LogFAQs > #974403299

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005)
Written and directed by: George Lucas
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Frank Oz, Samuel L. Motherfucking Jackson, Christopher Lee
Previous status: Don't recall

"It's over, Anakin! I have the high ground!"

I don't really have much to say that I didn't already say about AotC, since it's really no different with the way it was made. I do have a few things to add, though:
-The acting in this one feels so much more uneven. Multiple times, Hayden Christensen didn't feel convincing. Natalie Portman also had a couple points where I didn't find her reacting realistically, but others she was great.
-This one was lacking in comic relief. I think it's supposed to be that way, because this is the "turning point" of the story, where the bad guys take the lead.
-The Sith are really cool, but indisputably evil. The Jedi are just glorified space knights. I can see why Ani would turn on them. That and he doesn't want to give up his wife. But that's no excuse to murder children senselessly. I'd side with the good guys here. The Jedi weren't trying to overthrown the Senate. They were trying to stop Sidious from infecting it!
-Palpatine is a master manipulator. He knew exactly how to get to Anakin. He knew exactly to get what he wanted. It all went according to plan, and he utilized whatever variables arose (including the eloping in Italy thing) to the fullest.
-The most likable characters here are Yoda and Padme. Palpatine and Ani are both fascinating and well-developed. Windu was very much under-utilized and is easily one of the least inspired roles I've seen Samuel L. Motherfucking Jackson in, but it's a testament to his abilities as an actor - he can sell someone stoic despite being pretty animated most of the time.
-Padme dying felt forced, but I guess it's because she lost her husband to the Dark Side. She died knowing that there was still good in him, which their son would bring back out.

RotS is most certainly an improvement over the first two. I can't say I'll go back to it often, in large part because it requires watching those first. This one on its own gets a 4, because it has actual character development, some memorable quotes, some good moments, and actual stakes.

By the way... I don't know what is with Disney+ and low volume, but that definitely had something to do with certain parts not working for me.

LinkMarioSamus posted...

no Star Wars movie has been made explicitly for fans

Nobody hates Star Wars more than Star Wars fans. The Force Awakens is too "samey" to the original trilogy? Okay, we'll make something different. What do you mean, The Last Jedi is "too different" than the others? WHAT DO YOU WANT? Oftentimes it's the same people just finding something to whine about. Me? I thought TFA was good, but did feel too redundant of the originals - not that there's an inherent problem with that. But I really thought TLJ was entertaining, and that's why I watch a Star Wars movie: To be entertained. All the story needs to do is make sense.

I'd say - the ones I've seen only:
The Phantom Menace: 2.5/5
Attack of the Clones: 2.5/5
Revenge of the Sith: 4/5
Rogue One: 4/5
A New Hope: 4/5
The Empire Strikes Back: 5/5
Return of the Jedi: 4/5
The Force Awakens: 3.5/5
The Last Jedi: 4/5
Rise of Skywalker: 2/5

5 > 4 > 8 > 6 = R1 > 3 > 7 > 2 > 1 > 9

Rise of Skywalker is really the only one I find fundamentally terrible. It was a sloppy, rushed product, without much justification into actions, with too much time devoted to action sequences that the other films didn't already do better. Carrie Fisher's passing (RIP) really did a number on the plan, but they could've made something grander. It was unfortunate to see Rose get Purpled. The destruction of Kijimi made zero sense; what strategic benefit did doing that offer? Zorii surviving was just "miraculous twist of fate, because she should" and nothing logical. I also was hoping that Rey and Kylo would switch sides with each other, only for Rey to have done so as an act. And while the scene where she skewers Palpatine with the spirits of the Jedi is awesome, the scene of her burying the light sabers on Tatooine is just weird. I'm with J.J. Abrams that the movie should've been delayed so he could have time to craft a proper narrative to justify the fun stuff, but.... the COVID would've prevented a theatrical release.

Also there's just too much Star Wars now, and that's why I don't really care to get too much into it. I wish it was more like James Bond and they made a new movie every few years and that was it. But Disney is squeezing the udders... sigh.

So yeah, tangent aside, I enjoyed this one more than the first two. That's good enough for me.