A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, George Lucas invented a whole new way of making movies. Special effects, re-introduction of scores rather than annoying techno music, and marketing ploys like action figures, lunch boxes, and t-shirts, all these and more were revolutionized by the ambitious young filmmaker. The Star Wars Trilogy was without a doubt one of the most prominent milestones in filmmaking, and with good reason, they were and remain to be some of the best movies ever made, until recent enstallments. George really got himself between a rock and a hard place with this the sixth and final Star Wars film. The original three, the second half of the story, were so amazing, and the two new prequels so underwhelming, that everyone had pretty much given up hope. I’m here to say to the geeks, like me, who hoped against all odds to be blown away once again, the fat lady sung, as it were, and it was a heckuva song. Having seen this film no less than five times, I can say that it is not simply a euphoric glee for the long coming end of the space opera, but rather a renewed love for the universe of people, places and things that fed my imagination for so many years as a hopelessly geeky child. The story is not as complicated as the previous two, and it is much darker, to the point of earning the until now avoided PG-13 rating. Oh well, it was worth it. The galaxy is at war; the film begins with the rescue of the supreme chancellor Palpatine, from the inspired droid warrior General Grievous, and the quickly killed Count Dooku, the leaders of the separatist armies. The rescuers are none other than Anakin Skywalker and Obi Wan Kenobi, back from the clone wars in hope of catching the military leader, Jedi Killer, and long desired dead, General Grievous. However Grievous escapes and with Dooku dead is now the chief leader and a much more prominent target. Anakin and Obi Wan return to Courescant where Anakin learns that his forbidden wife Padme is pregnant. Though this is good, Anakin is soon haunted by nightmares of Padme dying in childbirth, and he fears for her especially when he thinks of his past inability to save his mother. The supreme chancellor Palpatine, endowed with emergency powers similar to those of the president’s in a state of emergency, fills Anakin’s mind with lust for the power to save his wife. While Obi Wan is distracted with the hunting down of General Grievous, Anakin becomes more and more worried to the point where he will do anything to save Padme. This is when, shock of all horrors, Palpatine reveals himself to be the dark Sith Lord Darth Sidious. This is the point of Anakin’s dilemma, he knows that the Sith are evil, but his frustration with the Jedi Council, along with his fear for the life of his wife cause him to turn from the Jedi way confused and manipulated by the dark powers of Palpatine. Things get darkest here as Anakin and Palpatine lead the extermination of the Jedi across the galaxy, from the seasoned warriors to the young children in training. Obi Wan kills Grievous just in time to run for his life from the clone troops who will obey any order given by Palpatine. Palpatine, who is scarred from his encounter with the Jedi Masters, sends Anakin to the volcano world of Mustafar, a sort of planet hell, to kill off the various leaders of the separatist armies. This will end the war, which served its purpose of putting the chancellor in ultimate power. Yoda and Obi Wan, the last of the Jedi, fight their way into the massacred Jedi Temple and learn the truth, which is that Anakin has turned to the dark side. Yoda goes to confront Palpatine, who at this point has seized control of the Republic with promise to reorganize it into the “First Galactic Empire, for safe and secure society.” Meanwhile Obi Wan is forced to stow away on Padme’s ship as she goes to find Anakin on Mustafar. The climax of the film is the two light saber duals, Yoda vs. Palpatine, and Anakin vs. Obi Wan, which are both extraordinary in totally opposite ways, and presented simultaneously as the ultimate battles of good vs. evil. But there’s never any real hope for the audience because we know the outcome. Anakin, angry and power hungry falls at the blade of Obi Wan, after loosing three limbs and being consumed by flames at the banks of the flowing lava on Mustafar, also, Yoda is beaten by Palpatine, and he escapes into hiding. Anakin is left for dead, but he holds on until his master, Emperor Palpatine, rescues him from the cusp of life and death. This is the point that nearly thirty years of fan hysteria, countless viewings, and awed wondering have led to, Anakin is saved from certain death as he is rebuilt into the menacing black, half man, half machine, Darth Vader. The process takes place at the same time that Padme gives birth to twins, not really that much of a shock to us, and she names them Luke and Leia. Sadly Padme dies in childbirth, alone and depressed by the dark path of her husband. This is the final straw, the pain and failure to save the one he loves causes the end of Anakin and the complete transformation into the ruthless Darth Vader. The film ends as Luke and Leia are split for their own protection from their father. Leia goes to Alderan, adopted by the leader Bail Organa, becoming Princess Leia Organa. Luke is taken to his Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru, Anakin’s half Brother and his wife on Tatooine, there Obi Wan stays in hiding looking after Luke until he is old enough to know the truth.
This is where the film ends, and though there are still three more chronologically, the choice to end here is a good one as it is the highest point of drama in the entire series. And that’s the end of the new trilogy. This movie is such an improvement on the previous two that it is really hard to point out any one thing, but suffice it to say the acting is uniformly better, the script is punchy but not annoying, at least most of the time, the action sequences are astounding from dog fighting space ships to epic light saber duals, and the story is so much better than anyone expected that this final installment lives up to its name and has earned its place in the Star Wars galaxy. True not many people thought George could do it, I certainly didn’t, but I’m happy to say that I was proven entirely wrong. George has returned to the beginning, in story and in style, and he’s managed to end his six part epic with a dark grace, filled with powerful, and sometimes poignant images, breath taking effects, and a flare for adventure that we are all reminded we once loved so much. After much consideration, I know that I really love this movie, bravo George, you've definately got it back.
A
