Star Wars - Episode 3 - Revenge Of The Sith (DVD)

I know many believe that there's nothing that can beat the Original Star Wars Trilogy but they're sadly wrong. Episode III takes the viewer on the defining journey of George Lucas's "Space Opera" that [finally] shows how Darth Vader was born. All the time one shares the pain and winces at the various atrocities Vader perpetrates, now in league with Darth Sidious/Emperor Palpatine, psychologically it's possible to beam inside, because deep down we all know it turns our ok in the very, very end.

Among the highlights are a long-awaited face off between the premier baddy in Palpatine and the supremo goody Yoda, which could only ever end in stalemate but is worth the entrance fee for novelty value. We also see the introduction of the Wookiees, including a young Chewbacca - later of course to participate in the ultimate defeat of the Empire by the Rebel Alliance.

There is a slightly dodgy introduction in the shape of General Grievous, a CGI-borne cyborg baddy who would have stood well as a creation in its own right but - for reasons best probably left well alone - the inclusion of 4 (yes four) lightsabers in the character's repertoire is a bit much in the context of the whole.

Lucas just about 'gets away' with Grievous but the film's one major flaw occurs when Palpatine is at last revealed as the mystery Sith the Jedi have for so long not discovered right under their noses. Four Jedi are despatched to arrest Palpatine and the viewer is treated to the among the very shortest 'innings' in terms of lightsaber-wielding ever witnessed. One can almost hear the behind-the-scenes rousting by Mace Windu of three Jedi to accompany him - "no, not you...you there, you look useless, come with me to arrest possibly the greatest threat to democracy in the galaxy..." - it works in my mind...

Nevertheless, the end duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader - next to which the Episode IV Kenobi/Vader duel looks decidedly stairlift-ridden - is superbly choreographed and well set against the ominous backdrop of the volcano planet that provides the final justification for the famous black get-up for Darth Vader, not - as might be expected - 'because black is *in* this season'.

Well worth the wait, though one could argue that the final-final-final scenes that close the circle and take Yoda, Obi-Wan, Luke and Leia on their final journeys in preparation for the Original Trilogy are in fact somewhat rushed.

Who cares? It's Star Wars! :-)

Star wars is without doubt one of the best film series ever, and the most popular. Whilst episode 1 and 2 have taken a hammering from some fans and critics, they are still good films, just not good star wars films in there eyes. Whilst I do like the first two I admit that they have some flaws. Sith however is in my mind, simply brilliant. The acting and dialogue is still a little wooden and cheesy, but that should not take a way from a great film.
The storyline is gripping and emotional, seeing how everything comes together between episode 2 and 4. I love watching the subtle seduction of Anakin by Palpatine, and the fateful chose that he has to make, slowly slipping to the dark side with out realising it, and the sadness of making those decisions to save the ones he loves, only to betray them. Not to mention the Jedi purge is very powerful and emotional.
The special effects are the best of any film around. There is so much to see that you will still find things after repeat viewings. The battle at the begging is spectacular, although perhaps there is too much going on and is still not as good as episode 6
The lightsaber battles are also brilliant, (although mace vs Palpatine fell a bit flat for me) the highlight being the amazing duel between Anakin and obi wan, that we have all waited 15 years to see, and it delivers. Credit to Hayden and Ewan, for practising that fight for 3 months, as it is so fast, you would think that they are actually Jedi in real life. Not to mention the superb music that plays in the background, throughout the fight and indeed the whole film
This film for me is classic star wars. Sith and Jedi all over the place, lightsaber fights, love, betrayal, hope, space battles. It has everything.
It is the darkest of the films, which I love and gives meaning to episode 4 title of “A new hope”
This has become one of my favourite films of all time, and whilst flawed I would rate it along side empire as the best of the lot, and over time I think more people will come to see not only this episode but the prequel trilogy as being worthy of the star wars name

When George Lucas made the original Star Wars trilogy it was the in thing and who would have known that it would have turned out like it did. I've watched the original videos and been to the cinema to watch them when first releast and are still watchable all these years later.

But when George Lucas started to make the beginnings of the new Star Wars it would take the final film for everything to fall into place about the original Star Wars and how Lord Vader became who he is.

The first two films were interesting but not quite as gripping as Episode 3 - Revenge of the Sith and allows you to now watch the original films as a continuing story.

