STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH

US, 2005, 140 minutes, Colour.
Ewan Mc Gregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian Mc Diarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Jimmy Smits, Frank Oz, Anthony Daniels, Christopher Lee, Temuera Morrison, Kenny Baker.
Directed by George Lucas.

Yes, it is a pleasure to say that this episode worked perfectly.

After living in the memory of the Star War films of the 1970s and 1980s, most found The Phantom Menace to be a huge disappointment. George Lucas had come back with a lumbering, too often corny Episode I in 1999. It was a relief in 2002 when Episode 2, Attack of the Clones, was better, but it seemed an interim piece. There were hints of how Annakin would go over to the Dark Side, but it was not clear just how he would become Darth Vader.

Now, all the questions are answered. At the end of Revenge of the Sith, there is a really strongly felt urge to see the Luke Skywalker episodes again. And, it is worth congratulating George Lucas in bringing his epic to a satisfying conclusion.

The first young audience for Star Wars is now in its 40s. They will really enjoy this episode answering questions they have had for years. The new fans will like it too, though it is worth remembering that Star Wars was never intended for small children.

Revenge of the Sith moves right into action. There is quite a lot of ‘whizz whizz bang bang’ in the opening battles. Special effects are much bigger and better than they were. We then move into the personal drama: Padme is pregnant and Annakin in happy anticipation of being a father. The other aspect of the drama is that Obi-Wan? Kenobi is finding Annakin restlessly ambitious, still repeating the Jedi code, but increasingly resentful that, though he is a member of the Council, he is not permitted to be a Master.

The Jedi rescue Chancellor Palpatine and he soon reveals his true self as he fulfils his ambition to be emperor of the Galaxy. In a more convincing psychological screenplay than for the previous films, Lucas is able to show how the Chancellor introduces Annakin to the Dark Side, the temptation of power. Shrewdly, he promises that Padme will not die in childbirth. He promises that when Annakin destroys the Jedi and the separatists in the outer boundaries of the galaxy, he will have achieved peace. This means that Annakin does the wrong thing for the right reasons.

The consequences are devastating for the Jedi, especially Windu and Yoda. The consequences are also devastating for Annakin himself. His cruelty foreshadows his evil as Darth Vader. As anticipated, there is a climactic duel between Annakin and Obi Wan Kenobi, leaving Annakin burnt and disfigured. We watch his being reconstructed and the now well-known mask fitted over his face (and the audience literally cheered).

For decades, many religious education teachers have been able to alert students to the deeper meanings in these replays of myths of chivalry. In this episode, they can explore the nature of evil, of how democracy can turn into despotism. (There is more than a touch of Manicheism – the theory of two equal sources of good and of evil - in the explanation of The Force, having its good side and its dark side, but the film does dramatise selfless and selfish decisions and responsibilities.)

With the birth of Luke and Leia, with Obi Wan leaving to train Luke, we are back at the beginning. We now know how situations and characters came into being, not only the evil Emperor but R2 D2, 3PO and Chewbacca.

Ewan Mc Gregor continues as Obi Wan Kenobi. Hayden Christensen does very well as Annakin and makes his choices for evil and his transformation believable. This time Ian Mc Diarmid as the Chancellor become Emperor has a much bigger and more important role. The effects are very effective and John Williams score is as rousing as ever.

1. Audience expectations, the work of George Lucas, his vision? The fulfilment of his work?

2. The film and its place in the series, completing the six episodes, ending the first half, preparing for the second half?

3. Popular entertainment, popular over decades: the Star Wars, the galactic battles, life in the galaxy, the Empire, the range of characters, the range of creatures, robots, the conflicts both social and personal?

4. The focus on the Empire, power, democracy, the loss of democracy for despotism and tyranny? Good and evil? The Dark Side? The Force? The quest for order and peace in the galaxy?

5. The title, the role of the Sith, their being in league with the Dark Side of the Force? The contrast with the Jedi and the other inhabitants of the galaxy?

6. The structure of the film, battles, politics, personal drama, conflict, transformations into good and evil?

7. The battles, the information at the beginning of the film, the galaxy and the Empire, the control of the Sith, the rebels, the lords? The rescue of the chancellor? The droigs, the fight with Lord Dooku? His skills, techniques, the laser swords, the battle with Obi Wan Kenobi? The flight, taking the chancellor, the difficulties in the lift well? The chancellor and the escape? Setting the scene, raising the issues?

8. The character of Anakin, his age, the training by Obi Wan Kenobi, his role as a Jedi, his speaking the code? In fights, supporting Obi Wan? Yet rebelliousness, restlessness? Obi Wan as the master, seeing Anakin as a brother, their collaboration together? Preparation for the drama of their falling out?

9. Padme, her love for Anakin, their secret marriage, her pregnancy, his wanting to be a master, his attitude towards the senate and council, her wariness? Anakin’s nightmare about her dying in childbirth? Preparing for his choices for the Dark Side?

10. The chancellor, his contriving the battles, his own kidnapping, the rescue? His lust for power, communion with the Dark Side? Human nature? The Sith and the desire for power? The troops, the clones? His discussions with Anakin, his antagonism towards the council, his suspicions, insinuating ideas into Anakin’s head about the council, about the Jedi, spying for him and his realisation that Anakin had been asked to spy for them? His using Padme as an influence for Anakin and his choices?

11. The Jedi, their code, the range of knights, the twelve in the council, Mace Windu and his status? His hard attitudes towards Anakin? Refusal of his requests? Asking him to spy? Yoda and his wisdom in the council? The other members, the meetings? The decisions about the outer boundaries, not sending Anakin, sending Obi Wan Kenobi?

12. Obi Wan and his mission, arriving at the planet, the lord and his warnings about the trap? The battle – and Obi Wan establishing peace?

13. Anakin, the influence of the chancellor, his own restlessness? His decision? The reasons for his choice? The mission in the Empire? His ruthlessness in destroying the children, the massacres of the Jedi knights? The effect on him? Going to Padme, his explanations, love for her, his lies, denouncing Obi Wan?

14. Padme and her fears, travelling to the planet, discussions with Obi Wan and not believing him, the discovery of the truth, her horror at the change in Anakin, her grief?

15. Anakin and his talk of hatred for Obi Wan, the fight, Obi Wan winning, Anakin and his burning?

16. The reconstruction of Anakin in his armour, the mask, his breathing – becoming Darth Vader?

17. Padme, giving birth to the twins, naming them? Yoda and his decisions, Senator Organa and his continued loyalty, taking Leia to his wife? Obi Wan taking Luke to his home planet? The glimpse of the future?

18. The popularity of the mythology, its place in worldwide imagination since the 1970s? The Force, the confrontation between good and evil, power and despotism, heroics, romance, fate? And the possibility for peace and order as the ultimate goal?