Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith

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Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is the third episode of the Star Wars film series (but the sixth film to be produced) by George Lucas. It was released on Thursday, May 19, 2005; it premiered (out of competition) at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival on May 15. A 3-D release is planned for 2007.

Contents

1 Opening crawl 2 Cast 3 Plot summary 4 Soundtrack 4.1 Track listing 5 Release and box office performance 6 Critical reaction 7 Selected plot elements 7.1 Political connotations 7.2 Mirroring from other Star Wars films 8 Inconsistencies / Unresolved Issues 9 Trivia 9.1 Cameo appearances 10 Rating 11 External links

Opening crawl

Episode III

REVENGE OF THE SITH

War! The Republic is crumbling

under attacks by the ruthless

Sith Lord, Count Dooku.

There are heroes on both sides.

Evil is everywhere.

In a stunning move, the

fiendish droid leader, General

Grievous, has swept into the

Republic capital and kidnapped

Chancellor Palpatine, leader of

the Galactic Senate.

As the Separatist Droid Army

attempts to flee the besieged

capital with their valuable

hostage, two Jedi Knights lead a

desperate mission to rescue the

captive Chancellor....

Cast

Plot summary

The Galactic Republic is crumbling in the midst of an epic war with the Confederacy of Independent Systems under the leadership of the Sith Lord, Count Dooku. The Confederate cyborg military leader General Grievous has swept into Coruscant and captured Chancellor Palpatine (as seen in the microseries Star Wars: Clone Wars and the James Luceno novel Labyrinth of Evil).

As the droid army attempts to escape Coruscant, a huge space battle erupts with Jedi Knights Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi leading a mission to rescue the Chancellor. The Jedi fight through the Separatist armada. In the process, Obi-Wan’s ship is damaged and the two Jedi crash into the hangar of the Trade Federation Cruiser The Invisible Hand, the flagship of the Confederacy.

Anakin and Obi-Wan make their way through the Federation Cruiser, fighting through an army of droids. They reach the room where Chancellor Palpatine is being held captive by Count Dooku. A lightsaber battle ensues, with the two Jedi teaming up against Dooku. During the battle, Obi-Wan is rendered unconscious. Anakin continues the battle, gaining the upper hand and cutting off Dooku's hands. With Dooku on his knees, Anakin holds his (and Dooku's) lightsaber to Dooku's neck. With encouragement from Palpatine, Anakin beheads the helpless Count.

The Republic Venator-class Star Destroyer Guarlara launches a final broadside attack that mortally wounds the ship, and it begins to descend uncontrolled into Coruscant. Anakin carries the unconscious Obi-Wan on his back, and maneuvers through the ship with Palpatine. Obi-Wan later regains consciousness.

The three are captured by General Grievous. R2-D2 creates a distraction, allowing the Jedi to retrieve their lightsabers and break free. However, Grievous manages to escape, as well as release all the remaining escape pods. As the ship descends in a free-fall into Coruscant, Anakin takes the controls and pilots the ship into a hard landing.

On Coruscant, Anakin is praised for his heroics. He meets secretly with Padmé Skywalker, and they share kisses in the shadows, keeping their love secret. She reveals to him that she is pregnant.

Later, Anakin awakens in a panic, covered in sweat. He reveals to Padmé that he has been dreaming about her dying in childbirth, and he vows not to let this dream come true.

Chancellor Palpatine requests Anakin's presence, and they meet in the Chancellor's Coruscant apartment. The Senate has granted the Chancellor further emergency war powers, giving him direct control of the Jedi Council. Palpatine confides to Anakin his fear, distrust, and contempt of the Jedi. He appoints Anakin to be his personal representative on the Jedi Council.

The Jedi Council accepts Anakin's appointment, but does not grant him the rank of Jedi Master. Anakin reacts angrily, insisting he is more powerful than anyone else on the council. The council goes on to discuss matters concerning the war. It is decided that Anakin will be assigned to protect the Chancellor, and Yoda will take a battalion of clones to reinforce the Wookiees on Kashyyyk. Anakin is angry and disappointed.

Obi-Wan later tells Anakin that the Jedi Council wants Anakin to report on all the Chancellor's dealings, essentially spying on him. Anakin is outraged, but accepts the mission.

At the Galaxies Opera House in Coruscant, Anakin joins Palpatine in watching the Mon Calamari Ballet performing “Squid Lake”. Palpatine continues to subtly manipulate Anakin, making him mistrust the Jedi. He also tells him of Darth Plagueis, a Sith Lord that used the Force to save people from death, but whose apprentice killed him in his sleep. Palpatine says the ability to save people from death is something that can be learned, but not from a Jedi.

The Jedi Council receives word from Palpatine that General Grievous is on the planet of Utapau. They decide to send Obi-Wan to Utapau. Anakin is upset that he was not chosen instead.

Obi-Wan arrives on Utapau and searches for General Grievous, riding a lizard-like creature called a varctyl. This particular one is named Boga. He finds Grievous and the two erupt in battle called the Battle of Utapau, with Grievous using four lightsabers at once. Grievous attempts to flee on a Wheel Scooter, and Obi-Wan pursues astride on Boga. During the chase, Obi-Wan drops his lightsaber.

