Review written by John Hood
Soundtrack first impression here (spoilers).
When clones go bad. Can Revenge raise the prequels and dovetail into the original trilogy? The answer will be revealed on May 19th 2005.
The opening credits abruptly transition into a decisive battle above Coruscant. Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker and General Obi-Wan Kenobi speed to the rescue of Senator Palpatine from the clutches of Count Dooku. Palpatine is a prisoner aboard General Grievous' Command Ship. Whilst Obi-Wan lies unconscious, Anakin disarms and, at Palpatine's provocation, beheads the defeated Dooku. General Grievous flees to the Separatist stronghold of Utapau.
Anakin continues to be troubled by dreams of his wife Padme, now secretly pregnant. Qui-Gon Jinn made much of Anakin's ability to "see things before they happen", and it is unfortunate that George Lucas decided to remove scenes from The Phantom Menace, which explored Anakin's foretelling of his ultimate fate.
The Jedi Council appoints Anakin to report on Senator Palpatine to the dismay of Mace Windu. Palpatine, sensing Skywalker's growing fear and unpredictable nature, seduces him to the dark side with the promise of saving Padme's life. When Palpatine's true identity is discovered by Anakin, Mace and members of the Council attempt to arrest him. An overpowered and hideously disfigured Palpatine pleads for his life before a victorious Mace. Anakin prevents Mace from striking Palpatine down and Palpatine kills Mace. Anakin ceases to exist and henceforth becomes Lord Darth Vader.
Master Yoda travels to Kashyyyk to enlist the aid of the Wookies. Obi-Wan pursues General Grievous and defeats him with a blaster bolt echoing Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
Order 66 is passed and the clone troopers turn on the unprepared and outnumbered Jedi. Master Yoda confronts Lord Sidious in the Senate and the former barely escapes alive.
Following Darth Vader to Mustafar. Padme tries to reason with the man she once knew as Anakin, but Vader's desire to overthrow Sidious is too overwhelming and he force chokes her. Arriving too late, Obi-Wan ignites his lightsabre and the duel begins. Obi-Wan, in a moment of deception, decapitates Vader and leaves him to burn alive in the molten river of Mustafar. Sidious senses that Vader is in danger and dispatches a clone rescue team to recover the body.
The Skywalker twins, Luke and Leia, are born to a dying Padme. At Padme's funeral Anakin's carving (a japor snippet given in The Phantom Menace) is held in her hands.
Aboard a Star Destroyer, which circles the Death Star construction site, Darth Vader's charred and disfigured body is imprisoned within a cyber shell. Unable to overcome Lord Sidious and burdened by the knowledge of Padme's death, Vader is now enslaved to the dark side of the force.
Bail Organa adopts Leia and transports her to the sanctuary of Alderaan.
Obi-Wan takes Luke to Tatooine and into the foster care of Uncle Owen and Aunt Beru. The twin suns set and the saga is complete.
