Dear Mr. George Lucas, I would like to congratulate you. You
have the done the impossible, thought the unthinkable, imagined the
unimaginable. You have completed your hexology ““ six films by
no means remotely ordinary or formulaic. I give you that. You have
motivation, talent, intelligence and power. But poor old Yoda has
worn his welcome. Anakin Skywalker needs to get out of my face.
It’s time to move on.
In an interview with Time magazine, George Lucas discussed the
three most recent films of the “Star Wars” saga.
“They may not be perfect,” he said, “But they are
as perfect as I can make them.” Written and directed by
Lucas, “Star Wars: Episode III ““ Revenge of Sith”
is nothing spectacular. But, at the same time, it is absolutely
perfect. The “Star Wars” series began as a
revolutionary, futuristic twist on the classic Western. The good
guys defeated the evil guys. The damsels were rescued. Then, not
only did the plot develop into something more than a simple
Western, but Lucas and his team also began to make use of
state-of-the-art computer technology, sound systems, and puppets,
making the first “Star Wars” an undeniable turning
point for American cinema. After all these years (since 1977),
Lucas and Industrial Light and Magic are still making leaps and
bounds for the film industry, most recently with
“Sith,” the final installment in a series of films that
we never thought would end. Like Peter Jackson’s “Lord
of the Rings” trilogy, Lucas’ films must be viewed as a
package. Of course, Jackson’s films have been more critically
acclaimed. However, like J.R.R. Tolkien, creator of “Lord of
the Rings,” Lucas has shown himself to be a master
storyteller throughout the entire saga. The millions of fans who
know every character, every plot line, every twist and turn have
adoringly proven that Lucas is the king of imagination. But
“Sith” has an inherent flaw; it is the missing puzzle
piece. We know its shape, its color, and its general details from
the get-go. There are few surprises. So, how is the film remotely
riveting? Let’s summarize: Anakin turns evil. Luke and Leia
are born. Padmé dies. Yes, that’s about it. Though the
film seems to pointlessly fix a chink in the “Star
Wars” chain, adoring fans will not be disappointed.
It’s about time. Everything happens as it is supposed to.
We’ve been waiting. In fact, it is almost impossible to judge
“Sith” as a film. It fulfills such a unique role in
American cinema, that it cannot be compared. But, here’s a
quick overview: ACTING The acting by greats such as Samuel L.
Jackson (Mace Windu) and Ewan McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi) is less
than impressive. Meanwhile, though “Garden State” and
“Closer” prove that Natalie Portman (Padmé) can
utilize the fame garnished by “Star Wars” to show off
her acting chops, as does Hayden Christiansen (Anakin Skywalker) in
“Shattered Glass,” neither talent realizes his or her
potential. Instead, the dialogue is cheesier than cheddar, and the
emotion less dramatic than a snail’s journey to find himself
in the grass. SCREENPLAY There’s only so much one can do with
a screenplay of predetermined events, but Lucas still manages to
create characters that have motivation and attempt to show emotion.
The strategic revivals of classic “Star Wars”
characters (three cheers for Chewbacca!) and carefully planned
action sequences throughout the film demonstrate Lucas’
knowledge of cinematic theory. Once again, though, could the
dialogue be any worse? VISUAL EFFECTS Boy, have we a come a long
way since the first construction of a small muppet named Yoda and a
series of rubber masks. “Sith” utilizes anything and
everything in the technological realm. Breathtaking detail is put
into the exceptional character creations and scenic design of the
film. While one can hardly say they look “real,” the
action sequences are no less than awesome. MUSIC Some may consider
film composer John Williams a sellout, but when he brings together
all the themes of the preceding “Star Wars” films in
“Sith,” he proves himself the master of his trade.
Everything else about the film is simply mediocre, but it is hard
to resist the temptation of equating anything “Star
Wars” with the highest level of “cool.” And
“Star Wars: Episode III ““ Revenge of the Sith” is
just that. The saga is finally done. And man, is it cool.