Mark Kermode reviews Star Wars episode 3

[@zingzangspillip1]

"It's like chewing the edge of a table." Class.

[@sofiaiknaian3416]

"George Lucas could not direct traffic " LOL

[@nifralo2752]

"Moreover he cannot write, his writing skills are you know not even pre-school."

[@briarjames4038]

A trick : watch series at Flixzone. Been using it for watching loads of movies these days.

[@callentyler3114]

@Briar James Definitely, have been watching on Flixzone for years myself :D

[@bilalkhares9337]

@@nifralo2752 he has made Millions from films he wrote and has millions of fans.

[@and8091]

@@bilalkhares9337 So has Michael Bay.

[@TheCookie176]

"American Graffiti is a well edited film" if you hear the stories behind A New Hope its a similar story there

[@JamesCarmichael]

+Mark Cookson A New Hope (or Star Wars as it should be called) was an absolute mess apparently before going through editing. I remember listening to an interview with someone on production and they said how surreal the production was and how much of a weirdo Lucas was. I like Lucas even to this day because he's a fascinating person. What must go on in his head sometimes intrigues me.

[@BackyardPix]

Star Wars has some truly shoddy direction. It's shot in a semi guerrilla style way that's really unappealing and unfitting of a fantasy film. The Empire Strikes Back is pure filmmaking gold, though. Now that's real fucking *craft*.

[@Toribot]

Backyard Pix Which is weird because most other films Irvin Kershner made were total shite. RoboCop 2 anyone?

[@TheMultiplGamerTV]

Toribot well to be fair the direction of that film wasn’t the problem it was more the disastrous screenplay which Kershner had no part in writing

[@LukesEnglishPodcast]

I’m so glad that Star Wars ep.3 exists because we got this review.

[@anthonymartensen3164]

Mark was so intense back in the day.

[@nifralo2752]

Yeah in the past 4 years or so hes gone kinda soft. He uses to be so mean. "Kira Knightly s acting has always been wooden but this was like watching a petrified forrest of woodeness. And when she and Orlando Bland are on screen together its like watching two chairs mating" or sayinf that Rockenrolla was "about the struggle to get [Guy Richie's] career back on track, after [he] sunk it so deep not even submarines could find the wreckage of the last film [he] made".

[@JeffHoagg]

The passion, insight, energy, wit, pacing, breadth (and sheer endurance required for delivery of this rant) are all admirable. Of course, it helps he’s bang on target in all the particulars.

[@mansnotbot4160]

"From my point of view, the jedi are evil." "Well, we've now stated our opposing points of views, let's duel." Flashy flashy, swordy swordy.

[@keretaman]

I like the movie and your comment too. Made me lol cuz it's true

[@BrotherJosephus]

This review is one of the things that made me a Kermode fan.

[@Onmysheet]

"Chewing the edge of a table" Class! 10/10 Lol

[@Fluffykeith]

It always felt kinda....rushed....to me. Like...Anakin is worried about Padme, Anakin has done a few Dark things, Anakin sort of accidentally helps Palpatine kill Windu, Anakin is suddenly fully Dark Side and happy to kill little kids. It's such a sudden flip. At least when he killed the Sandpeople it was in a rage and he had remorse after it, but in RotS he goes from "Oops, Sorry Master Windu but I sort of need Palpatine" to "Die Little Kiddies Die!" in about five minutes, and that's even after Palpatine admits he can't actually do the one thing Anakin saved his life for.

[@bilalkhares9337]

I think that he does whatever Palpatine asks out of hope that he can help him save Padme and because he feels like the Jedi would oust him and it's too late to turn back, I agree it feels a little rushed but it's still a great film

[@SteveVdw]

​@@bilalkhares9337'... but it's still a great film' 😂 It's not a film, and it's the exact opposite of great ... in other words: RotS looks like an unwatchable soap opera, created by an accountant who has no clue how to write a movie or how to direct a scene.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@SteveVdw Lol Just stop talking as you’re laughing at literally nothing here but your own lack of comprehension. Revenge of the Sith IS a film entirely as it IS The movie isn’t perfect but there’s a lot of awesome stuff to it all! It’s NOT “aN uNwatChaBlE sOaP OpeRA” in the slightest as it’s ENTIRELY watchable and a good watch of a movie. It’s NOT “crEaTeD by aN aCcOunTAnT” at all as Lucas did ALOT of good with this movie. Lucas has MASSIVE problems directing and writing films as he’s proven that he causes a lot of issues with filmmaking but he’s done WAY more positives than negatives when it comes with Revenge of the Sith as there MANY good scenes in this movie as it’s entirely watchable. Stop with your hating nonsense, it’s getting you nowhere.

