Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

A question to ponder: Now that the Star Wars saga is complete, for those who have never seen even one of the movies, do you start them out with Episode I and work up to VI, or do you go in the order they were released?

Writing a review for "Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" seems almost pointless, as so much has already been written, printed, and debated for weeks. For those who feared a complete disappointment from George Lucas, rest easy my friends. "Sith" is definitely the best of the recent three releases, and will certainly have legs throughout the summer. Ha! I just made a completely unintentional ironic joke there. If you've seen it, you'll get it.

What makes this one so good? Amazing visual effects, solid performances, outstanding fight scenes, and an ending that ties everything up exceptionally well, segueing seamlessly into Episode IV. The two primary human characters, Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and Anakin (Hayden Christensen), play well off each other, effectively converting their friendship into hatred over the course of the film. Natalie Portman, as Padme, while key to the story development, is really left off to the side for most of the movie. Once again though, it's Yoda that you will cheer for more than anyone.

Complaints? Nothing major, except for one point in the pivotal moment when Anakin is being tempted toward the Dark Side of the force by the Sith Lord. He just seems to take this dramatic turn too easily. Granted, Anakin has had some time to build up his feelings of being repressed by the Jedi Council, and his dreams of Padme dying while giving birth increase his desire for more power. But still, it all seems to happen in the blink of an eye.

All in all, "Revenge of the Sith" is a must-see for any fan of the original trilogy, and may even convert a few newbies to the series. Should little kids be kept at home? There is quite a bit of appendage dismembering, but light saber wounds don't bleed. What could have been a very disturbing scene in the Jedi Temple when the new Darth Vader confronts the "younglings" thankfully cuts away from the impending carnage. Otherwise, it's nothing that will put a kid into therapy for too long.

Don't wait until it hits the discount theater or DVD. "Revenge of the Sith" is best viewed on the biggest screen possible with the best sound system around. I give it an A.

"Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith" is rated PG-13 with a running time of 142 minutes.