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Star Wars Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

Feel the force

STAR WARS EPISODE III
Revenge of the Sith
Director: George Lucas
Cert: 12A

I won’t bore you with a detailed description of the plot because, frankly, I had no idea what was going on half the time. But that doesn’t matter one jot in Episode III, as most of us are here for the lightsabre fights and amazing effects. Suffice it to say, it’s still good guys versus bad guys, but this time the bad guys try to get a good guy to join their gang. Have you guessed who it is yet?

And that’s where Revenge of the Sith gets really interesting. It’s a much darker film than the previous two, as we see Anakin Skywalker torn apart by temptation. Should he give in to evil to save the one he loves or continue to fight the good fight? We journey through his agony as a lust for power and praise takes over. It’s fascinating to see such a vivid depiction of someone battling with the temptation of evil (a treat for youth leaders seeking a handy illustration!).

Anakin’s plight is humanely handled. Despite the silly costumes and countless robots, his story isn’t alien to us at all. His struggles with temptation ring true: the way it affects his relationships; his self-denial; his desire for what he knows is wrong. And that’s where Star Wars doesn’t let us down: (apart from some hokey stuff about ‘the Force’) the divide between good and evil is clear, and Star Wars makes it clear which side we should be on. That’s truly refreshing at a time when kids’ books and films seem to be losing their morals.

So is Revenge of the Sith any good? Yes it is! Okay, the dialogue is still dreadful, but the action sequences are plentiful and sumptuous (too gory for young kids though), as spaceships zoom, worlds crumble and lightsabres flash. And the birth of one of cinema’s most recognisable villains is worth waiting for.

If you loved the original Star Wars films, you’ll probably enjoy this one. And, in Anakin’s battle with the evil inside himself, you have a great talking point with friends or members of your youth group. As Yoda himself would say: ‘See it you must’.

Martin Cole