spacematic.net

There were a lot of people out and about before the premiere of Lucas’ latest Star Wars entry clamoring about the ruination of the saga. I myself was included in this camp of rabid fans. But after seeing Revenge of the Sith last night at a midnight screening, I must confess that my opinion of the previous installments has changed. “Sith” is the film that gives Episodes I and II the license to be as silly and lighthearted as they are. About three quarters through the film, I actually found myself starting to sympathize with Christensen’s Anakin character. “Don’t do that!” I repeated again and again, knowing that ultimately, he must do his share of evil deeds to become the dreaded Darth Vader. But even though this film is better than either Phantom Menace or Send In the Clones, it’s not without its moments of total cheese.
Some of the droid dialogue is bumbling and childish, as are the romantic scenes that had women in the audience laughing out loud. The overall mood of the audience was a cross between MST3K-style amusement and deep intrigue. Any movie that evokes such a frequently changing response in a crowd is a rare bird indeed. On the whole, I have to give “Sith” my approval. And as someone who is currently pursuing a novel, I must give Lucas proper respect for follow-through on a unique and compelling vision. He has taken us on a ride that few can genuinely say they do not enjoy. As you watch this film and roll your eyes at more than a few true groaners, remember that this is STAR WARS your watching… not Rob Roy and certainly not The Godfather.
Star Wars has been and always will be a simplistic tale, distilling real world shades of gray into stark and discernable contrast. Tales of betrayal and redemption beg a writer to bog his/her audience down in motivation and circumstance. For all the visual mumbo-jumbo Lucas throws at us, he gives us a taste of literary cake, but reminds us after all that this is a movie. In this sense, he is holding true to film roots, where he shows us a story rather than tells it. If all the fans of the franchise got what they wanted, the films would be nearly incomprehensible to the casual viewer. Sith is the evolved climax of a storyteller who says ‘damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.’ I get the sense that Lucas was more determined to tell the story on his terms, rather than pleasing the old school fans of episodes IV, V and VI. Whereas the recent chapters are not my favorites, they are interesting and worthy of viewing. I will probably go see “Sith” again… not because I feel that I may see something I previously missed, but because it was a really fun ride. There is next to zero subtlety in this flick. As such, it may not please refined filmgoers or art cinema snobs who latch onto subtext and motivation. Star Wars is transparent, simple and fun. And that’s not all bad. –Mike