Under the Gun
Star Wars Episode 3:
Revenge of the Sith
A Review by Jose Gonzalez
CAST
Ewan McGregor
Hayden Christensen
Natalie Portman
Frank Oz
Ian McDiarmid
Samuel L. Jackson
Christopher Lee
Anthony Daniels
Kenny Baker
Peter Mayhew
Jimmy Smits
Ahmed Best
Oliver Ford Davies
Temuera Morrison
Silas Carson
CREW
George Lucas Director
George Lucas Screenwriter
Rick McCallum Producer
George Lucas Executive Producer
David Tattersall Director of Photography
John Williams Composer
The last installment of the Star Wars prequels came to us in grand fashion showing all the technical savy and experience George Lucas has accumulated to deliver some of the greatest computer animation and battle scenes captured on film. The computerized actors in this installment take on even greater depth in movement and tangibility than in the last two films. The light saber duels are kinetic and paced well to keep you fully entertained. The plot is easily followed and proves to be tight and cohesive throughout, making this an enjoyable piece of eye candy and escapist fantasy in a galaxy far, far away…
However, the power of the visual effects, fight scenes and our enthusiasm for the plot cannot erase the difficulties the film has with character development and interactions. The acting falls flat often with poor dialogue to support what can be perceived as unconcerned actors. The dialogue struggled with the harder, darker story line in this film coming off more as a high school overachiever writing his first romantic tragedy for English Lit. The constant attempts at witty banter and one liners, especially delivered by Obi-Wan Kenobi, Ewan MacGregor, became quickly tiresome and distracted from the overall mood of the plot. While clear, plot forwarding dialogue such as that delivered by Senator Palpatine at the opera, seemed more like reading from the script ver batem than it did acting. The only saving graces for the actors came in scenes built solely on visual storytelling. In those scenes, Lucas and his performers did shine and both actor and
story were compelling.
The name dropping and the inclusion of the Wookies and our favorite walking furball, Chewbacca, seemed gratuitous and there presence wasn’t felt on the screen long enough to give them any merit in the film. Just name dropping for the sake of selling more tickets and Pepsi.
Overall, I would recommend seeing this film in the theater. It is Lucas’ mastery of the grand battle scene and his artistry in physical storytelling that drives interest in this movie and would be lost on a small screen. A kinetic rollercoaster of great visuals and a solid, cohesive plotline that is not supported by powerful dialogue or any strong performances – and as I heard numerous times while leaving the theater, “It was better than the other two.”.
THE VERDICT: ...three bullets.
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