On Coruscant, Anakin tells Palpatine that General Grievous has been found by Obi-Wan on Utapau. Anakin insists he should be on Utapau as well. Their conversation shifts to Palpatine's knowledge of the force, and it is revealed that he is the Sith Lord, Darth Sidious. Upon realizing this, Anakin ignites his lightsaber and threatens to kill Palpatine, but then decides to expose him to the Jedi Council.

Obi-Wan continues to chase General Grievous on Utapau. He catches up with the general, and the two engage in melee combat. Obi-Wan manages to grab and rip off General Grievous's loose chestplate, exposing the living organs in his chest. Obi-Wan retrieves the droid's blaster and shoots the general in the chest, causing him to explode from the inside out, killing him.

Anakin tells Mace Windu that Chancellor Palpatine is the Sith Lord they had been looking for. Anakin offers to help in Palpatine’s arrest, but Windu urges him to stay out of it.

Through the Force, Palpatine speaks to Anakin, telling him that if he dies, Padmé will die in childbirth. Palpatine tells him that only with his help can she be saved. Anakin rushes to Palpatine.

Mace Windu, accompanied by Saesee Tiin, Kit Fisto, and Agen Kolar, arrive at Chancellor Palpatine's office to have the Chancellor arrested. Palpatine pulls a lightsaber out of his sleeve and lunges, quickly stabbing Agen through the chest. He pulls his lightsaber out of Kolar's chest and then slashes Saesee Tiin. He continues to duel Mace and Kit Fisto but eventually kills Kit by slashing him in the back and head too. Palpatine and Mace continue to fight down the hallway and into the main office area. Meanwhile, Anakin arrives at the scene and watches the duel. Mace knocks Palpatine's lightsaber from his hand , smashing the window of the Chancellor's Office, and Palpatine falls to the ground. At this point Palpatine asks Anakin for help, saying he was right about the Jedi wanting to depose him and take over ( it is unclear whether the Sith Lord is playing weak and old at this point, to draw Anakin to his aid). As Mace tells the Sith Lord he has failed, Palpatine blasts Force lightning at the Jedi Master but Mace deflects it back onto Palpatine with his lightsaber, distorting his face.

Anakin demands that Mace gives Palpatine up for trial but Mace refuses, saying that the Sith Lord controls the courts and must be killed. Palpatine begs for Anakin's help, saying only he can save the one Anakin loves, and just as Mace is about to finish Palpatine, Anakin cuts off Mace's hand. Mace is caught off guard and is hit by a resurgence of Palpatine's Force lightning. He is flung out the window and falls hundreds of stories to his death.

Anakin is distraught with what he has done, and confides in Palpatine. Palpatine takes Anakin as his Sith apprentice. Anakin kneels before Palpatine, saying he will do whatever he asks so long as the Sith Lord helps him save his wife. Palpatine bestows upon him the Sith name “Darth Vader”.

Darth Sidious gives the order to all Clone Stormtroopers of the Army of the Republic around the galaxy to execute Order 66; while Vader is given his first assignment: the destruction of the Jedi Temple – the Great Jedi Purge, the start of the Galactic Civil War. Across the Galaxy, the Clone Stormtroopers turn against their Jedi masters. Ki-Adi-Mundi gets killed by his troops. Aayla Secura gets shot in the back by Bly. Plo Koon's Jedi Starfighter gets shot down. Stass Allie dies when her speeder bike explodes. On Utapau Obi-Wan barely survives while the Clone Troopers who attempt to assassinate Yoda on Kashyyyk find themselves decapitated by the powerful Jedi Master.

At night, Vader marches to the Jedi Temple with a battalion of Clone Stormtroopers. He moves through the temple, striking down all the Jedi he comes across, including the younglings.

Later, Vader goes to Padmé, who sees the smoke rising from the Jedi Temple but does not know what is happening. He tells her the Jedi have tried to take over the Republic, and there are traitors in the Senate. He tells her that he will go to the Mustafar system, where the Separatist Council has gathered after evacuating Utapau, and he will end the war.

Bail Organa, one of the few senators who has resisted Palpatine's influence over the Galactic Senate, rescues both Obi-Wan and Yoda. He drops them off at the Jedi Temple before heading to the Senate where Palpatine tells them of the “plot of the Jedi to overthrow the Senate”. Amidst thunderous applause, he announces that the Republic will be reorganized as the first Galactic Empire.

The two Jedi Masters go to the Jedi Temple, where the Clone Stormtroopers find themselves no match for Yoda's mastery of the force and his lightsaber skills. They walk past the carnage in the Temple, including a group of young Padawans cut down by a lightsaber. They dismantle a signal calling for all remaining Jedi to return to the Temple and reconfigure it to warn all Jedi to keep away. At the Temple's control center, Obi-Wan looks into the security recordings. In disbelief, he sees Anakin/Vader slaughtering the Jedi (including Younglings) and then kneeling down to Darth Sidious. Yoda says they have no choice but to destroy the Sith – and Darth Vader. Obi-Wan still cares for him and offers to instead (attempt to) dispatch the emperor, however Yoda tells him he is not a match for the Sith's dark powers and he (Yoda) will deal with him.

