Revenge Of The Sith At 20

 May 19, 2005

Photo credits unknown, pulled from online image search. Images belong to Lucasfilm for the above photo, and the 20th anniversary poster. The other photo is from a fan edit poster.

THE MOVIE EXPERIENCE 

I remember that day very well. Finals had wrapped up, and I had failed a class so I had a semester of summer school ahead of me. I ended up getting a B in that class I failed so hooray for me! I hated accounting as much as I hated statistics. My next to youngest brother had finished finals the day before, so he was free to go and had the day off from work, as did I. I had a good friend at the time, for the sake of anonymity I'll call him Darren, aka Big D. He had seen the midnight showing but wanted to see it with me, since I was a huge fan of Star Wars, and I had a positive view of the Prequels, which Big D didn't have at the time. We had tickets for the 1:00 showing, so before I picked up my brother from my Mom's house we watched the 2002 Clone Wars Microseries, as the 2005 Microseries wasn't on DVD yet. So, we went to the theater where for a total of $25 I got 2 tickets, 2 cokes and nachos for me, and popcorn for my brother. We got our seats, ready for what we believed at the time would be the final Star Wars movie ever. 

The opening scenes just made things fly by fast. The battle scenes, arriving to rescue Palpy and Obi-Wan getting his @$$ handed to him by Dooku, with Anakin taking off his hands, then head in a scene reminiscent of Return of the Jedi. Everything flowed perfectly, action, inaction, cringy romantic dialog, it had everything you could want. The pacing felt like A New Hope, and the dark tone felt like The Empire Strikes Back, while the resolution was the same as Return of the Jedi. It completed the story. But at the time, one scene back then left me feeling....meh. I don't feel the same way about it now, however. 

The Obi-Wan vs Anakin/Vader duel on Mustafar was an incredible scene. Excellent stunt work, the fight you waited 6 years for, but it had a problem. See, I knew this was all coming, but in my mind, this fight just didn't live up to it. I had it built up so much in my head, that it was just a disappointment. I knew Anakin would get charbroiled, but even back then I could feel Obi-Wan's anguish at what Anakin had become. Ewan McGregor gave an incredible acting performance, as did Ian McDiarmid as Palpy. Especially after the office duel, and Anakin becoming Darth Vader shortly after Mace Windu got disarmed (literally). 

But what got me, was when Order 66 happened. I was hoping some Jedi would make it, especially Aayla Secura, but sadly, nope. Amy Allen had said in an interview that Aayla would live, but my guess was she was told to say that so her character's end would be shocking. But there was one Order 66 scene that was in the comic adaptation that wasn't on film. More on that later. But Padme's death left me saying "Really?! A broken heart?!". But in December of 2016 I finally understood why Padme died of a broken heart. When Carrie Fisher passed away, a few days later her mother Debbie Reynolds died, from a broken heart. I got it then. And it made her death all the more tragic, because seeing her death in a vision was what put Anakin on the path to be Vader. While my brother and Big D hated Vader yelling "NOOOOO!" at the end, I liked it. I pointed out to them that there was still some trace of Anakin in Vader after just being placed in the suit. But when Palpy says that Vader had killed her, well, the last part of Anakin Skywalker died in that moment. Darth Vader now existed, betraying and murdering the man that Anakin had been. 

While the Obi-Wan vs Anakin duel was amazing, my favorite fight scene was Yoda vs Palpy. This was the absolute best scene because initially, I didn't see it coming. But I'll explain when I talk merchandise about how I knew the fight would come. But, it was amazing. Yoda certainly could have taken Palpy then and there, but Palpy got lucky. The end scene with Palpy, Vader and Scorpius Tarkin (Tarkin was played by the dude who played Scorpius on FarScape) was brilliant. Finally seeing Alderaan was a reward, but the last scene with Obi-Wan watching Owen, Beru and infant Luke with the Force scene playing as they watch the suns set was a touch of brilliance. We left the theater thoroughly enjoying the movie, and the experience. We hit up Taco Bell for lunch sit was literally next door to the theater and then we called it a day. I had to work the next day, and so did my brother and Big D. Over the years, Big D and I went our own way as our lives changed. He had a kid, and moved away. My brother? He's now got 3 kids. And you better believe I'm going to be there when they watch Star Wars for the first time. 

20 years later, many of my younger brother's generation (early to mid 30's) consider this the greatest Star Wars movie ever made. For me, it's still The Empire Strikes Back, but I don't blame anyone for thinking this is the better movie. I may only look at you funny if a Sequel movie is your favorite, but I'd keep my mouth shut. I'm amazed seeing polls on social media and YouTube showing this is a favorite. One thing is certain: this is the absolute best job George Lucas ever did directing. Save your best for last, is the old expression. It truly was an incredible experience, and one I'll never forget. 

MERCHANDISE 

I had bought the soundtrack, and comic book adaptation trade paperback, so I knew what would happen and how it would all go down. While Quinlan Vos got Ordered 66 in the comics (along with Barriss and Luminara), I was happy we didn't see that on film. Plus Chewbacca knowing Yoda?! I had so many new toy adventures to plan!  I felt the music by John Williams was on point. It was epic, and I could visualize the scenes in my head. I'm certain I played Battle of the Heroes and Anakin's Immolation enough to wear out the CD. I definitely would have worn out the tape, if I had one. I still have both items, all these years later. In fact, I got the comic adaptation and soundtrack for all 3 Prequel films, but only got The Phantom Menace novel. Many say the novel for Revenge of the Sith is the best written Star Wars novel ever. One day, I intend to read it. 

But the comic adaptation had a scene that damn well should have been in the movie. Before Obi-Wan arrives on Polis Massa, Yoda is in meditation, and communicating with Qui-Gon Jinn. It didn't make the final cut, which ticked me off. I'd get the DVD, which had deleted scenes. They all made sense to go except for two scenes: the one with Bail Organa and Mon Mothma discussing what would one day become the Rebel Alliance, and the scene where Yoda arrives on Dagobah. Those 2 needed to stay. 

And then there was the action figures. I hit up Wally World at 3 AM before going to work at 5:30 AM for the "Midnight Madness". Back then all Wally Worlds in town were open 24 hours. The ones I have above I got within the last year. I thought I had a blue senate guard but can't find it. I really need to clean out that storage room. Anyway, I got the basics: Obi-Wan, Anakin, Vader, Palpy and Dooku. Later I'd add Padme, Anakin to Vader, Aayla, Shaak Ti and a few other Jedi. The action features though were what kept me from getting more though. But a few months later, my life would change as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita would hit, and understandably, stores ignored toys for clothes and food. It wouldn't be until Spring of 2006 that toys rolled back in. I liked these cards much better, but the older they get, the more they tend to open on their own. At least for me, anyway. I plan to open both of those figures, eventually. 

I have to admit, I love the 20th anniversary poster. Vader's helmet, with Anakin walking out and having the duel in the center, it's like poetry. It rhymes. It perfectly wrapped up the George Lucas Star Wars Era, and for me, it is the true end of Star Wars. Yes, I did see the 2008 Clone Wars movie, but it wasn't the same. I have the 6 movie Blu Ray Collection, and I make sure to watch them at least once a year. Because nothing excites me more than hearing the 20th Century Fox Fanfare, and then seeing the words: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Those words still hold magic. I hope everyone who wanted to see Revenge of the Sith in theaters again last month got to do so. While seeing them on Blu Ray or 4k is great, it's even better seeing it in a movie theater. 

Thanks for reading! The Countdown resumes Tuesday with the 8th and 7th ranked VC figures!