We saw “Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith” this weekend. We went with several friends, most of whom are also fans of the series so one would think we would spend the ensuing meal discussing the film and its merits. Unfortunately, no one had much to say in response to the long-awaited viewing. I can only hope it was because the food at Johnny Carino’s was so delicious as to cause distraction, but in the end, I believe it was because there wasn’t much to say about the ascent (or “descent” depending on your view) of Anakin to Darth Vader.
What are my thoughts on the film? I can say the film was good, much more satisfying than the two recent installments. Still, I wish that George Lucas would have had a little more help with the script. My favorite films of the series are “Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back” and “Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi.” I strongly believe that having Lawrence Kasdan as a screenwriter for these films fleshed out the characters that we grew to love. George Lucas just isn’t a strong writer. I didn’t really care about anyone in the prequels or wonder what they were thinking or feeling. It all looked great, don’t get me wrong, but I would have gladly traded in the flashy, new special effects for characters who evoked any kind of emotional response. Honestly, I was emotionally moved much more by last night’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.”
I can say this for “Revenge of the Sith,” it made me want to see Luke, Leia, and Han again.