[@blatherskite3009]

Well, I thought Ian McDiarmid (Palpatine) came out of Episode III looking pretty good. I suppose his stage experience helped him to rise above the whole "acting to nothing in a green room" problem that left much of the prequel trilogy feeling so stilted.

[@randomkiliinterviews9453]

I just marvel at Mark's rhetorical skills and whit. It's pure joy just listening to him :)

[@antoinepetrov]

Whit of what? Or did you mean "wit"

[@Cloudrim]

So glad he singled out Ian McDiarmid, he was always the best part of the prequels.

[@blokey8]

I was struck recently by just how televisual the direction on the prequels is. When you ignore the mess of lasers/ships/fire/soldiers, there's hardly any flair in terms of how the films are shot.

[@nifralo2752]

I know the dialogue scense are shot like an episode of Corrie. Character A speaks close up of them speaking character B speaks cut to a close up of them cut back to close up of Character A when they reply.

[@admiralmelon8239]

The dialogue is less than perfect but I am not a 7 year old and I enjoyed it and understood the plot so this was review was definitely over the top. Especially when he mentions there not being correct physics, does he not understand this is in a sci fi movie with lightsabers??

[@cygil1]

@@nifralo2752 It was all greenscreened and Lucas had no idea what he would put in the background afterwards, often not even storyboards as a guide. So everything is shot TV soap style with bland universal lighting so it'll fit with whatever Lucas picked.

[@Raymint]

Listening to the dialogue in that clip - they really ARE just explaining the plot to each other. It's absolutely hilarious!

[@mathmusicstructure]

In the screening I was in, when Vader said "noooo" everyone laughed. I've never been in another movie where the whole theater hated a movie so unanimously. I mean it was hilarious. What an awful film.

[@Johnny-ux7yi]

Flipped Over Productions awful? NOT. EVEN. CLOSE. Unless you wanna bring up other bad films like X-Men 3, X-Men Origins Wolverine, Hulk (2003) and so on.

[@raam726]

Johnny1248 none of those films you mentioned are bad lol

[@fluorosco]

Better than the phantom menace but so is slamming your hand in the car door !!!🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sunsetsarenice]

Huge SW fan but yep, the prequels were naff. 'We must move quickly.' 'Well, in your own time, George!' Dying.

[@VERMISIMILITUDE]

People put this film on a total pedestal these days, simply because it’s become trendy online to say it’s now somehow one of the best Star Wars movies….. purely subjective of course, as what I’m about to say is simply my own, unimportant, humble opinion…. but Revenge Of The Sith is COMPLETE & UTTER DOGSHITE.💩

[@Peccath]

The best Star Wars film, Empire Strikes Back: directed by Irvin Kershner, screenplay by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan :D Lucas should have sticked to writing the story and being a producer, as it seemed to work the best.

[@histguy101]

Bracket wrote a screenplay based on George's story. After she died, Lucas rewrote the entire screenplay, and then hired Lawrence Kasden to work on finishing it for production.

[@lewiscranston881]

Empire Strikes Back is best

[@borednow5838]

Agreed, but I think the latest is up there too.

[@apcreed]

And Gary Kurtz had a lot of input.

[@Mallen151]

To be fair, I've heard rumors that Lucas sought out other film makers to direct the prequels, but they all said no.

[@Severin69]

"It's over Anakin, I have the higher ground!"

[@lionofjudah6753]

"YOU WERE THE CHOSEN ONE!!!!!"

[@eamon4800]

+Lion of Judah Unlimiteeeeeed....POOOOOOOOOWWWWEEEEEEEER!!!

[@dragonphoreal]

George Lucas also can't just choose 1 coherent tone, he always tries to go for 3 or 4 different tones all at once.

[@octaviancaesarhibernicus4447]

you know what man,the bones of a great story was there,instead of handing over script writing duties and even direction to another generation he hogs everything, I mean he still makes a fortune, he said himself he can't write dialogue.

