Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith

Rating 7/10

Revenge of the Sith was re-released in theaters on April 25 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its premiere. This special engagement was scheduled for one week, concluding May 1—just days before the traditional Star Wars celebration day, May the Fourth. The early cutoff was reportedly to avoid competing with the debut of another Disney property, Thunderbolts. Both films could have coexisted, but Disney opted not to overlap them. The encore presentation was a significant success, grossing $25.5 million domestically in its opening weekend and ranking #2 at the box office. Revenge of the Sith is available for streaming on Disney+ for those who missed the theatrical run.

As far as I’m concerned, the 1977–1983 trilogy ranks among the greatest of all time. I’m less enthused by the Prequels, which include The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones. However, Revenge of the Sith is the best of the three because it concludes this three-part series and sets the stage for Anakin Skywalker’s transformation into Darth Vader.

Let me start with some of my issues. Hayden Christensen is completely miscast. The actor doesn’t have the presence the role requires to feel believable.  In particular, the romantic dialogue between Anakin and Padmé (Natalie Portman) is awkward and unnatural. Those scenes stand out—for the wrong reasons. Also, Anakin’s descent from a conflicted Jedi to a Sith who kills children happens within a short span. His fall to the dark side is too abrupt. There’s also an overreliance on CGI, from sets to characters. The environment feels artificial. General Grievous (voiced by Matthew Wood) is a fully CGI character, not even brought to life through motion capture. At one point, he spins four lightsabers like a blender—it’s more cartoonish than menacing. And when Obi-Wan rides Boga, a giant lizard-like creature, it’s so obviously a digital creation that it’s comedic.

However, there’s a lot to enjoy. The narrative takes a darker turn and carries emotional weight. Themes of political corruption and betrayal are handled with some depth. When Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid), secretly Darth Sidious, issues the covert command of Order 66 to the clone army, it leads to the heartbreaking fall of the Jedi Order. The climactic duel between Obi-Wan and Anakin is one of the best in the series. The idea of Anakin’s fall—a good man manipulated by fear and consumed by ambition—is a rich and tragic development.

So overall, I enjoyed it. I’ve always loved the spirit and mythology of the Original Trilogy, and there’s just enough of that DNA here to lay the groundwork for what’s to come. It has flaws, but it connects the dots in a galaxy far, far away—sometimes with weapons, sometimes with moments of reflection. I understand why fans are still lining up for the re-release. As wise Yoda might say, “Underestimate the Force of nostalgia, you must not.”

04-29-25