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.
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