On Mustafar, Vader slaughters the Separatist Council in cold blood.

Obi-Wan goes to Padmé's apartment, looking for Vader. He meets Padmé and tells her that he has turned to the dark side and killed the younglings in the Jedi Temple. But, Padmé will not reveal where he has gone, as he is her husband and the father of her child. Obi-Wan deduces this without Padmé telling him, apologizes, and leaves.

Later, Padmé leaves Coruscant in her Naboo Skiff, departing to Mustafar to see Anakin/Vader. Unbeknownst to her, Obi-Wan secretly boards the ship just before it takes off.

The Naboo Skiff lands on Mustafar. Vader and Padmé embrace. He tells Padmé that he has brought peace to the Republic, and he can overthrow Palpatine so he and Padmé can rule the galaxy together. Horrified, Padmé realises that Obi-Wan's story was true. Padmé tells him he is going down a path she cannot follow.

Vader sees Obi-Wan emerge from the Naboo Skiff. Enraged, he uses the Force to choke Padmé, thinking she led him there. She loses consciousness and Vader releases his grip on her. Obi-Wan and Vader break out into a ferocious, lengthy lightsaber duel.

In the Senate building, Yoda confronts Darth Sidious, finally recognizing him as more then just a leader in the Senate. The Sith Lord blasts the diminutive Jedi Master with force lightning but Yoda recovers and force throws Sidious across the room. Sidious attempts to flee but Yoda blocks his path and they engage in a fast and furious lightsaber battle, bringing them to the deserted main area of the Senate chamber.

Yoda and Sidious then undertake a force battle, hurling senate pods at each other, before the Sith Lord once more engages Yoda with force lightning. In a battle of wills an explosion of force powers occurs, blasting them apart, Sidious barely clinging to the senate pod while Yoda falls to the floor. With Bail Organa's help, Yoda manages to escape.

The epic lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan and Darth Vader brings them to many locations on Mustafar, crossing lava on a small platform. Eventually, Obi-Wan gains the high ground and clinches the battle due to favourable positioning. They both know Obi-Wan has the upper hand, and Obi-Wan pleads his former Padawan not to advance. Despite this, Vader arrogantly ignores his disadvantageous stance and charges at Obi-Wan, who in the blink of an eye cuts off both of Vader's legs at the knees, as well as his left arm. Vader tumbles down the embankment and rolls to a stop at the edge of the lava. Obi-Wan tells him that he was like a brother to him and that he loved him, and that he was the chosen one, the one who was destined to destroy the Sith, not join them. His proximity to the molten river causes the Sith to burst into flames, his lasts words to Obi-Wan before bursting into flames are, "I HATE YOU!". He suffers massive, scarring burns that mangle his physical features.

Obi-Wan takes Vader's lightsaber (which he will give to Luke in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope) and leaves with the badly-injured Padmé and the droids on the Naboo Skiff.

Darth Sidious arrives at Mustafar with a squad of Clone Stormtroopers. They rescue Darth Vader from the edge of death.

Obi-Wan arrives at Polis Massa and Padmé is brought to medical assistance. She is dying, not from bad health but from a lack of will to live. They work to save her babies—she has twins. A boy and a girl are born. While dying, Padmé gives them the names “Luke” and “Leia”.

Occurring simultaneously with the birth of his children, Vader is given a special suit. On Coruscant, at a secret Reconstruction Lab, Vader is given a new artificial body (which includes new legs and a new arm). He is dressed in black armor, a face mask is sealed tightly, and his helmet is fitted. He begins to breathe.

With Padmé's last breath, she says there is still good in Anakin/Vader. Padmé Amidala Skywalker dies.

Darth Vader regains consciousness. He asks what happened to Padmé. Darth Sidious tells him "It seems, in your anger, you killed her." Vader unleashes a massive scream and unleashes his Force powers in a rage that distorts and destroys the droids in the room.

On the Tantive IV blockade runner, Obi-Wan, Yoda, and Bail Organa sit at a conference table. They agree to keep the children safe and hidden. Luke and Leia will be split up in hopes that the Sith would not sense their presence. Leia will be adopted by Bail Organa, and Luke will be sent to his family on Tatooine. Obi-Wan and Yoda will watch and wait until the time is ready for the Skywalker children to do their part. Yoda tells Obi-Wan to study the technique Qui-Gon learned to achieve immortality.

Bail Organa leaves R2-D2 and C-3PO in the care of Captain Antilles of the Tantive IV. He orders a memory wipe of the protocol droid.

On Naboo, Padmé's funeral takes place in a solemn ceremony. Her recent pregnancy is still evident, however this was by design so that it appeared that she and, more importantly, any babies she was carrying died before she gave birth. The funeral was therefore not only for Padmé but also for her unborn child (the second child having only been discovered in secret by Obi-Wan, Yoda and Bail Organa).

Yoda goes into hiding (presumably Dagobah) to begin his self-imposed exile.

On the bridge of a Star Destroyer, Emperor Palpatine and Governor Tarkin are joined by Darth Vader, watching what looks like the beginning of the construction of the first Death Star or its prototype.

