Maybe it was the fact that this was the closest that any of the prequels had come to even being like the originals.
Maybe it was because there was actually some decent turns by Christensen and others that were so sorely lacking in the others.
Maybe people were just happy that this shitty trilogy was finally fucking over.
I'll be honest, I went to the theater to see this. Seven times. In my defense, there was fuck all else to do that summer. But really, this is the only prequel film that I truly enjoy...not that it isn't without its problems, of course, but we'll get into them.
The story continues with the closing time of the Clone Wars. Anakin Skywalker (Christensen) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) brave a mission to save Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from the Separatist general, Grievous (Matthew Wood). In the aftermath of this, Padme (Natalie Portman) reveals to Anakin that she's pregnant with their child, which will lead into Anakin having prophetic dreams about her death in childbirth, which will lead into him becoming the Dark Lord of the Sith known as Darth Va-yeah, you know the rest of the story by this point.
Once again, for all that they are given to do here, McGregor and Portman still suffer from really bad direction, as does Christensen, but we've come to expect that. Here, however, is where I'll have some kind words of Christensen's acting.
Yes, you read that right. Do not adjust your monitor.
As I mentioned last week, Christensen's strengths show when he shuts his mouth. This is primarily evident in some of his first scenes as Darth Vader. The guy can actually command a very menacing and terrifying presence. The best scenes to show this are the attack on the Jedi Temple and later on Mustafar when he exterminates the Separatist leadership to end the Clone Wars forever.
However, I also have to take that point right back because the way Anakin's fall to the dark side is done is amazingly rushed. He makes a split second choice to save Palpatine from Mace Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) and immediately falls right for his sales pitch after. And yes, Episode II and a good bit of this film helped to build up, but it was still based on a very quick split-second decision rather than some great moral dilemma.
And yes, I know. Rash decisions are made in fear. Fear leads to anger, blah blah blah something something something dark side. But really, onscreen, we should have seen a little bit more.
The Jedi Purge, an event that should have far more gravitas and emotional weight to it...really doesn't, mostly because they're a bunch of Jedi who we've had little screentime for and even less interaction with. And before anyone who's a fan of the animated series or the novels gets in touch - Rule of Adaptation does not apply here. If they wanted me to care, they should have put more time into making characters that I cared about.
Now, as for the characters we do care about...we care about them, but it's a foregone conclusion. We know Anakin falls to the Dark Side and becomes Darth Vader. We know that Obi-Wan and Yoda put Luke and Leia into hiding and then go into exile. We know that Padme is dead at least by the time of Return of the Jedi so that Luke and Leia can have an awkward conversation about her.
To this film's credit, it is far better acted and is better plotwise than either of the other two prequels. The music is, once again, awesome as ever because John Williams is still John Williams. The fights are sublime, particularly the several lightsaber duels and especially the duel between Anakin and Obi-Wan at the end. It was clear they were putting a lot of work in for what was to be the finale of the Star Wars saga, completing the story.
...but did it ever need completing?
The answer is no.
The images of the years covered by the prequel trilogy were pretty much told by Obi-Wan Kenobi in A New Hope, and was done far, far better there in just a few sentences than it was done here in three movies. Ultimately, did we learn anything new or find anything unique or interesting in the story of Anakin Skywalker's fall to the Dark Side?
The answer is no.
Could this all have been avoided and was it much, much better in our heads?
You're damn right it was...
Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is now available from 20th Century Fox and Lucasfilms.
For the latest from the MadCapMunchkin, be sure to follow him on Twitter @MadCapMunchkin.
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