Thus is the end of an era. An era that began on a cold and lonely day in 1977.
The circle is complete.

• Episode I: The Phantom Menace
• Episode II: Attack of the Clones
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
• Episode IV: A New Hope
• Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
• Episode VI: Return of the Jedi

Ya know, seeing those titles listed there, in order of conception (not Hollywood Release) kind of has a “Saga” feel. (Granted, Episode II’s title could be more saga-like, like “Dawn of the Clone Wars” or something more ominous.) But Episode III did what it needed to do.

- – - = = = Spoilers Below = = = – - -

— Too Late, you read too far

Going into the theatre, I had several unanswered questions that required some form of address:

• How does Anakin die, and where does Darth Vader begin?
• Why does Artoo-Detoo seem to remember things in Episode IV, but See-Threepeio is a bumbling protocol fool-of-a-droid?
• Why does Yoda retreat to Dagobah? WHY Dagobah?
• Why does Leia go to Alderaan?
• Why does Vader not know that Anakin’s children are alive?
• How do the CloneTroopers, who are under command of the Jedi, fall under command of the Empire, and become Storm Troopers?
• How do all the Jedi die? Who kills them?
• Why is Obi-Wan such a recluse?
• Why is Luke such a little girl, I thought he was the boy and Leia was the girl of this fraternal-twin thing.
• Why does Leia remember her mother?
• Why did Obi-Wan, Qui-gon, and Yoda disolve when they died? And why can Luke see Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Anakin Skywalker in the end of Return of the Jedi?
• Do all Wookies just grunt and growl, or is Chewbacca meerly a Wookie-retard?
• What happens to Naboo? We never see the planet again.
• How does the Republic become an Empire?
• Does Boba Fett have a favorte color, or is Jedi blood the only hue he really appreciates?
• How did the Storm Troopers become so dumb? Cause those Clone Troops… Damn can they fight.
• When did Darth Vader get his own blog?
• Where did Darth Sidious get his evil Sith powers?
• How did See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo become the property of Captain Antilles?
• Is Wedge Antilles the fulfillment of the prophecy? (cause, you Can’t beat Wedege!)
• Is Mace Windu ever going to get baddass, and smite someone?

Most of these questions are answered.

Aside, Mace Windu needed to say “the line”; you know where…

And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger…

Yeah, that would be too over the top.

Anyways.

This was indeed the darkest of the entire Hexology. Which was by design; and which is what I hoped. This was supposed to be Darth Vader’s movie. Darth Vader at the peak of his Dark Lord of the Sith career. Dead Jedi to the left of him, Empire to the right; stuck in the middle with Sith…

A few quips:

• I’m sorry, was the entire Jedi Council asleep in the first two movies? Darth Sidious is Senator Palpatine!!!! Open your eyes!
• How long was Anakin out on the rim? (The way Padme and Anakin were blathering on, it sounded longer than 9-months… which is what I figure a Naboo-ian pregnancy term would be.)
• I wanted to see some more Wookie-vs.-Droid-action, or some Wookie-vs.-Clone-action. I was disappointed. But Yoda riding on Chewbacca’s shoulders was an “Awwww” moment.
• How many Jedi will have to lose their hands before someone realizes that wrists need lightsabre protection?

Now, the wow.

• The opening space battle was probably the best in the series.
  Wow
• The ground fighting could have been better. But I liked how the various incarnations of StormTrooper (ScoutTrooper, ArcticTrooper, etc) were introduced in the various theatres of the war.
• The Obi-Wan vs. Vader lightsabre scene was underdone (or overhyped) in my book. It was long, yes. It was over a greater cinematic area, yes. But… It was just flashy lights. However, Anakin hovering over the lava had the desired effect.
  Wow
• In the end of the film, you realize what kind of plight the Republic is in. The “rebellion” is only 4 people. Bail Organa; Yoda; Obi-Wan and R2-D2. It is those 4 individuals who carry what they know into Episode IV. We can see why Leia is a princess of Alderaan, and a rebel leader. We see why Artoo was so eager to link himself with the Skywalker camp and find Obi-Wan. We see why Yoda is such a recluse.

  (And do you realize that of all the Jedi in Episode III, Yoda is the only one who does not die a violent death?)

  This movie gave another meaning to the title of Episode VI; cause the Jedi done had their asses handed to them in this movie. Woopass award goes to the Emperor.

Though, this discussion reminds me of a rather funny pontification on why I feel the destruction of the Second Death Star was a ultra-violent solution with unjustified collateral damage… I’ll talk about that later in a future post.

• When Darth Vader “cleansed” the Jedi-Temple… chills. I had em. Especially when he entered the Council Room… and the …
  Wow

Will I see it again? Yes (Chan you are invited)
Will I buy it? Yes
Will I buy the whole Ultra-Mega-Mega DVD collection? Yeah.

Quote of the whole saga: “Good Relations with the Wookies, I have.” – Yoda.

MovieLens Prediction: 4.5 stars
My Rating: 4.5 stars