On Alderaan, the infant Leia is brought by Bail Organa to his wife, the Queen of Alderaan. She takes her and rocks her.

On Tatooine, Obi-Wan brings the baby Luke Skywalker to his new family: Owen and Beru Lars, his step-uncle and aunt. They look out to the horizon and watch the setting of Tatooine's twin suns.

Soundtrack

• Composed, conducted and produced by John Williams.
• Performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and the London Voices.
• Released May 3 2005.

Track listing

1. "Star Wars And The Revenge of The Sith"
2. "Anakin's Dream"
3. "Battle of The Heroes"
4. "Anakin's Betrayal"
5. "General Grievous"
6. "Palpatine's Teachings"
7. "Grievous and the Droids"
8. "Padmé's Ruminations"
9. "Anakin VS Obi-Wan"
10. "Anakin's Dark Deeds"
11. "Enter Lord Vader"
12. "The Immolation Scene"
13. "Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious"
14. "The Birth of the Twins and Padmé's Destiny"
15. "A New Hope and End Credits"

Release and box office performance

Revenge of the Sith premiered at the Cannes Film Festival (out of competition) on 15 May , 2005. It was released in most other countries on 19 May . It is believed the premiere of Revenge of the Sith may cost the US economy approximately USD $627 million because of employees who take a day off or report in sick. [1] (http://dailynews.yahoo.com/s/afp/20050516/ennew_afp/afpentertainmentusfilm_050516184049)

A copy of the movie leaked into p2p file sharing networks just hours after opening in theaters. The movie was a time-stamped workprint, suggesting it may have come from within the industry rather than from someone who videotaped an advance screening. It is widely spread and available in popular p2p networks. [2] (http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=internetNews&storyID=8546105)

The film earned an estimated $16.5 million from 2,900 midnight screenings in North America upon its release. In total, it earned a record $50 million on its opening day. This broke several box office records:

• Midnight screenings. Previously held by The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, which earned $8 million from 2,100 midnight screenings.
• Opening day gross. Previously held by Spider-Man 2 with $40.4 million.
• Single day gross. Previously held by Shrek 2 with $44.8 million.
• Thursday gross. Previously held by The Matrix Reloaded with $37.5 million.

According to the box office prediction and analysis site Box Office Mojo (ironically forced to change its name from Box Office Jedi around the time of the release of Attack of the Clones for trademark reasons), Revenge of the Sith has set domestic records for highest gross in a given number of days for each of at least its first twelve days of release except for the seventh and eighth, where the record is narrowly held by Spider-Man 2.

On Tuesday, June 7, it surpassed Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones in total domestic box office receipts (which were over $310 million), and after Tuesday, June 21, it ranked 11th all-time with $350,346,885.

It totalled $158.5 million in its first four day period, surpassing the previous four day record held by The Matrix Reloaded ($134.3 million) and making it the second highest grossing movie of 2005 after just four days in release (behind Hitch, $177.6 million, which it passed on its fifth day). It joins Spider-Man and The Matrix Reloaded as the only movies to make $100 million in three days. It became the only film to tie Spider-Man 2 's record of eight days to $200 million, and with $25,088,336 in its third weekend (June 3-5) it had passed $300 million on Saturday, its 17th day, surpassing the record of 18 days held by Shrek 2.It was third fastest (after Shrek 2 and Spider-Man) to reach $350 million.

Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith was released in 115 countries (one of the few countries still waiting to be released is in Japan, on 9 July). Worldwide gross after its fifth weekend was estimated at $707.17 million.

Critical reaction

The film garnered mostly positive reviews, especially in comparison to the two previous prequels. Compared to the 63% and 65% recieved by Episodes I and II, Episode III garnered a respectable 82% at review site rottentomatoes.com. Many critics have noted that they view it to be the best of the prequels, other reviewers have judged it to be the best Star Wars film since Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back. Many critics asserted George Lucas's continued weakness with dialogue in general, and with the romantic plot-line in particular. On the other hand, Hayden Christensen's depiction of a more mature Anakin Skywalker and his slow descent to the Dark Side received favoured responses. Various critics have made note that they feel that actors did a better job in general; though as with earlier prequels, they have felt that Lucas did not draw out the potential of Natalie Portman's performance.

Selected plot elements

Political connotations

Since early viewings, many have stated that there is a critique of President George W. Bush in the film. Examples cited included Darth Vader's line to Obi-Wan Kenobi, "if you're not with me, then you're my enemy!" This remark echoes a remark that President Bush made about terrorism after the September 11th terrorist attacks (which in turn echoes (http://www.hti.umich.edu/cgi/k/kjv/kjv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=4380943) Matthew 12:30). Film critic David Edelstein even coined a term, Darth Dubyous, in response to this.

Some have noted that a shot of the Jedi Temple burning is very 9/11-like in its imagery. Unrelated, but another current event parallel, can be seen when Anakin Skywalker pilots a broken cruiser into Coruscant. As the ship breaks up in the atmosphere, it very much resembles the final pictures of the space shuttle Columbia falling apart over Texas in 2003.