There seems to be more action in episode 3 than the previous two films and even though you think you know what is going to happen sometimes it takes a different turn and then turns again.

I didn't go to the cinema over the last three movies I waited till the DVD was releasted to watch them as I find the movies of today not quite as appealing as they where in my days early 1980's.

Revenge of the Sith is certainaly a watchable and action packed film and will take some beating in the Sci-Fi wars.

I would give this film 10/10. The reason I bought it, I already own the first two episodes and I always enjoy watching Sci-Fi movies.

i loved star wars as a kid. i grew disenchanted with the new trilogy. i was prepared for another letdown.

i was surprised to see that things really come together. 'sith' has a coherent story, well told, well paced. the movie is full of fireworks, but they always support the progression of the story, nothing felt unnecessary like some stuff in the earlier episodes. the characters were all solid. some were even great. there were quiet, slow paced moments that made sense, felt right. the transformation of the characters came across well. the conflicts are complex, personalities are multifaceted. this movie carries a lot more weight than episodes 1 and 2.

not everyone will be happy. there are weak moments, there is wooden dialog, there's cheesy romance. nevertheless, for most of the audience, even non hard-core star wars believers, this movie works. it's great entertainment, and it ties in very well with episodes 4-6. the sense of disconnect that people felt with episodes 1 and 2 is gone. you will want to go home and watch 'a new hope' right after seeing 'revenge of the sith'.

So, what began a long time ago in 1977 has now come full circle to climax not very far away from a DVD player near you.

Now that the Matrix has disapeared up its own backside and The Lord Of The Rings has gone to the Grey Havens, it was the third (or sixth, depending on your point of view) of George Lucas' space opera that was left to fill the void and it does so quite nicely.

With the Republic teetering on the brink of collapse, this takes up the story after the Clone Wars that begun and the end of Episode II has been largely fought with Chancellor Palpatine having been captured and thus, needing rescued. Enter the Jedi. Obi-Wan and Annakin set things ablaze from frame one in a startling space battle reminisent of the climactic fracas from Return Of The Jedi. It's only when things take a break from the action - which fortunately in this installment is fairly relentless - that Lucas begins to falter. Whilst not quite plumbing the depths of Episode I or even II's tedious 'flat spots', this manages to stay just on the right side of cringeworthy, helped in no small way by the sheer darkness of the material. It's here we find out why Darth Vader became the "more machine now than man" he did, giving a surprising amount of soul to a character most of us thought was devoid of such trappings. But a dark journey it is - especially the scenes in which the Jedi are systematically slaughtered - and one that just gets darker and darker. There is to be no medal ceremony for our heros this time.

Again, by-the-book performances from Ewan Mcgregor and Hayden Christensen help cement the whole shebang with previous heavyweights like Samuel L Jackson's Mace Windu and Christopher Lee's Count Dooku relegated to almost cameo status.

But it's Palpatine's show this time round - whether as the charming chancellor or the manipulative sith lord Darth Sidious, Ian Mcdiarmid steals every scene he appears in - and, thanfully, there are many. A highlight being when, as the now deformed sith, he finally dons his dark cloak to materealize as the Emperor we all know and hate. A "boo, hiss" moment if ever there was one.

Natalie Portman's once spunky Amidala, is now heavily pregnant and is confined this time to hanging around on balconys awaiting someone from the script department to give her something to do. Unfortunately, they never arrive.

No new baddies this time round other than the wheezing droid leader, General Grevous, whose quadruple sabre waving arms are still no match for a good blaster. Never shoulda killed Darth Maule!

With the action spread over a host of new planets, including a glimpse of Chewbacca's homeworld and of the walking carpet himself, Sith is a revelatory experience for those of us who grew up with Star Wars and for those weened on Star Wars: AJJ (after Jar-Jar). All the essential SW ingredients are there in buckets, loose ends are neatly tied up in "Ah, so that's....?" moments giving closure to several generations of fans.

Disc two contains the expected doc and extras - the deleted scenes are particularly enlightening.

However, even a bad Star Wars film is light years better than most 'good' films, and this one is very, very good. So, slip the disc into your player, crank up the sound and ignite that wobbly plastic Light Sabre you got for Christmas circa '78 and forget about your troubles and your strife for two hours. This is Star Wars people, it's what DVD was invented for.