Star Wars, Episode III : Revenge of the Sith
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États-Unis, 2005
De George Lucas
Scénario : George Lucas
Avec : Hayden Christensen, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Ian McDiarmid, Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman
Durée : 2h00
Sortie : 01/01/2005
The Republic is under attack. Separatist leader General Grievous has kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi are dispatched to rescue him…
IN THE SHADOW OF THE EMPIRE
Let’s put it simply : Revenge of the Sith is stunning spectacle from start to finish. The opening shot, a Touch of Evil-esque journey through the galactic battle of Coruscant is sure to become an instant classic. George Lucas’pyrotechnic dream comes to life via this absolutely incredible space battle. More than ever, Lucas shows his unique ability to blend references, cultures, visual clues… Revenge of the Sith is a gigantic visual firework that travels at an incredibly fast pace from the Wookie war on Kashyyyk to the fiery furnace of Mustafar, without forgetting the dark city Coruscant or the cliffs of Utapau.
HAYDEN STRIKES BACK
Though not perfect (the opening action scene goes on for a bit too long, and the middle act is long winded), the pace of Sith is a considerable improvement over that of Menace or Clones. Most characters are better served in this instalent too: both McGregor and Christensen get a few nice moments to show off their acting chops (the transformation for Christensen is amazing. His acting abilities have more than doubled since the last time we saw him !). Natalie Portman, as Senator Amidala, is perhaps a little left on the side with a role that is by far smaller than in the previous episodes. But the true star of the picture is without a doubt Ian McDiarmid. His seducing Palpatine which slowly turns into a very menacing Darth Sidious is incredible all along. Both charming, dangerous, sometimes funny, McDiarmid cuts a fascinating figure of evil.
DARKNESS FALLS
The tone of Sith is incredibly dark. We’re here to witness the fall of the Republic, the Rise of the Empire and the destruction of the Jedi order. The first half-hour of the movie in incredibly light-hearted next to what’s to follow. The mood is somber, sad, with some wonderful eery touches at moments. Anakin’s fall to the darkside is so well served by Christensen, by John Williams’ powerful score, and the dark tone Lucas brings to the whole, that at times, and this is the greatest achievement of Sith, you’re actually rooting for Anakin not to become Vader… One of the pleasures of the film is of course to discover what you already knew. Every element is known, the whole question is to see how it fits in with the rest. For that, the final 30 minutes of the picture are an absolute joy which could actually bring tears to your eyes. And the final shot, which we won’t spoil you, is a classic.
“I DON’T TRUST POLITICIANS”
But perhaps the most striking element of Sith is its relevance to what’s happening in the world around us. What Lucas is interested in is not how power is taken but how it’s freely given away by people. The terrible plot Palpatine pulls off is so real it sends shivers down your spine. Threatened by a phantom menace in the form of a Separatist army Palpatine himself helped finance, the Republic, in fear, gives supreme power to the Chancellor and even cheers him when he brings down all civil liberties to create the first galactic Empire in the name of “safety”. This is what makes Revenge of the Sith such a mature film. More than ever Lucas knows that science-fiction is here to mirror our own world, our own strengths, our own weaknesses. But now the two suns are setting on this saga and Anakin Skywalker’s journey has come full circle, waiting for the day his son will come and redeem him. Star Wars is over. Thank you George.