In various interviews George Lucas has repeatedly denied that current political events influenced the movie's script. Rather, he claimed he wrote the basic story outline in the 1970s during the Vietnam War, thinking of President Richard Nixon. [3] (http://www.billingsgazette.com/index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2005/05/20/build/nation/65-star-wars_v.inc) Lucas stated at Cannes that "the parallels between what we did in Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable." [4] (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/movies/19star.html) Lucas added that in more general terms, his story represents how any democracy can turn into a dictatorship with the consent of the people, such as in the cases of Caesar Augustus and Napoleon I of France. [5] (http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-15-cannes-lucas_x.htm), [6] (http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/Movies/05/16/cannes.starwars/index.html)

Some of the events of the film indeed mirror real landmarks of Adolf Hitler's takeover of Germany. The Great Jedi Purge and Palpatine's secret betrayal of his Separatist Council allies that resulted in their deaths at the hands of his apprentice, Darth Vader on Mustafar are very much like the Night of the Long Knives when Heinrich Himmler's SS troops attacked the rival SA and killed Ernst Röhm and other leaders, thus eliminating the last serious threat to Hitler's power. The Senate's vote to give even more power to Palpatine which resulted in the reorganization of the Galactic Republic into the Galactic Empire afterwards, which prompts Padme's observation, "so this is how liberty dies — with thunderous applause," echoes the Enabling Act passed by the German Reichstag — to thunderous applause — a month after the Reichstag fire, ceding what power it had left to the Nazi government.

Still, some conservatives have denounced the film, accusing Lucas of promoting his liberal political views; or even agreeing with one conservative, Jonathan Last, who wrote (http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/001/248ipzbt.asp) after Episode II that he saw the Empire as the true heroes.

Orson Scott Card, writing (http://www.beliefnet.com/story/167/story_16700_1.html) at the religious news site Beliefnet, accused Lucas through the Jedi of promoting moral relativism and elitism in language similar to that long used by right-wingers to denigrate their opposite numbers:

By and large ... they decide among themselves what theyre going to do and when its OK to break the law and defy the civilian authority, ...

They are, in fact, utterly anti-democratic, like a militia that owes nothing to civilian authority ... [N]one of their discussions as a council are devoted to considering what is right and wrong ... [They are] a privileged few, who get to decide whats best for everybody else and then enforce their own rules, all in the name of "the Force."

[Y]ou could read it, as a conflict between the entrenched aristocracy trying to preserve their monopoly on power, and an ambitious upstart, who is determined to break that monopoly and take control for himself.

The decision of Windu and the other Jedi Council members to take matters into their own hands and arrest Palpatine themselves, then rule the Republic until the Senate can re-establish democracy, could be argued to be what is, in essence, a military coup.

The circumstances of the Great Jedi Purge also are similar to those which surrounded the demise of the Knights Templar in 1307. A secret order was suddenly unveiled, and was mostly vanquished by the day's end by opposing forces.

The election of Pope Benedict XVI had also been a very popular subject at the time of the movie release and the new pope had been earlier accused (as a Cardinal) of excessively limiting room for dissent in the church. Comparisons with Palpatine, whom the pope somewhat resembles (at least prior to Palpatine's scarring), have therefore become quite common; for example, the Wikipedia article about the pope has been repeatedly modified to include Palpatine references and images.

Lastly, the Confederacy's Trade Federation flagship, The Invisible Hand, could be argued to be a reference to "the Invisible Hand of the Marketplace", a metaphoric force said to bring stability and efficiency to markets.

Mirroring from other Star Wars films

As the last theatrical Star Wars film, Revenge of the Sith contains many elements that make reference to the original film trilogy and George Lucas's earlier script treatments.

