Love for the film is at an all-time high, but how does it hold up two decades later? At this point, “Star Wars” is a franchise that has been twisted and turned into a shell of what it once was. This is what makes “Revenge of the Sith” and the prequel trilogy as a whole a more appealing watch than any of the sequels or Disney+ content. Lucas’s vision and ideas are allowed to thrive the way he wants them to. For fans, this could be refreshing, as the later sequel trilogy feels watched over by executive producers giving studio notes. Lucas’s unhinged ideas for his prequel trilogy might be silly, but at least they feel like the vision of one singular person and not a corporation.

“Revenge of the Sith” is a pretty outrageous film at points. Lucas’s overreliance on CGI over practical effects truly comes to the fore in this third installment. A feeling of uncanny valley plagues the film through and through. It can be forgiven because this came out in the mid-2000s, and the technology was not there yet, but there is an argument to be made that this would have aged better with more practical sets and props. 

“Revenge of the Sith” has a lot to do in its almost two-and-a-half-hour runtime. This final film in the prequel trilogy needs to wrap up Anakin’s arc as he transforms into Darth Vader, answer what exactly happened to all the Jedi, and show the fall of the Republic. Lucas has strong political themes of corruption and paranoia within a government system. It is these political ideas that have aged the most interestingly of anything else in this film. The politics in this silly Star Wars film, where a small green alien battles an evil cloaked wizard who shoots lightning from his hands for the fate of the universe, feel very similar to the current political landscape in the United States. Who would have known that George Lucas was so ahead of his time with his grandiose thematic ideas? 

One of the defining differences between “Revenge of the Sith” and the prequel trilogy, when compared to the original films, is just how much it has to say. “Star Wars: A New Hope” is a fun time. It’s a groundbreaking film that follows the “Hero’s Journey” to a T, but it is not the most thoughtful film when thinking about larger world implications. It was the perfect film to come out in the late 70s, a great counterargument to the hopeless and bleak films coming out of that era. “Revenge of the Sith” feels different; it takes major risks with its ending and approach to showing Anakin’s downfall.

“Revenge of the Sith” is far from a perfect film, often featuring performances that are either too stiff or too eccentric. That being said, it is a film that does more than it needs to with ideas and themes. It feels different than the blockbuster IP films that come out today, it has the feeling of one person’s singular vision. It is a storytelling mode that studios would benefit from and would draw audiences back to theaters. In many ways, “Revenge of the Sith” feels like the last of its time. 

The post “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith” 20 years later appeared first on Utah.Film.

Here are five directors that started out so promising, but fell so far. Hopefully one day will win our love back.

George Lucas

Will George Lucas ever direct again? “Why would I make any more when everybody yells at you all the time and says what a terrible person you are?” George Lucas once told the New York Times.

Well you are not a terrible person George, you’re just not good at making movies anymore.

George Lucas started out insanely strong directing films like
“American Graffiti” and “Star Wars: IV- A New Hope.” He then passed the directing reigns on for installments V and VI of the Star Wars saga. He then decided to direct the prequel installments, Episodes I-III. We could write hundreds of pages of what is wrong with those films, but if you’ve seen them you already know.

So maybe it is better he has called it quits for now.

Tim Burton

Burton has kind of got himself back on the right track with his latest movie “Big Eyes,” but before that can you name the last Tim Burton movie you liked?

For me it was 2003’s “Big Fish.”

Burton’s quirky directing style made him a hit with movies like “Beetlejuice,” “Edward Scissorhands” and “Batman” among some other awesome films. Then enter Johnny Depp. This weird partnership with Depp has produced films like “Dark Shadows,” “Charlie and Chocolate Factory” and a few other misfires.

Burton might have a chance to right the ship if “Beetlejuice 2” ever ends up happening. We all could use another Burton classic in our DVD collection.

Oliver Stone

Stone scored two Oscars for his directing skills back in the day. “Platoon,” “Born on the Fourth of July”, and “Natural Born Killers” are just a few of his earlier success. He was so good that the main focus of his trailers were the fact he directed the movie.

Well now when you see it is an Oliver Stone film you roll your eyes. How could you not after films like “Any Given Sunday”, “Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps” and “Savages”? His over-directing has become almost as comical as his movies. Almost.

Hopefully his upcoming film “Snowden” will get him back to his old self, but I am not holding my breath.

I think it might be time to retire to your mansion Mr. Stone.

Ridley Scott

“Alien”,“Blade Runner”, and “Gladiator” are all classic films. Scott’s films are larger than life, and he has the ability to put you right in the action. If you’ve ever seen “Black Hawk Down” you know what I am talking about.

These days, however, when I see a Ridley Scott film is coming out I can count on two things: it will be long and likely not that great. “Exodus: Gods and Kings” was a flop, “Robin Hood” put me to sleep, and I couldn’t bring myself to see “The Counselor.” Some argue that “Prometheus”, was pretty good, but it was no “Alien”.

Scott directed the upcoming big screen adaptation of “The Martian,” which comes out later this year. I still have high hopes for this one. Hopefully “Exodus” him a lesson and he’ll learn from his mistakes and get back to his roots.

M. Night Shyamalan

Oh M. Night, what happened to you buddy? I will start by saying I am a M. Night fan. I loved “The Sixth Sense,” “Unbreakable” “Signs” and “The Village.” I even liked “Lady in the Water,” which most people hated. Then “The Happening” happened and it’s been downhill since.

I tried watching “The Last Airbender”, could not get through it, and the only reason I did watch it is because he directed it. I was excited he teamed up with Will Smith to make “After Earth,” but that was another massive failure and major disappointment. I watch his earlier films all the time and wonder how he fell so far?

His next film “The Visit” comes out later this year and the rumor is he is back to his old self. Well let’s hope so, because this might be his last chance before all his fans finally give up on him.

The post 5 Directors that need to get back to their roots or call it quits appeared first on Utah.Film.