anotheranon | ROTS review

In lieu of a lengthy write up of Philly and the symposium, I offer a quick review of Revenge of the Sith, which D. and I saw after I got home Sunday.

I knew Artoo never had his memory wiped, I just knew it!
The real love story here is between Obi-Wan and Anakin - at least on Obi-Wan's side. Only Ewan McGregor's scene at the end of the movie could convince me that Anakin could break anyone's heart, because try as she might, Natalie Portman just couldn't salvage any of her scenes with Hayden Christiansen.
The last scene was perfect. You know the one I mean....
LOTS and lots of lightsaber battles, with every concievable Jedi/Sith/JediSith/cyborg pairing! I want one!
Hmm, Grievious and Darth Maul AND Count Dooku - just how many apprentices was Palpatine juggling anyway?
I think that Lucas was trying to convey that Anakin is tormented by his "need" to turn to the Dark Side to save Padme. Unfortunately, the actor is so poor that I'm only guessing that that's what the tear in his eye meant after he killed the Trade Federationists - Anakin's turn came off as just too quick and easy for me to think he was that bent out of shape about it.
Anakin's rebuild as Darth Vader was appropriately dark and gory. The lowering of the mask was obvious, but I think wrapped things up nicely.
Ewan McGregor, as mentioned above, was good, even (dare I suggest it?) touching in places. Ian McDairmid and Samuel L. Jackson also did good turns with admittedly weak dialogue. Christiansen's speaking parts were blessedly brief (did I mention that I still don't like this actor?).
Shiny, glossy effects, every weapon and starship rendered in immaculate detail. Whatever else may be said of him, Lucas has a wonderfully visual mind.

In short, I enjoyed. It's not Citizen Kane but it's not supposed to be - good, fast, action-y fun!