Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith (Part Three) (2005): A+
“She was…very beautiful. Kind, but, sad.”; Princess Leia, “Return of the Jedi”
The above quote comes in what is one of the most memorable scenes of “Jedi,” marred in many people’s eyes by Ewoks (I was 5 1/2 when I first saw it, so I’ve always liked the furry guys), and is one of the most lasting images of the original trilogy, as brother and sister are brought together for the first time with that knowledge as Luke- who has no memory of his mother- asks Leia off her memories. One of the most intriguing elements going into the prequels was going to be the characterization and realization of this visual image we’d been seeing for the first time. Enter Natalie Portman. From her debut in Luc Besson’s brilliant thriller “Leon: The Professional,” Portman- in films as diverse as “Beautiful Girl,” “Everyone Says I Love You,” “Heat,” “Cold Mountain,” “Garden State,” and her Oscar-nominated performance in “Closer”- displayed a level of intelligence and emotion beyond her years that’s made her the best actress of her generation, and a natural for the role of Padme Amidala, the Queen-turned-Senator (echoes of Hilary Clinton anyone?) who- against her better judgement- falls in love with the much-younger (and less worldly) Anakin.
In “Menace” and “Clones,” you see in Padme both Luke’s idealism and Leia’s strength as a leader and fighter as she is caught up in a silent war against the galaxy’s democratic system that will eventually lead to the darkness that “Sith” concludes in. In both films, Portman brought the same spirit Carrie Fisher invested in Leia to Padme in performances that recalled her work in “The Professional” and paved the way- if you think about it- to her sensational turn as a mother who has to fend off some ruffians in “Cold Mountain” and the freedom fighter she plays in the current “V for Vendetta.”
In “Sith,” she is already pregnant with Luke and Leia. Her role in this film is that of the grieving widow in a way, a woman once idealistic about not just the work she was doing for the greater good, seeing it shattered by betrayal and real life. The scene that says this better than any other is the one leading to the film’s emotional climax where Obi-Wan- her old friend- must deliver the news of her secret husband’s turning to the Dark Side to a woman masking her heartbreak in denial. The dialogue and delivery feels stilted at times (remember, this is Lucas writing and directing), but when Obi-Wan says what he must do- and what it means to her- without really saying it, Portman and McGregor remind us why they were so perfect for their roles in this trilogy in the first place. At this moment, Portman becomes the physical embodiment of that indelible description from “Jedi,” and brings it to life.
“I kept thinking how much better ‘Sith’ would play as a silent film, with only Chewbacca allowed to do his Wookie growl and John Williams to trumpet his recycled score.”; Excerpt from Peter Travers’ “Sith” review for Rolling Stone
The above quote is par for the course in terms of what I expect from Travers on Williams. To be fair, he- like longtime friend/collaborator Steven Spielberg- is an easy target; when you’re one of the most successful people in your field (both financially and critically- Williams has five Oscars), it’s sometimes easy for critics to be blasie when it comes to your actual talent. That’s when you need to read the peoplle whose writing and passion for the medium is focused on that area- at places like www.filmscoremonthly.com…or you just go to the geeks. Thankfully, you happen to be reading one whose passion for film musicc is absolute.
In some cases, Travers’ criticism of a Williams’ score as “recycled” would make sense (I’m looking at you, “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets”), but given that Williams is writing what is fundamentaally the sixth movement of his 12-hour “Star Wars” symphony, you can forgive him a little bit of revisiting of the old themes (especially since he’s being asked to finish his opus in the middle). Where the untrained ear hears recycling, the trained ear hears creativity and inspiration.
In the case of “Sith,” all one needs to turn to is the Force theme. This is the noble, powerful lietmotif associated withh Obi-Wan Kenobi and his teaching of the ways of the Force in the first “Star Wars” film back in 1977. And for 25 years through five films, its’ development by Williams has remained dramatic in this way. But in “Sith,” Williams reinvents it fully as a heroes theme. Its’ association remains with Obi-Wan (the hero of “Sith”), but its’ performances are more like triumphant fanfares than contemplative dirges for an era of heroics gone by. Listen to its’ performance at four moments in the film- at the beginning, when Obi-Wan and Anakin are flying to rescue Palpatine; as Obi-Wan leaves Courescant to the planet where General Greivous reportedly is, and again when he arrives there; and finally, as Yoda and Obi-Wan are fighting their way into the Jedi Temple after Anakin’s turn and Palpatine’s assassination order against the Jedi. All four momentss gave me goosebumps and a jolt of exhilaration watching the movie for the first time, and all four point to the idea that it doesn’t take a great composer to write a great musical theme, but it does take one to break it down, explore its’ possibilities, and reimagine it for the given situation. “Sith” wasn’t the first time Williams used the theme this way (who could forget the Throne Room cue at the end of “A New Hope?”)...it was just my favorite.
It’s interesting how Williams’ work through the six films- and the prequels in particular- has progressed musically. While “Hope” and “Empire” were more classic symphonic orchestral works, starting with “Jedi” and moving through the prequels, one charts a gradual expansion of the ensemble while maintaining a musical continuity that remains very much “Star Wars.” The ensemble has expanded through the use of a choir and percussion to punch up the still-dominant strings and winds. “Sith” has some of the best uses of both. The percussion helps propel the action cues at the beginning of the film and as Obi-Wan and General Grievous fight it out (he’s had a particular fondness for the marimba, vibraphone, and xylophone since “Menace”). The choir is used in different ways. Mournful moments like the extermination of the Jedi call for a more funereal tone similar to his heartbreaking score for “Schindler’s List.” Sinister moments such as Palpatine’s teaching of Anakin during the opera- one of the film’s best scenes- brings to mind the dark choral textures in “Jedi.” And as Obi-Wan and Yoda go on the offensive to try and dethrone Palpatine and Anakin, the epic choral work of the score’s centerpiece- “Battle of the Heroes”- brings to mind the similar effect of “Menace’s” “Duel of the Fates,” only on a more dramatic and personal level; again, that mythic grandeur is back in the series…and after a bitter result from “Attack of the Clones” (which I mentioned), fans finally got to hear- once again- what can happen when you put your full faith in a master composer. In a landmark year for Williams (who delivered four spectacular scores), would it be surprising for me to say his score for “Sith” was the most rewarding as a fan?