[@dragonphoreal]

Octavian Caesar Hourigan​ Originally he wanted Spielberg or Robert Zemeckis (Back to the Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Forest Gump) to direct Phantom Menace, but they insisted he do it.... I think George should have tried to be more persuasive. But even then as shown in the production clips used in the Plinkett reviews, George was surrounded by a lot of yes-men, so that didn't help the quality of the movies. What I think George should of done is hire some writers (like tell them "here are the details I want in the story, now make it work"), hire some good directors or even some new talent to direct the films, and then just produce the films.

[@octaviancaesarhibernicus4447]

Brandon Dozier yep,exactly,I made that argument elsewhere, give talented writers the bullet points for your story and another team for the dialogue, at least you have an excellent frame for the direction,but no,he has to do it all and fuck them up. I think they could have jettisoned completely even finding anakin and started with him as a young Jedi,but hey that's me.

[@Onmysheet]

Yes, just produce the films and watch the box office roll in. lol

[@garad123456]

@@dragonphoreal spielberg doing phantom menace, i would have loved to see that

[@weylandyutani6691]

I wish I could just . . wish away the prequels

[@lionofjudah6753]

That took me a sec, nice reference. Also yes I agree. I hope they get rebooted.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@lionofjudah6753 You still believe against Revenge of the Sith? Because I don't. That movie was awesome! It's just that the first 2 were so badly made that it gave off pretty bad vibes for the whole.

[@yashwiniozur8581]

"From my point of view the Jedi are evil." Yeah sure, shakespearean my ass.

[@ethidian3444]

+Death Valley It's the worst line in the prequels, far worse than the rest.

[@lionofjudah6753]

It's pretty bad, but not "far worse" than lines like "I don't like sand, it's rough and coarse and gets everywhere" or "I wish I could just wish away my feelings"

[@ethidian3444]

Lion of Judah The sand one is hilariously awkward but it's just not as terrible. It's semi-understandable and you can think you know maybe he would say that. He's got no flirt game but he's committed. It's awkward and bad. But not entirely out of place and unbelievable. The wish one is terrible, really terrible. I just think it's amazingly fitting, and doesn't make the hilarious garbage any worse than it already is. The "from my point of view-" line makes something almost good actually terrible. It ruins everything. And it is that poorly written, even moreso than entire Attack of the Clones scenes.

[@lionofjudah6753]

Fair enough. I think we can all agree that all the prequels are awful. Hopefully they get fully rebooted someday.

[@1krani]

What's wrong with that line? That line sums up the entirety of how Anakin's beliefs have been twisted, both by Palpatine and the Jedi themselves.

[@Onmysheet]

If only i could hear his review for Attack Of The Clones. If anyone has it, please upload it.

[@Thewarrior26]

+Onmysheet Old comment but I've found that there are almost no Mark Kermode reviews on KZbin for films released before 2005, although Mark did start reviewing films with Simon Mayo in 2001 so it is possible that the audio is out there somewhere.

[@Onmysheet]

MH Spirit I hope someone taped it.

[@verystablegenius9317]

Most succinct review ever "Stoic charisma vacuum becomes vindictive emphysema sufferer"

[@FriendlyPoison666]

I am a Star Wars fan since I was able to watch a tv and sorry to say, but Mark is 100% right here. Phantom Menace - Ungodly in every way (save for Liam Neeson) Attack of the Clones - Again, nonredeemable. Had some great potential though, sadly Revenge of the Sith - Could have been so, SO much more if it hadn't been laden with Lucas's non existent abilities. To this day it still baffles me why in the hell Lucas took the reigns himself. As a consultant and producer he was able to get Empire Strikes Back out there as the icon of Sci Fi cinema by sticking Irvin Kershner in the drivers seat, and a great screenplay from the pens of Brackett and Kasdan. Such a shame, heres hoping that J.J. Abrams doesn't do a lens flare crazy sequel and brings back the magic :-)

[@wilsor90]

Iain MacDiarmind who played the Emperor was good wasn't he?

[@FriendlyPoison666]

Most definitely :-)

[@PauLtus_B]

I still feel like Ewan McGregor was the person who was miraculously able to speak this dialogue in a way that does not sound completely stupid.

