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman star together in The Interpreter (PG-13), still in theatres. The political thriller directed by Sydney Pollack is about a United Nations interpreter from Africa, played by Kidman, who overhears an assassination plot. Sean Penn is the secret service agent hired to investigate and protect her. The film generates a fair amount of interest and the suspense is done rather well. A scene on a bus is absolutely gripping. The film’'s major weakness is its excess baggage, like unneeded character subplots. While it offers connection points for the two leads, this often slows the film down unnecessarily. Overall, though, this movie is a must-see.

Review: "Mind Hunters"

Mind Hunters (R) is another one of those flicks that was shelved for one reason or another for a few years before the studio decided to release it. It has a decent cast, including Val Kilmer, LL Cool J, and Christian Slater. The plot involves a team of profilers stranded on an island playing out a FBI training scenario when suddenly everything seems a bit too real. We learn that one of the profilers has joined the dark side and has decided to kill off the team members, one by one, using elaborate death traps. It is ridiculous, preposterous, and highly entertaining. It is certainly suspenseful as the action never lets up for even a moment. Full of twists at every turn, this is one fun flick.


On a related side note, if you dislike this movie for its absurdity, yet you are having a hard time waiting patiently for this Thursday’s release of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge Of The Sith, please enlighten me on how light sabers make more sense than the elaborate death traps set up in this flick. I only mention this because some of my fellow critics are panning Mind Hunters based solely on its outrageousness. If you have trouble with the suspension of disbelief concept, your best bet is to avoid movies at all costs. In other words, sit back, relax, and be entertained because while Mind Hunters will never win an Academy Award, I guarantee it will win your attention, tug on your nerves, and deliver more than enough excitement.

Review: "Monster-In-Law"

Jane Fonda returns to the spotlight in the romantic comedy Monster-In-Law (PG-13). She plays the future mother-in-law of Jennifer Lopez. Beyond unhappy that Lopez’s character is about to wed her son, played by Michael Vartan, Fonda plots and schemes to be the worst mother-in-law possible in order to break the couple apart. I was hardly excited to see this flick, mostly because I am not a fan of Ms. Lopez. J-Lo did not work too hard to change my opinion of her, but Fonda’s performance salvaged the film. She is chaotic and vindictive and an absolute delight to watch. Her assistant, played by Wanda Sykes, also provides plenty of laughs. Aside from delivering a modern-classic line about Lopez’s eyes, Vartan is a fairly flat character and severely uninteresting. Overall, it is a fun flick that, while simple, offers enough sweetness and comedy to entertain everybody.

Review: "Crash"

Crash (R) is the best movie of the year so far. Best described as a film that features how the lives of many people collide, it deals with ethnic relationships. Revealing anything more than that would be giving away far too much as this is truely a movie that you have to see. It makes you think and feel unlike any other movie. The movie lacks a central plot that gets tied up in the end but the ensamble feel makes this forgiveable. It is not a film that is trying to teach you something. Instead, it relies on you to make the best decisions about the things you see. It will most likely make an appearance on my Favorite Flicks of 2005 list and I doubt anyone that sees it will be able to ever forget it.

Review: "House Of Wax"

House Of Wax (R) is the best horror movie in several months. The new remake starring Elisha Cuthbert, Chad Michael Murray, and Paris Hilton is terrifyingly creepy and downright disgusting. My only complaint about this otherwise perfect horror flick is the length. Pushing two hours, the setup drags slightly. It effectively sets the eerie mood but it takes a while before the really scary stuff happens. Of course, when the killing starts, it is relentless. Not since Cabin Fever have I been so grossed-out. I definitely reccomend this one to all horror fans and generally anyone looking for a good, suspensful popcorn flick.

Review: "The Hitchhicker's Guide To The Galaxy"

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy (PG) is a comedic science fiction flick about one man's journey after Earth is destroyed. The man, Arthur Dent, hitches a ride with a space craft with a little help from his alien friend. From there, mildly stellar adventures ensue. The movie builds quite a bit of interest in its initial thirty minutes. However, it gets a little dull after that. The narration keeps you going, though, and some of the jokes are brilliant. Sam Rockwell is the only actor that really shines. In the end, it is an enjoyable little flick with enough comedy to keep you chuckling. Still, I had higher hopes for this nearly below average movie.

Review: "xXx: State Of The Union"

Ice Cube steps into action as the next super secret agent in xXx: State Of The Union (PG-13). In this sequel to the original, implausible borefest starring Vin Diesel (whose character is MIA - explained through death), Ice Cube plays Darius Stone, a prison escapee. Stone must save the United States by blowing things up and driving fast vehicles. I hated the first xXx, and from the first few minutes, I had higher hopes for this one. But once the guidelines are set, boredom sets in and any sense of logic is blown up. If it was at all worth seeing, I would say that it was a good popcorn flick just to have a little action. But I would be lying as this is about as fun as it is intelligent.