“A New Hope”; Subtitle, the original “Star Wars” in 1977
“Revenge of the Sith” ends the “Star Wars” saga- and prequel trilogy- shrouded in the darkness of evil triumphing over good. But as long-time fans know, it won’t always be this way. A pair of children are born whose different paths will converge, and they will together- but separately- take journeys of exciting adventures and spiritual growth that will lead to a restoration of balance throughout the galaxy, and the redemption of a father they’ve only known as a man of evil. As their mother dies- and father rises as Lord Vader- she says to Obi-Wan, with her last breath, “There’s good in him. I know…I know it…still.” Despite a broken heart, Padme is ever idealistic about the future, and that glimmer of hope resonates as we see the destinies of characters- who will play significant parts in the rebuilding of the galaxy in the classic movies of the saga- in final moments that are truly worthy of the word “epic.” In a way, “Sith” reaffirms that idea of “A New Hope” when one considers its’ creator. George Lucas started the “Star Wars” saga hailed as a visionary, only to be derided as he began to finish his epic story as critics complimented the visual wonders of his new trilogy but criticized his out-of-practice writing and directing skills. With “Sith,” Lucas finally finds the balance of the two that made people fall in love with “Star Wars” in the first place.
The “Star Wars” Saga on Film- The Grades:
1. “Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope” (1977)- A+ #10 Best Film of All-Time
2. “Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)- A+ #44 Best Film of All-Time
3. “Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith” (2005)- A+
4. “Star Wars: Clone Wars” (2003-2005)- A+
5. “Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi” (1983)- A+
6. “Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones” (2002)- A-
7. “Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace” (1999)- B+
The “Star Wars” Saga (1977-2005)- A+ #4 Favorite Film(s) of All-Time
The “Star Wars” Saga- The Music of John Williams
1. “Star Wars: Episode V- The Empire Strikes Back” In Movie- A+, On Soundtrack- A+; #2 Best Soundtrack of All-Time
2. “Star Wars: Episode III- Revenge of the Sith” In Movie- A-, On Soundtrack- A+
3. “Star Wars: Episode I- The Phantom Menace” In Movie- A+, On Soundtrack- A+
4. “Star Wars: Episode VI- Return of the Jedi” In Movie- A+, On Soundtrack- A+
5. “Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope” In Movie- A+, On Soundtrack- A+
6. “Star Wars: Episode II- Attack of the Clones” In Movie- D, On Soundtrack- A+
The “Star Wars” Saga Soundtracks (1977-2005)- A+ #6 Favorite Soundtrack(s) of All-Time
The “Star Wars” Saga Music- Brian’s Favorite Musical Cues
1. “Rescue From Cloud City/Hyperspace” from “The Empire Strikes Back”
2. “The Emperor Arrives/Yoda’s Death/Obi-Wan’s Revelation” from “Return of the Jedi”
3. “Love Theme From ‘Attack of the Clones’” from “Attack of the Clones”
4. “Hologram/Binary Sunset” from “A New Hope”
5. “Battle of the Heroes” from “Revenge of the Sith”
6. “Duel of the Fates” from “The Phantom Menace”
The “Star Wars” Saga- Brian’s Favorite Characters
1. Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader
2. Yoda
3. Padme Amidala
4. Obi-Wan Kenobi
5. Luke Skywalker
6. C-3P0 & R2-D2
The “Star Wars” Saga- Brian’s Favorite Worlds
1. Hoth
2. Tatooine
3. Death Star #1
4. Gungan City
5. Mustafar
6. Kamino
The “Star Wars” Saga- Brian’s Favorite Quotes
1. “If you strike me down, I shall become more powerful than you could possibly imagine.” Obi-Wan Kenobi, “A New Hope” Brian’s Favorite Action Sequences
2. “No…I am your father.” -Darth Vader, “The Empire Strikes Back”
3. “Luke…once gone am I, the last of the Jedi will you be. Pass on what you have learned.” -Yoda, “Return of the Jedi”
4. “There’s good in him. I know…I know it is…still.” -Padme Amidala, “Revenge of the Sith”
5. “The ability to speak does not make you intelligent.” -Qui-Gon Jin, “The Phantom Menace”
6. “Why do I feel you’re going to be the death of me.” -Obi-Wan Kenobi, “Attack of the Clones”
The “Star Wars” Saga
1. The Escape From Cloud City- “The Empire Strikes Back”
2. Luke-Vader Duel- “Return of the Jedi”
3. Obi-Wan-Anakin & Yoda-Sideous Duels- “Revenge of the Sith”
4. The Speeder Bike Chase- “Return of the Jedi”
5. The Battle of Hoth- “The Empire Strikes Back”
6. The Podrace- “The Phantom Menace”
The “Star Wars” Saga- Brian’s Favorite Scenes
1. Darth Vader’s Revelation/Escape From Cloud City- “The Empire Strikes Back”
2. Luke-Vader Duel & the Emperor’s Fall- “Return of the Jedi”
3. Obi-Wan-Anakin & Yoda-Sideous Duels- “Revenge of the Sith”
4. Yoda’s Death- “Return of the Jedi”
5. Han and Luke Save the Day- “A New Hope”
6. The Execution of Order 66- “Revenge of the Sith”
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