[@FriendlyPoison666]

McGregor really did do hid best but the script was like vomiting with a pen :-( Heres hoping for Episode 7 :-D

[@nicholasdickens2801]

I think George Lucas was surrounded by yes men and idiots. The prequels had both great (Liam Neeson, Ewan MaGregor, Sir Christopher Lee, Sam L Jackson) and awful actors (Hayden Christensen - the prime example) working with an insipid infantile film, he's completely in love with computer graphics. He can't direct with any brio or flair. His writing is just abysmal, his direction is perfunctory at best and I'm sad to see what he did to Star Wars. I'd weep if I gave a stuff.

[@terratrema]

I've been so immersed in the awesome Red Letter Media/Mr Plinkett reviews of the prequels for so long, it's kinda weird hearing someone else trash them. Still good fun though. I like Mark Kermode. I can watch/listen to 10 Kermode reviews in a row before I get bored. This is probably number 7 I think. Thank you for reading.

[@benjamingentile1660]

umpty phrumptieth time

[@CrippleCrowx]

Couldn't have put it any better. So much love for this interview

[@TheMutantProductions]

THX 1138 is a brilliantly directed film

[@realmofgaming7124]

Kermode said it was too. He said it in one of his uncuts

[@orkavorn]

I'm glad he rightfully dismisses The Phantom Menace. I'm sick of this, "oh come on, there was a lot of expectation... there was a lot of pressure... it was okay." Bollocks. It stank.

[@EmperorJ123]

There are micro-bits within the movie that are amazing

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this film. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@EmperorJ123]

@@Gadget-Walkmen I believe it suffered from attack of the Clones not being as dark as it could have been, it could have been darker, from the get go

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@EmperorJ123 exactly! The WHOLE TRILOGY should have dark from the get go as soon as episode one started and should have progressfully gotten darker from there on our. It’s Darth Vader’s origin story. You don’t expect a military tyrant warlord’s origins to be very nice at all.

[@EmperorJ123]

@@Gadget-Walkmen well that does give the saga a symmetry and an honesty but I think it's an OK start, just two onto three could have been darker and been more detailed regarding the fall of Skywalker and rise of Vader.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@EmperorJ123 Nah, Phantom Menace is unfortunately IS one of the worst block buster films of all time and one of those reasons is BECAUSE of it's super childish tone. It's FAR from an "ok" start at all. It's an atrocious start to the trilogy as it's considered one of the worst films ever made. Close to nothing of little boy anakin within the movie makes you think he can grow into Vader at all. That could have been better if lucas took the material seriously and stopped saying "star wars is for kids" when it's meant for ALL ages and mainly older audiences and it's only passable for kids to watch themselves. Star Wars is at it's BEST when it takes itself seriously. But phantom menace doesn't do this much with it's tone and especially with it's characters like Jar Jar. It's actually embarassing that lucas in his position with the amount of resources and influences he had in HIS position that the prequel EASILY should have been better than original trilogy but it's overall unfortunately not. I love revenge of the sith but I can't really dismay the people who heavily hate it at all either as some of their reasoning criticism does make sense despite my love for the movie!

[@davidwoods8181]

The original Star Wars had so many production problems and Lucas had to change so much and had so many constrictions that had to be overcome by a whole team that he produced a great movie - the prequels demonstrate what would have happened if the original Star Wars had been done entirely on Lucas's terms.

[@histguy101]

Wasn't Empire Strikes Back and ROTJ made entirely on Lucas' terms?

[@TemptingNoise]

+Christus Regnet nope

[@histguy101]

+GTG I was speaking rhetorically. Lucas had complete creative control over all of the movies. There was some studio interference during the first one, but he still retained control. He wrote them, payed for them, owned them, etc. Lucasfilm was privately owned until 2012. They were, in effect, his independent films.

[@TemptingNoise]

yeah but he wasn't the director and had people that challenged his decisions at times, when he did the prequels noone questioned him and he had no challenge at all. So it goes to show that everyones imput makes a film not the ideas of one dude.

[@histguy101]

+GTG Source? The prequels had a much larger cast and crew. They still had all the same positions as the originals. In ROTS, Spielberg directed some of the fights and George mentions how he has to say "This is how stephen wants it" because of all the grief he gets for some of his ideas from the crew. All movies are a collaboration. The prequels were also.

