And now, the exciting conclusion to my epic analysis of ROTS. Let's start off with four important words: BAIL ORGANA IS AWESOME! I loved the scene where he goes to the Jedi Temple and demands to be let in, this is where his character really takes off and for the rest of the film he is so awesome that he is easily one of the best supporting characters in the entire Saga. Jimmy Smits was a superb choice and he executes the role flawlessly. We see him not just as a senator, but a man of action. He sees there is little he can do to stop the clones, so he takes off in the Tantive IV, which makes a triumphant return and really helps bridge the saga, as one of the first ships seen in the OT is one of the last seen in the PT.

After a tearful goodbye with the Wookiees and a cunning escape from Commander Cody, Yoda and Obi-Wan resolve to destroy the Sith. They realize they must return to the heart of the lion's den: Coruscant. On approach, watch for Jeremy Bulloch's cameo as Captain Colton, (which was the name used for Captain Antilles in the ANH novel and early scripts, a nice throwback).

The two Jedi make short work of the clones and sneak into the Jedi Temple, deactivating the false beacon summoning Jedi home, and replacing it with a warning to steer clear. It should be interesting in the EU ahead to see which Jedi survived the initial purge and how Vader hunts them down. Then, in a tearful scene, Obi-Wan discovers Anakin to be the betrayer, the source of the saber burns on the younglings. He desperately does not want it to be true, but he must nonetheless face his old Padawan, and Yoda must take on the Emperor.

In a tearful confrontation, Padme refuses to divulge Anakin's location, and is in denial about his evil. Yet a doubt remains, and she travels to Mustafar to confront Anakin with Obi-Wan secretly in tow unbeknownst to her. Anakin, now Darth Vader, has concluded the Clone Wars by executing the Separatist leaders. I found it interesting that he shed a lone tear at one point, but that is a symbol of the hidden good that remains deep inside him.

Padme arrives and confronts Anakin, laying out what crimes he committed. He foolishly tries to rationalize everything, but Padme despises what he has become, and perhaps because of this he hates himself, for in trying to save that which he loved, he is losing it. In a fit of rage at seeing Obi-Wan, he even Force-chokes Padme. Master and Apprentice exchange words, with Anakin even trying to convince Obi-Wan to be on his side. Sounds familiar? Anakin never seemed to be in a rush to destroy his loved ones. But it is too late. The duel begins.

Meanwhile, Yoda confronts Palpatine, and I loved when he smashes the Royal Guards against the wall with the force. I also loved Ian McDiarmid's acting, goading, cackling, relishing his duel with Yoda. And a great duel it was, I loved how they go up in the Emperor's Senate pod and fight in the great chamber, Palpatine hurling Senate pods at Yoda, and the duel of force lightning. The use of Duel of the Fates was also pivotal. But in the end, Yoda stalemated. He was not powerful enough to destroy the Emperor, though the Emperor could not defeat him either. It is in this pivotal point that Yoda realizes the failure of Jedi, how they were so indoctrinated and dogmatic, how they failed to see the living Force, and how Qui-Gon was right. The Sith had adapted over the last 1000 years, the Jedi had stayed stagnant.

But the focal point of the film is Obi-Wan vs. Anakin. And their duel is long and epic. The choreography and lava visual effects are superb. The music is flawless. The editing between this duel and the previous one is spot on.
And the conclusion is shocking. I expected a sudden defeat, a pivotal turning point where Anakin would all of a sudden get chopped in half. But the way Lucas ended it was phenomenal. Obi-Wan had the high ground both morally and in battle, he was with the Force. Even in the end he didn't want to kill Anakin, but his arrogance was supreme, and he jumped, and was cut to pieces. Ewan McGregor's lines at this point were great, and you really see how hurt he was. Even Anakin's "I hate you" line was solid. Perhaps he doesn't truly hate Obi-Wan, but hates himself for what he has done, and the fact that his powers were meaningless because he couldn't save Padme or be strong enough to defeat his old master. In the end, he is burned alive, and it is horrifying and yet gratifying to see him get what he deserves.

And so the film wraps up. The twins are born, and Padme dies in childbirth, not in spite of Anakin, but because of him. Yoda and Obi-Wan realize the error of the Jedi, and will learn from Qui-Gon the nature of the Force and how to become one with it. Padme's funeral of Naboo was emotional, and I loved the use of Qui-Gon's funeral music, it evokes such a somber mood, I like it far better than if the Imperial March was used for Vader's rise. The process of putting on the suit is done in a great montage, and James Earl Jones still has the voice. Cameos of the early Death Star construction and Tarkin go well, and I was nearly in tears as Leia's theme played as she was brought to Alderaan. To think such a beatiful world, and such a great character in Bail were destroyed.....now we can truly feel the pain of Alderaan's destruction. Finally, the delivery of Luke was great. I loved that Owen was not near Obi-Wan, and I loved how he stroked his beard and watched Luke from the shadows, and I loved the flawless closing shot of the binary Sunset. All these tied in so well to the OT, no loose ends were left save Yoda on Dagobah which will be on the DVD.

That's it. I'm done. A phenomenal film and an epic review. I'll be back soon with entries of a new variety. Until then, I remain..........


The Infinite Force