By now, most of you have already heard the good news: Unlike its two most recent predecessors, the latest “Star Wars” doesn’t suck. In fact, when you consider just how staggeringly disappointing “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones” were for most fans and critics, it stands to reason that “Episode III: The Revenge of the Sith” is the most remarkably un-sucky film produced in the past three decades … maybe ever. To wit: In the wake of the last two films, there was-n’t a single sane human being over the age of 30 who was-n’t convinced George Lucas had completely lost his way. From dubious casting decisions, to ill-conceived storylines to — and I shudder to utter the name — Jar Jar Binks, it was clear to all but the blind faithful that Lucas had turned to the Dark Side (or, worse yet, the Sickeningly Cutesy Side), selling out the integrity of his epic sci-fi saga just to make a few measly billions in merchandising.
But here cometh “The Sith,” and all is forgiven. Is it, as many critics have suggested, the best of the six? Not quite. That distinction still belongs to “The Empire Strikes Back” (part two of trilogy one). But the menacingly caliginous “Sith” comes in a close second fueled by some of the series’ best battle sequences and an arresting final act that packs a wallop of “Luke, I AM your father” proportions. As “Sith” charges towards its conclusion, it is truly thrilling to watch the pieces fall into place as prelude to “Episode IV: A New Hope,” the film that started it all 28 years ago. We learn how Anakin (Hayden Christensen, loosening up a bit) is finally transformed into the masked villain Darth Vader. We witness the birth and separation of his and Padme’s (Natalie Portman) twins, Luke and Leia. The Republic falls and the Empire rises. Yoda (voiced by Frank Oz) and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) survive the destruction of the Jedi Order and go into hiding. Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) and his hirsute wookie brethren whup some droid tail, planting the seeds of the rebellion. But the biggest revelation of all is Lucas, who rediscovers the soul of his franchise and in the process restores order to the galaxy. (Rated PG-13 for sci-fi violence and some intense images. Running time: 140 minutes)
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 18, 2005. Read the original PDF.