[@blokey8]

This film really points up how the idea that darker=better is a total fallacy. I'll take the garishness of IV and VI over the protagonist killing children in what's meant to be a space adventure any day.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL What? Just because it's a "space adventure" doesn't mean it can't be super dark and serious and very good in quality. What you're saying isn't true at all. Being darker doesn't mean good but it usually IS when they push the characters to they're limits while exploring complex dark themes. And I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this film. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

And I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this film. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@carlosgmsousa]

I completely understand you. I also like Ep III very much, and comparing it with the two previous films it is clearly a masterpiece in my opinion. But it never gets to the same quality as say Ep IV.

[@skisunshine]

"if you cant do it with plastecine and egg cups, stop doing it" HAHAHAHAHA Spot on Kermode 5:04

[@nifralo2752]

"You like your Yoda's green and the force dark you'll find a lot to like. Otherwise its about as enjoyable as cleaning up the shower after Chewbaca.

[@robertmcelwaine7024]

Couldn't agree more with Kermode. It was the best of a bad trilogy, which wasn't saying much. What gets me is that movies like Batman and Robin for example get universally panned while somehow the prequels have been left relatively unscatched. Yeah, the prequels did have their detractors but when I see scores for each one being 6.5, 6.7 and 7.6, on IMDB, I have to seriously bury my face in my hands and ask myself WHY! WHY, GODDAMMIT!

[@nicholasdickens2801]

I must admit I thought Return of the Jedi was the weakest SW film till 1999. The Star Wars Prequel trilogy - "Be careful what you wish for." I actually thought these films episodes I-3 was just an awful experience. I only thought the lightsaber fight in Episode I was the good thing of that film. Episode II and III were crippled with Hayden Christensen and Natalie Portman's terrible lack of chemistry. The biggest problem is George Lucas cannot write. He cannot direct remotely well. Hopefully the new Disney Star Wars films will be a return to form.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL coming back to this comment right here. People are frustrated with what Disney has done with Star Wars more than anything else. Force Awakens was a great start and an overall GREAT film and Great Star Wars film, as well as Rogue one but the mass negative response to Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker proves otherwise!

[@rayway82]

I'm glad KZbin keeps suggesting this video to me every couple of months. It's Klassik Kermode :-)

[@Superphilipp]

It's unfair to say that George Lucas is just an accountant. He has always been the one with the vision -- the bigger picture and greater story. It is true that he has always needed much help developing that vision, because he's not good at writing a finished script alone. Especially dialogue. When he has taken that help on, his films have turned out great! It's also not fair to simply write him off as a filmmaker. It's true that he doesn't know how to direct actors, but he has always been closely involved in the production design. Many of the big and small decisions, that have made the original trilogy great, have been Lucas's.

[@admiralmelon8239]

Very true. He was the one that came up with the world and characters and some movies turned out better than others

[@blackpeter70]

Good to know there's still at least one film reviewer who doesn't pander to George Lucas, and the illusion that he's a good writer/director.

[@Jayfive276]

I wonder if Mr Kermode has seen the Mr Plinkett reviews...

[@Foebane72]

Plinkett is vastly overrated, and it's just his opinion, and yet people treat him as the Anti-Lucas Messiah.

[@Jayfive276]

So many things wrong in so few words. How quickly people run to 'over-rated' in their fever to be contrary. Try actually watching the reviews. Properly.

[@blokey8]

Jayfive276 Probably not, Mark was never a Star Wars fan so I doubt he'd go out of his way to find things about it.

[@Jayfive276]

ferris wheel Meh, someone might have sent it to him. I've got no real interest in star wars but as a piece of criticism it's amazing. IMO It should be recommended on University courses in Film Studies.

[@blokey8]

It is a surprisingly well-put bunch of arguments, once you get past the serial killer schtick.

[@KGMDMusic]

Kermode hit the nail on the head when he said some Star Wars fans are more in love with the idea of new Star Wars films rather than the films themselves.

[@admiralmelon8239]

Well this didn’t age well

[@KGMDMusic]

@@admiralmelon8239 Lol. I have to agree.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@KGMDMusic LOL Well that's not true at all. People are frustrated with what Disney has done with Star Wars more than anything else. Force Awakens was a great start and an overall GREAT film and Great Star Wars film, as well as Rogue one but the mass negative response to Last Jedi and Rise of Skywalker proves otherwise!

[@badhead]

Just uploaded a bit of it. I only have a couple of minuets of it though.

