March 19, 2005

What to Expect from 3*

     The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones were unusual films – they both did phenomenal business at theatres around the world, and yet the quality of George Lucas's new trilogy is constantly called into question on countless Star Wars- and movie-related websites. Perhaps there was no way that Lucas could fulfill everyone's sky-high expectations with the new films, and there is arguably much that could have been improved, as far as acting and writing go. Regardless of whether they will ever be considered masterpieces, both The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones gave long-time Star Wars fans the thrilling feeling that we were watching Star Wars for the first time again, and that feeling alone might have been worth the price of admission.

     There's certainly no disputing that a heck of a lot of people still care – really care – about Star Wars. As the resident Star Wars geek among my friends, I'm often asked what the third movie will be about. I'm sure many readers are in a similar boat. This piece is a bit of a guide to what Revenge of the Sith will bring, and it might just be the prequel movie everyone's been waiting for. A spoiler-free summary is below.

     Revenge of the Sith in a Nutshell
(This section does not contain spoilers beyond the events portrayed in the movie trailer)

     Galactic war, clone armies, political intrigue, lightsaber duels, speeder chases, Sith lords, Wookiees (including our favorite wookie, Chewbacca!), star destroyers, and Darth Vader – Episode III will have it all. The film starts at the climax of the Clone Wars, a series of campaigns covered in some detail by the animated TV series of the same name (which I highly recommend to all serious Star Wars fans).

     The film opens with several powerful political factions allied against the Republic; the Confederacy of Independent Systems, who had their first military confrontation with the Republic's clone army on Geonosis in Episode II, has united several thousand worlds under the leadership of Count Dooku (Christopher Lee), with additional support coming from commercial interests like the Trade Federation, the Techno Union, and the Intergalactic Banking Clan.

     The war is now on the doorstep of the Republic's capital, with Dooku and his forces targeting none other than Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) himself. The Republic has responded with a massive military build-up; and the Jedi, who have traditionally defended the Republic, are stretched thin. Leading some of the toughest Separatist forces is a mysterious character named General Grievous (voiced by Matthew Wood), part alien and part robot.

     The war affects many other worlds, of course, including the peaceful planet Kashyyyk. The technologically disadvantaged Wookiees demonstrate their valor in resisting a droid invasion. Among those Wookiees is Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew), a familiar character to any Star Wars enthusiast and the newest original character to appear in the prequels.

     Meanwhile, Anakin's (Hayden Christensen) frustration with the Jedi Council continues to grow. Palpatine, whom Anakin has been assigned to protect, shows great admiration for the young Jedi's skills. When Anakin discovers Palpatine's own extensive knowledge of the Force and his willingness to share his secrets, the apprentice finds his loyalties shifting.

     Of course, it's no secret to the audience that Palpatine is going to betray the Republic; when his subterfuge is discovered, Anakin must choose between the Jedi, whose ways are rigid and disciplined, and Palpatine, who offers seductive powers the Jedi cannot teach. Anakin's decision leads him down the Dark Path of hatred and fear. He will confront his mentor Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) and become Darth Vader.

     Obviously, there's a lot more than that going on in a two-and-a-half hour movie. Some of it has been revealed in pieces, but much is a mystery. If you don't care about spoilers, you can read more of this article here.


Relevant Links:

TheForce.net - your daily dose of SW
StarWars.com - official site
countingdown.com - how many minutes til opening day of ep. III?



*I stole this article

1 comment:

Big Scott said...

Great summary and really "wets my whistle" in anticipation for what could be one of the greatest ever. The preview looks incredible and it has a different feel than the previous two. I was lukewarm on the first one, really loved the second, and I bet this becomes one of all time favorites. Will you have a ticket for me opening night? We'll talk.