Film Review: Flawed Star Wars prequel is the most successful re-release of any film
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CELEBRATING 20 years since its initial release, has returned to cinemas for a limited time, inviting audiences on a nostalgic trip back to that galaxy far, far away.
Although it was not received well by critics at the time, it seems the fans for whom these movies were originally intended are now ready to welcome back a childhood classic with open arms. Indeed, the overwhelming hype and global enthusiasm for this film’s re-release can only stand as testament to the enduring appeal of George Lucas’s visionary space opera.
As the concluding chapter of Lucas’s divisive prequel trilogy, tells the story of Anakin Skywalker’s tragic turn to the dark side and his ultimate transformation into the iconic villain Darth Vader. For some, this film was nothing more than an insipid end to a disappointing trilogy that failed to capture the magic of the original trilogy. For others (myself included), this epic tragedy was their first introduction to the Star Wars saga and forever shaped their love of movies.
I must admit, it is difficult to discuss this film without first considering its legacy after 20 years. In 2005, was by no means a critical success. It was generally maligned by critics, with the most positive reviews simply conceding that it was slightly better than the previous two offerings. However, for kids at the time, this film was an emotional rollercoaster of thrilling adventure, exhilarating action and heartbreaking betrayal. Now, those kids have grown up and for many, this will be their first time to witness their quintessential Star Wars film on the big screen.
I have fond memories of watching on a never-ending loop as a child and being endlessly fascinated by every scene. Of course, as I got older, I came to recognise the film’s flaws: much of the dialogue is poorly written and at times poorly delivered, there is an over-reliance on CGI throughout and Lucas’s direction is not the most inspired. And yet, these flaws never impeded my enjoyment of the film. Although the dialogue is quite weak, the overall story is deeply moving and deals with profound themes of loyalty, love and loss. Add to that John Williams’s incredible musical score and the result is an ambitious-yet-imperfect film with grand ideas.
It seems that many of my generation share this sentiment, as legions of loyal fans who fell in love with in 1995 have now returned to cinemas to relive childhood memories, officially making it the most successful re-release of any film in history. Such is the undying allure of George Lucas’s creation.