[@guitarreilly]

this review was majestic

[@ZAMPAROAD]

' there's stuff. the screen is full of stuff and people talk about stuff ' lol. kermode you are the best film critic around. completely spot on again

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Nothing about that statement makes any sense as he's NOT "cOmPlETeLY SPoT oN AgAIn" in the slightest as that statement is so vaguely broad and an over-generalization of events, it could apply to literally ANY movie on screen. And I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this film as he's not making any sense at all. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@MrMctuck]

me and my friend went to see this and when the word "younglings" was mentioned, people in the cinema started to chuckle. but when anakin pulled out his lightsaber at the kid jedi, only me and my mate said YES! it was great

[@paulzenco6182]

Wow, very harsh with George LoL. Very good review

[@D00R]

Look at George Lucas desk during the behind the scenes of the Phantom Menace, the dude pulls ideas from those Yellow Books For Dummies and cliffs notes about history and religion to make his shitquels. People says he’s a good ideas man, he’s takes other peoples ideas enhances them and hoards together info and compiles them into story structure but he sucks without his friends and his ex wife the editors help…

[@JamesCarmichael]

"It's like chewing the edge of a table." Mark Kermode on Revenge of the Shit (Is there a way to have this permanently copied so I can paste it everywhere?)

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL Do you still think the nonsense you're saying right now? Because Revenge of the Sith isn't anywhere near as bad as you're saying to think it's "sH!t" at all because it's REALLY not at all because it's NOT "reVeNgE oF thE sItH" at all in the slightest.

[@JamesCarmichael]

@@Gadget-Walkmen Absolutely. Not as bad as the sequel trilogy I grant, but still pretty bad.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@JamesCarmichaelLOL Not at all. Disagree entirely from being "sTilL prEtTY bAd" at all. Revenge of the Sith needs WAY more appreciation as it's at least TRYING to tell a good story that connects the sage to one another. Revenge of the Sith is still awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made enough that's for MOST people to watch the film!

[@antonio610]

@terratrema He'll probably make Luke say NOOOOOOO when Darth Vader tells him "I am your father".

[@josephiliff2277]

Attack of the clones was NOT better than Episode one!?! :S

[@josephiliff2277]

*****​ I must say I have rewatched since I wrote this and I do agree clones is the better terrible movie

[@larco38]

one of Kermode's best!

[@badhead]

not sure if I have that one. I downloded lods of his reviews. but the download was all messed up. Some work, some dont, some only have half the review, some of them are someone eles doing the review while Marks away. but I'll have a look

[@AlexaExtraordinaire]

I thought Phantom Menace was awful until I saw Clones... then I saw Sith and thought it couldn't get any worse and we got The Force Awakens... Star Wars is an illusion, we want it to be as good as Empire promised, but we will never get there again.

[@Onmysheet]

I really liked Force Awakens, it wasn't a masterpiece but it got things right that the prequels didn't. The Last Jedi, well, that kinda sucked.

[@TimeandMonotony]

I loved The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi.

[@KSRugby]

that wasnt my point, i was talking about the story not being for kids, not the characters. I'll agree with your point about the characters It was like George thought he needed to have kiddy stuff in the prequels to appeal to them buying merchandise, when the original trilogy had a much stronger effect. Kids dont want to be those youngling jedi, they want to play as han solo, luke skywalker, or dress as Darth Vader, or Boba Fett (Original Boba). N yes, i agree with ur point about Jar Jar binks.

[@TOSILENCE77]

I'm a massive Star Wars fan but all three prequels are shit. Bunch of CGI rubbish.

[@lewiscranston881]

Hmm I like them somehow

[@Dogboy73]

Great review of a bloody awful mess of a film in which Lucas destroys that we he created ...... again.

[@MattJames1958]

"Too infantile for anyone over the age of 7"

[@sgwh2002]

“Faster, more intense.”

[@PatTheBatmanFan]

The funniest thing is now “Star Wars” fans are crying for George Lucas to come back. Pathetic.

[@ezrasky3761]

"We must move quickly."

[@kattahj]

I had quite fun during RotS, but this review is delightful anyway.

[@pezzamange]

I wonder, if the new sequels are rather good, and they might be, then will they go back and re-make these prequels and try to make what could be a good back story into one or two good movies.