• The title is a reprise of Lucas's first considered title 'Revenge of the Jedi' for Episode VI, which was altered after Lucas decided that Jedi do not take revenge
• Revenge of the Sith opens with a space battle between Republic and Confederacy navies, the first time in a Star Wars film since Episode IV.
• The first line spoken in Episode IV is "Did you hear that?" by C-3PO (Anthony Daniels), on Bail Organa's ship. The last line spoken in Episode III is "Oh no!", also by C-3PO, played by the same actor, also on that ship.
• Anakin and Obi-Wan fly their fighter craft through tight obstacles in an enemy ship, similar to Episodes I, IV and VI.
• After fighting and defeating Anakin, Obi-Wan picks up Anakin's lightsaber before leaving. This lightsaber is later given to Luke in Episode IV, "Your father's lightsaber".
• Anakin and Obi-Wan are sent on a daring rescue mission against an enemy fortress but all is not as it appears (Episode IV).
• The planet name Utapau was Lucas's original name for Tatooine.
• When Obi-Wan and Yoda return to the Jedi Temple and discover the corpses of their fellow Jedi, closer inspection of the bodies reveals that not all of them were killed by Clone stormtroopers, that a lightsaber was used as well, implicating one of the Jedi as a betrayer. Obi-Wan decides to look at the security holograms despite Yoda's warning that he will find it painful, and he is dumbstruck to find Anakin led the massacre. This is paralleled in Episode IV when Luke, Obi-Wan and the droids come upon the ruins of the Jawas' sandcrawler and find all of them slaughtered. Luke at first suspects the Sandpeople, but Obi-Wan's closer inspection shows that Imperial stormtroopers were actually responsible. Luke realizes what this means and races home, despite Obi-Wan's warning that he might not like what he finds ... the family farm sacked, and the charred bodies of his aunt and uncle.
• In the original Star Wars script treatment, the climactic battle was between Wookiees and Imperial forces as in Revenge of the Sith. This was adapted for Episode VI as the battle on Endor between Ewoks and Imperial Stormtroopers.
• Anakin/Vader's offer to Padmé to join him and rule the Empire mirrors Vader's offer to Luke in Episode V.
• In convincing him that the Jedi are trying to oust him as Supreme Chancellor, Palpatine/Sidious urges Anakin/Vader to "search your feelings...you know, don't you?" This mirrors Episode V, in which Anakin/Vader convinces Luke that he is his father, urging the boy to "search your feelings. You know it to be true."
• Anakin's prophetic vision leads him on a path to the dark side. Luke's vision in Episode V tempts him to take a similar path, though he resists the temptation.
• Palpatine/Sidious watches in his chamber as his current apprentice (Count Dooku) and his intended new apprentice (Anakin) duel to the death, while behind them can be seen a massive space fleet battle (Episode VI).
• Anakin is conflicted to choose between Palpatine/Sidious and a fellow Jedi (Episode VI).
• Anakin says, "From my point of view, the Jedi are evil." In Episode VI, Obi-Wan seems to have taken the idea on board, telling Luke, "You're going to find that many of the truths we cling to depend greatly on our own point of view."
• Anakin's arm is cut off by Obi-Wan. Also, in III, Mace Windu and Count Dooku both get one or both hands cut off. A character has an arm or a portion of an arm cut off in each of Episodes II, IV, V and VI.
• Obi-Wan and Anakin duel in front of a window with a striking resemblance to the window seen behind Luke and Vader in their duel on Cloud City (Episode V).
• Obi-Wan's lightsaber in Episode III is modeled exactly after the prop Alec Guinness uses in Episode IV.
• The final shot of Owen and Beru Lars holding Luke and looking into the Tatooine twin sunset mirrors a similar scene with Luke in Episode IV. The music is also the same in both cases (the Force Theme).
• The opening scene is in space, and the camera features a Venator-Star Destroyer, mirroring the openings of the original trilogy, all of which featured Imperial Star Destroyers.
• When Darth Vader and the Emperor survey what looks like the partially built Death Star, we can see a slightly younger Grand Moff Tarkin. According to some, a younger Captain Needa can be seen in the crewpit.
• When Anakin and Obi-Wan are approaching the Senate after saving Palpatine, a YT-1300 Corellian Transport, confirmed by the official Star Wars (and George Lucas) website as a purposeful copy of the Millennium Falcon, is one of the ships which touch down on Coruscant.
• During the rescue of Palpatine Anakin dangles perilously over a seemingly endless chasm, foreshadowing the death of Palpatine in Episode VI.
• During the Force Lightning battle between Mace Windu and Palpatine, Anakin looks on for a moment then turns on Windu. In Episode VI, as he watches Luke being attacked with Force Lightning the same way by Palpatine, Anakin/Vader looks on for a moment but then decides to kill Palpatine, rectifying his mistake from Episode III.
• In the beginning of the movie while flying a starfighter on the way to rescue Palpatine, Anakin says, "This is where the fun begins." Han Solo says the exact same line in Episode IV while escaping Imperial Star Destroyers in the Millenium Falcon.
• Anakin cuts off the arm of Mace Windu as Palpatine looks on, and joins the dark side. In Return of the Jedi, Luke Skywalker cuts off the arm of Darth Vader as Palpatine looks on, but refuses to join the dark side.
• Palpatine closes his eyes and tells Anakin, "I can feel your anger." He tells Luke the exact same thing in Episode VI.
• The formation of Star Destroyers at the end is similar to the scene where the Imperial fleet assembles in The Empire Strikes Back.
• The attack of the droid starfighters is similar to the scene in Return of the Jedi when hundreds of TIE squadrons attack the Rebel fleet.
• In Episode III, Palpatine/Sidious tells Anakin to kill his current apprentice, Dooku/Tyrannus, and Anakin does; he later becomes Palpatine's apprentice. In Episode VI, the Emperor tells Luke to kill Darth Vader, but Luke doesn't, instead denouncing the Dark Side.
• Obi-Wan shoots the traditional "I have a bad feeling about this!" running gag just before Anakin enters the hangar of General Grievous' battlecruiser.
• Obi-Wan says "So uncivilized!" after he kills General Grievous with a blaster. This mirrors his opinion of blasters expressed in Episode IV, when he tells Luke that a lightsaber is "not as clumsy or random as a blaster ... a more elegant weapon from a more civilized age."
• When Mace has his blade at Palpatine's throat, we see a shot very similar to when Vader has his blade at Luke's throat in Episode V.
• Anakin sustains severe injuries, and lies, defeated, after a duel. He is then rescued by someone who senses him through the Force. He is given temporary care, then given cybernetic limbs. This is identical to what happens to Luke in Episode V.
• When Obi-Wan makes his rendezvous with the Tantive IV, the ship he is flying is swallowed up by the Tantive IV's underbelly. This echoes the ultimate fate of the Tantive IV itself (Episode IV)
• The droids that flee Anakin as he enters the Separatist control room appear to be predecessors of the infamous "Mouse droids" that appear on Imperial ships in the original trilogy.
• Darth Vader's rather vocal scream of "NOOOOOO!!" upon learning of Padme's death has been widely lampooned and criticized as campy and inappropriate following the release of the film. Luke's rather vocal scream of "NOOOOO!!" upon learning that Darth Vader is his father was also similarly lampooned and poorly received. This scream is also mirrored in Episode I, when Obi-Wan watches Darth Maul kill his mentor Qui-Gon Jinn, and in Episode IV, when Luke watches Darth Vader kill his mentor Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Inconsistencies / Unresolved Issues

