How Young Me Felt About Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith

This really struck me

I’ve wanted to discuss Star Wars soon after I began discussing films here, but I always found that possibility daunting. Where do I start? What do I say? There’s so much to say. I imagine that I will write about multiple installments in this series, but right now, I’ve been inspired by the fact that Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith was re-released in theaters a few weeks back in honor of the 2005 film’s twentieth anniversary. It sold quite a few tickets. Indeed, at the time of writing this, it has grossed over $55 million worldwide during its six-day run.

I can see why this film is so beloved. It is the last film to be directed by the originator of the Star Wars saga, George Lucas. It is the conclusion of the prequel trilogy that Lucas began in 1999 with The Phantom Menace, which sought to tell the story of how the iconic, legendary villain Darth Vader from the very first Star Wars film became evil.

I have such a soft spot for this film, even though I admit it has so many flaws. Instead of assessing this film critically, I hope to reminisce on how this film moved me when I first saw it at such a young age. I also hope to generally reflect on my relationship to this series during my childhood.

The film’s release has caused me to reflect, and I have come to the conclusion that this film might have solidified my love for Star Wars. This was not the first Star Wars film I saw; that would be Attack of the Clones. But, I can confidently say that this is the first good Star Wars film I saw in theaters.

My mom is a huge fan of the original Star Wars, but my first encounter with this franchise was in the marketing for The Phantom Menace. The toys, books, and other merchandise were everywhere in stores. I was too young to see this film because I was barely old enough to handle films in general. Plus, I remember seeing Darth Maul’s face plastered everywhere at Toys R’ Us and other such stores, and that was the stuff of nightmares at that age. Even Jar Jar Binks looked way too creepy to me.

Attack of the Clones came out when I was older and could understand things better. This was when my mom told me about the original films, about Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader. Young me was hyped for Attack of the Clones, and I thoroughly enjoyed it when I saw it in theaters. I was even gifted action figures of characters from the film, as well as a video game adaptation. This film captured my imagination due to its aesthetic. Everything was so cool: the costumes, the styles of the various environments, the objects like the lightsabers and the starfighters. This film was my introduction to this imaginative world.

But, while Attack of the Clones captured my imagination, Revenge of the Sith captured my heart. I don’t currently think Attack of the Clones is a quality film in terms of its narrative. It feels like a lot of world-building and moving pieces around a board in order to use them later.

At its core, Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (written and directed by George Lucas) is the story of the tragic fall of Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen) from Jedi Knight to the most fearsome Sith Lord in the galaxy. Inseparable from this fall is the rupture in the bond between Anakin and his friend, Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor).

Before things get really tragic, the film has that same cool factor that I loved in its earlier installment. The opening scenes illustrate the final major battles of the Clone Wars, with the Galactic Republic and its Jedi and Clone army facing off against Separatists. The action sequences are exciting, and there’s a cool new antagonist in the form of General Grievous (voiced by Matthew Wood). The design for his character is so badass. I was introduced to Grievous in the amazing Clone Wars animated series developed by Genndy Tartakovsky, and young me was delighted to see Obi-Wan, my favorite character, square off against him.

When the tragedy strikes, there is nothing subtle or complex in its execution, and I think in this instance, such aspects aren’t completely necessary. Yes, the writing could’ve been better in places, especially in regards to the dialogue. Yes, some of the acting in certain scenes feels forced. Despite all this, it hits with an elemental force. Anakin is haunted by visions of the death of his wife, Padmé Amidala (Natalie Portman). He is scared and desperate to save her, and in his vulnerable state, he is manipulated by Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), the Sith Lord who has orchestrated the Clone Wars. Palpatine has served the Separatists as Darth Sidious while ascending to power in the Republic as a Senator. His goal is to acquire ultimate power and turn the Republic into an Empire with him at the top. He makes Anakin believe that the Sith hold the power to stop people from dying, and Anakin becomes Palpatine’s loyal servant.

As with many classic tragedies, the person who seeks to avoid a terrible fate takes actions that they believe will change the future but that end up causing the very thing they hoped to change. Padmé confronts Anakin because of his turn to viciousness and cruelty after he helps murder almost every member of the Jedi Order. He hurts her out of rage, and his violence against her kills her.

At my young age, I was struck by the brutality and bleakness of this course of events. I also witnessed the horrors of Palpatine’s plan succeeding, with the Clones being ordered to murder any threat to Palpatine’s newfound Empire. Enhancing this atmosphere of darkness is the incredible score by John Williams. The score for this film is the first film score I ever bought. The tracks are grandiose and operatic, and they never fail to put me in a sorrowful mood.

What is also operatic is the climactic battle between Obi-Wan and his former friend Anakin on the planet Mustafar. The planet is all red rock and lava; it is a vision of Hell, which is fitting, because brutality, viciousness, and evil have triumphed. No matter what happens in this fight between Obi-Wan and Anakin, Palpatine has still succeeded.

Seeing characters who once admired and cared for each other now fighting to the death is harrowing. To this day, I am still haunted by Obi-Wan telling Anakin that he loved Anakin as he leaves Anakin to die.

Even in the original trilogy, Darth Vader’s suit symbolizes his lack of humanity while also serving the narrative purpose of keeping him alive. The sequence in which what is left of Anakin is operated on and placed into the iconic suit has narrative power both in this particular film because it visualizes the culmination of his downfall and for the overall series because it is the rebirth of this iconic character in his most recognizable form.

I can think of very few, if any, big budget spectacles that are as bleak and sorrowful as Revenge of the Sith. I think the film is bearable due to the fact that it is a prequel, and audiences familiar with the original three Star Wars films know how this all ends in the vanquishing of evil and the triumph of good. Still, this film’s illustration of tragedy and the triumph of evil give it a specific impact.

I remember returning from the theater trying to cope with what I witnessed by reminding myself that everything was going to be okay, eventually. And I think due to the way the film shook me and how it was one of my earliest encounters of fictional tragedies are reasons why I hold it in high regard. This film deserves its reappreciation today, twenty years after its first release.