[@1krani]

pezzamange They're not going to remake the prequels. Lucas told the story he wanted to tell with them, he didn't go back to add things like he did the original films, and I guarantee that Disney has better things to do with its resources than throw money at the complaints of angry fanboys.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

lol this comment didn't age well AT ALL! And I'm COMPLETE against ANY remake against the prequels at all, MAINLY JUST Revenge of the Sith as it's fine as it is. I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this fight. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@blokey8]

@badhead d'you reckon you could get the other prequel rants please?

[@JamesOhGoodie]

@Salmon1BWFC Forget that! How did nobody notice that Anakin and Padme were living together in the same apartment? Do they not have paparazzi in a galaxy far far away? Did Anakin never have Obi Wan over for beers or something? Did no one notice a famous Jedi knight and a famous senator from Naboo spending an awful lot of time together?? GAH!

[@227060]

I don't know what happened on the first Star Wars film to make George direct that well enough to make a success of it. I think the thing with george is. he cannot write he cannot direct. but he is a gifted ideas man.

[@ThisIsWideAngle]

Just thought about Miles Teller as Anakin Skywalker (in a better directed, sense making trilogy). It might have been a strong iconic character. He has the juvenile, edgy energy and first of all: charisma.

[@ThisIsWideAngle]

ThisIsWideAngle And he looks a little bit like the Anakin Skywalker in Return Of The Jedi...

[@blackpeter70]

FloydPink23 I think just Christian Bale, period. But even he's forgotten what his natural accent is.

[@1krani]

ThisIsWideAngle I thought Christensen did okay as Anakin. Sure, he had a lot of weird, cheesy dialog to say, but so did everyone else in the Star Wars movies, prequels or no. And he came off as pretty intimidating and pretty torn when he needed to be.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

@@blackpeter70 lol not at all. Christian Bale is WAY too old to play as Anakin at such a young age at all.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

LOL Not at all Miles Teller CAN'T play as Anakin Skywalker at all, He's a good actor but he doesn't have the intimidating factor and the look and angry vibe that can pull off AS a young dark and angry young man whose grows up to be a military warlord. Hayden Christensen played that off WAY better and DOES overall fit the role despite any bad lines he's given to say.

[@rosserjake]

The good thing about this film was that it was the least boring of the prequels. The writing was still shitty and Anakin's transformation was just unconvincing.

[@pearsemacintyre1728]

'Its like chewing the edge of a table'

[@therock19]

@LivinWorstNightmare He was still executive producer which means he has the final say. Its still is story.

[@guyr3618]

It IS refreshing to look back to older times, when everyone wasn't trying to convince me that this piece of trash is somehow a good movie.

[@plaidchuck]

Exactly. Just because the Disney star wars sucks doesn't make the prequels any better.

[@guyr3618]

I have serious problems with some of the Disney Star Wars movies, but even their worst movies seem like masterpieces compared to the prequels.

[@bilalkhares9337]

@@guyr3618 Revenge of The Sith is actually a brilliant movie, the Sequels were okay but didn't tie together whereas the prequel trilogy ties together really well

[@guyr3618]

@@bilalkhares9337 the prequel series is a mess of contradictions. Padme is the voice of morality, but she marries a child-murderer. And then in the next movie she's shocked when he murders kids AGAIN. Anakin becomes a child's murderer in the 2nd movie, but then the 3rd movie expects you to still like him, and be shocked when he turns evil somehow. Obi-Wan has no character arc. Anakin only turns evil in order to save Padme - but then when Palpatine tells him he doesn't actually know how to save Padme, Anakin is okay with that. The entire tragedy is supposed to be about about destruction of Anakin and Obi-Wan's friendship, but we almost never see them getting along to begin with, so there's nothing to mourn there. The plot makes no sense, the characters make no sense, the drama is built on nothing. I have no idea how anyone can enjoy this.

[@The69ersFC]

because the kids that Star Wars is aimed at don't care about what adults perceive as garbage story and acting. Light sabre fights, laser guns, spaceships, monsters, familarity & simplicity. That's what Star Wars' target audience wants and thats what the films deliver very effectively. How many 8 yr olds do you know that would say "actually, I'll give Star Wars a miss because of the garbage storyline and acting" ?

[@antonio610]

I want to choke George Lucas with my bare hands for adding NOOOOO to Return of the Jedi.

[@TheMrTJWhite]

completely agree with you there.