Main article: Alleged inconsistencies in Star Wars.

While this sixth movie installation ties up a lot of plot-lines in the Star Wars saga, there are some elements that could be considered inconsistencies or unresolved questions. Among them:

• In Episode VI, Leia says she barely remembers her mother, but in Episode III, it is revealed her mother died soon after childbirth, so how could Leia remember her mother at all? Perhaps the power of the Force gives her this ability to recall her mother. Leia also might be thinking of the Queen of Alderaan as her real mother. However, Padme is seen several times having hairstyles much like Leia is known to have, so it is unlikely that Leia's hairstyles are from Alderaan; it is more likely that she knows she is from Naboo.
• When Luke and Leia are taken from Padmé, why is Luke taken to live with family and allowed to keep the name Skywalker? Wouldn't that make him relatively conspicuous, especially given the fame his father is gaining throughout the galaxy? An explanation suggested by fans is that first Padmé continued to look pregnant at death (perhaps at Yoda's suggestion), therefore any children are thought to have died and been buried with her, second that Tatooine and the Lars' home in particular is very isolated, and third no one is actively looking for a Skywalker. Another possible explanation is that Skywalker is a relatively common name on Tatooine, as Shmi Skywalker, Luke's grandmother, was also a resident of the planet.
• Why does Anakin's ghost appear in the new ending of the DVD of Episode VI wearing Jedi robes he never used while he was a Jedi? Moreover, in Attack of the Clones when Anakin murders the Sand People we hear Qui-Gon Jinn, but at the end of Return of the Jedi DVD Qui-Gon does not show up as a Force Ghost. Jinn's abscence could be explained by the fact that Luke never knew him personally, thus a spiritual link never existed between the two.

Some of these questions may be answered eventually by other works within the Expanded Universe. Others will have to be accepted as part of suspension of disbelief.

Trivia

• This is the only Star Wars film to receive a PG-13 rating from the MPAA; all previously released films in the series were rated PG. Interestingly, A New Hope was originally rated G, but its rating was deliberately pushed up in order to attract a broader audience.

• Favourites from the original trilogy that make their first chronological appearance in this movie include Chewbacca, Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Grand Moff Tarkin, Captain Antilles, and Darth Vader. Scenes with Captain Needa and Mon Mothma were deleted. George Lucas wrote early drafts of the script in which a 10-year-old Han Solo appears, but the role was never casted or shot. [7] (http://www.ew.com/ew/preview/movie/0,6115,1051441_1_0_,00.html)

• In the scene where Darth Vader and the Emperor are looking out onto what looks like the unfinished first Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin can be seen conversing with the Emperor.
• Anthony Daniels (C-3PO) and Kenny Baker (R2-D2) are the only actors to appear in all six Star Wars films and Anthony Daniels is the only actor to have a speaking role in all six films. Daniels also played C-3PO in all three Star Wars radio serials as well as providing his voice in the animated Clone Wars TV series.
• Playwright Tom Stoppard reportedly did an uncredited re-write or dialogue polish on the script. Hayden Christensen confirmed this in an interview for Playboy magazine.

• Bai Ling filmed minor scenes for the film playing the role of a senator, but her role was cut during editing. She claimed that this was because she posed for the June 2005 issue of Playboy magazine, whose appearance on newstands coincided with the movie's May release, but George Lucas denied this, stating that the cut had been made more than a year earlier, and that he had cut out his own daughter's scenes as well.

• Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a traditional venue for the Star Wars films, is not showing it this year. However, a line of people stood there for more than a month hoping to convince someone to change this. Most of them took advantage of an offer to see the film at a nearby cinema, the Arclight.

• This is the only time you see two lightsabres of the same colour (blue) battle (Anakin and Obi-Wan's). One could also consider the lightsabre duel between Obi-Wan and Grievous, the latter wielding green and blue lightsabres.

• In Episode VI, Princess Leia tells Luke that her "real" mother, who died when Leia was very young, was very kind, beautiful and sad. Since Padmé dies almost immediately after childbirth (in Episode III), Leia might be thinking of the Queen of Alderaan as her real mother (in one of the Expanded Universe novels, Leia insists that Bail Organa will always be her real father, despite the fact that she knows Anakin Skywalker was her biological father). Alternately, Leia's Force-sensitivity might provide her with genuine memories of Padmé.

• Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, C-3PO and R2-D2 are the only characters to appear (in some capacity) in all six Star Wars films.

• Being six-foot-one or 1.85 metres (compared to David Prowse, who is six-foot-seven or 2 metres), Hayden Christensen had to look through the mouthpiece of the Darth Vader costume, which itself featured shoe lifts and muscle suit. "Being inside makes you feel powerful and strong -- it's absolutely incredible", he recalls [8] (http://www.thefreeman.com/entertainment/story-20050521-30725.html).

• When the ship Anakin and Obi-Wan are on at the start begins firing on an enemy ship, there is some footage of explosions and guys being thrown into the air. One of them screams a classic "Wilhelm scream".

• In the battle on the Wookiee planet Kashyyyk, a distinctive Tarzan yell can be heard, just as in Episode VI, when Chewbacca and two Ewoks swing toward an Imperial scout walker on Endor.

• Gary Oldman was originally supposed to provide the voice of General Grievous, but he backed out after learning the film was to be made outside of the Screen Actor's Guild, of which he is a member.

• George Lucas confirmed in an interview that Steven Spielberg tinkered with several action sequences in ROTS. This happened when a project of his fell through and he had some spare time. Lucas sent over an animatics artist to assist him. It is rumored that the scenes he worked on included the Yoda/Sidious battle and a part of the Mustafar duel.

• Because the Revenge of the Sith novel was released two months before the premiere and the actual script was leaked on the Internet a few days later, the events depicted in the movie were no surprise for fans.

• In one shot, the Millenium Falcon can be seen landing at the Senate bottom-right in the frame.

• This film marks the last appearances of Mace Windu, Padme Amidala, Jar Jar Binks (absence unexplained), Count Dooku, Nute Gunray, Poggle the Lesser, Orn Free Taa (absence unexplained), Mas Amedda (absence unexplained, to the discontent of a fan-base minority) and Sly Moore (absence unexplained). It is possible that these characters returned to their homeworlds after the Senate was dissolved, but this is merely speculation.

• The Revenge of the Sith video game closely follows the film, but for reasons of gameplay greatly expands a number of the action sequences. After the completion of the movie plotline the game unlocks a level that allows the player to go back and replay the final duel from Skywalker's point of view. It's completion then unlocks an alternate short ending where the uninjured Darth Vader kills and usurps the Emperor. Plot elements elements shown in the game include Vader activating the Jedi beacon, killing the librarian Jocasta Nu, and dueling with Cin Drallig and his Padawan Serra Keto (see Cameo Appearances below).

• At Padme's funeral, Jar Jar and Boss Nass can be seen.

• On Sunday 22 May 2005, at Hertfordshire, northern London, two British youths (a 20-year-old male and a 17-year-old female) attempted to re-create the many Star Wars sword fights with two fluorescent glass tubes with petrol. At some point of the "mock duel" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/4575291.stm), one of the devices exploded, rushing the two to West Herts Hospital and blazing a small forest fire nearby as well as severe burns.

Cameo appearances

George Lucas makes a cameo appearance at the Coruscant Opera House. He is the blue faced being, named Baron Papanoida, that can be seen outside Palpatine's box. It marks Lucas's first and only appearance in any of the Star Wars films. His three children also play cameos: Jett as a young Jedi-in-training called Zett Jukassa at the Jedi Temple, his daughter Amanda as a character called Terr Taneel, seen in the security hologram, and Katie as a blue-skinned alien called Chi Eekway, visible when Palpatine arrives at the Senate after being saved by the Jedi and talking to Baron Papanoida at the Opera House.

Much of the crew make cameos in the film, for example Nick Gillard, the stunt coordinator, plays a character named Cin Drallig (his name spelled backwards). Also in the movie was Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett in the Original Trilogy), who played "Captain Colton", the pilot of the Rebel Blockade Runner Tantive IV. This was a speaking role.

Rating

Existing ratings:

External links

• Movie trailer (http://movies.channel.aol.com/feature/starwars/trailer.adp)
• CNN Celebration (http://edition.cnn.com/EVENTS/1997/star.wars.anniversary/)
• StarWars.com official Episode III site (http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/)
• Template:Imdb title
• The Jedi Temple's Guide to Episode III  (http://dimitri.moraetes.us/ep3.htm)
• TheForce.Net (http://www.theforce.net/episode3/)
• BBC.co.uk Star Wars special feature. inc. articles and interviews (http://www.bbc.co.uk/films/episode_iii/)
• Latest 'Star Wars' Movie Is Quickly Politicized (http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/19/movies/19star.html?ex=1270785600&en=37bef79604f97228&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland) by David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, May 19, 2005.

Star Wars Episodes I: The Phantom Menace | II: Attack of the Clones | III: Revenge of the Sith IV: A New Hope | V: The Empire Strikes Back | VI: Return of the Jedi Spinoffs The Star Wars Holiday Special | The Ewok Adventure | Ewoks: Battle for Endor | Star Wars: Clone Wars | Droids | Ewoks

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