[@carlosgmsousa]

I clearly understand the reasons why Anakin turns to the dark side, after all that's whats being preached by the Jedi since Ep II (no attachments). But the I think the way it's done is rushed in a sense as we don't get to see the gradual decision of forsaking all to save who he loves. It just seems to me that he has a dream that Padmé will die, talks to Yoda and Palpatine to see what are is choices then baam! he's killing younglings...

[@NiceHeadMr]

I've watched the movie twice, and I still can't recall how it ends.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

than you have a REALLY piss poor memory which is entirely on you here by yourself as the ending makes the most amount of sense on how it all connects entirely!

[@TheConciseStatement]

"George has completely pigged out on CGI." At that point I picture a ten tonne Lucas sitting on a sofa that's been wheeled into his edit suite, chomping away at something disgusting like Ben Stiller in the fat suit at the end of Dodgeball, and slobbering out, "More light thaburth!"

[@RaikenXion]

I admit Lucas messed up with the prequel trilogy because even though he finally got what he always fought for, creative control to make his own movies, his way. The problem with Lucas is he just used too much green-screen and I think that weakened the actor's performances, also yes the script quite drab.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

Gotta disagree that the "script is quite dRaB" AT ALL as the overall plot was pretty compelling and enjoyable as a whole! Despite the dialogue not being the best. I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this fight. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.

[@aaronjones415]

I actually really enjoy Revenge of the sith, it has some great stuff in it. If it weren't for the first two horrible films I think it might've got more respect.

[@admiralmelon8239]

THANKYOU

[@batmanofni]

Star Wars is a kid's film, if you'd see the Prequel trilogy as a Kid (like I did) then you would like them.

[@DarthJedi2005remixes]

Episode III was the better of the prequel films, but then that's like saying that one turd is better than the pile of crap it came from... Episodes IV-VI will ALWAYS be classics.

[@acledfloyd]

Like so many reviewers I like Mark when I agree with him, and think is is over reacting and mean when we disagree. Oh but when watching/listening to this I liked Mark.

[@CheDonJohn]

Episode I should have started with an older Anakin - set the scene, introduce characters, and establish the relationship between AS/OWK. Episode II should have been the dark chapter in which Anakin turns to the dark side (the middle 'dark' chapter, like Empire was in the original trilogy). Episode III should have been about the Jedi purge but ending in OWK overcoming Darth Vader (and also his guilt). Those changes alone would have made a huge difference (no young Jake Lloyd, for starters).

[@thelastjedi3259]

So I imagine this trilogy going like this: Star Wars: Episode I - The Clone Wars Star Wars: Episode II - Revenge of the Sith Star Wars: Episode III - The Tyrannical Empire

[@stenwald]

Ha 'muff it' - not heard that expression since the early '90s.

[@voyeurcoma638]

It wasn't Empire Strikes Back, but it was still better than two films that preceded it.

[@basquat76]

If Yoda is so fucking smart and the leader of the jedis and everything, how come he an't put three words together without messing them up?

[@BenignViewer]

+basquat76 Check your privilege. Don't oppress Yoda's grammar, he's free to do his own thang. ... ;)

[@thewotsit]

What an insult to children to undermine their intelligence by suggesting it is fine to give them poorly made things.

[@squamish4244]

Ian McDiarmid was the best thing about this film.

[@ixat00]

Like "chewing the edge of a table."

[@delgrady10]

Timeless

[@KSRugby]

the only 2 things to me that stand out as really good from revenge of the sith were Palpatine's evilness and the Obi-Won vs Anakin fight (excluding the dialogue) Honestly the film only got interesting after the Jedi massacre. There were far too many scenes of people either sitting n talking or standing n talking with static camera work, an overuse of CGI, n many times what they were saying in those scenes didn't link to the settings that were projected on screen. still the best of the prequels.

[@MrPKenneally]

are they at the pub or something?

[@mrlavabeast]

BANG ON REVIEW.

[@227060]

Oh no of course not. the thing which is sad is that the prequels are mostly flawed in their execution. there are great ideas in them. Personally I found Anakin's reasons for turning to the darkside logical from him point of view. I adore the symmentry Lucas tried to build between the prequels and the original trilogy and the notion that Anakin and Luke go on a similar journey but wind up in different places. but the overuse of CGIand questionable acting compromises it. It could've been great

[@highlandcommando]

the new films were terrible. the fools lapping this crap up are needing a good kicking.

[@Foebane72]

So do you for overrating the OT.

[@highlandcommando]

Foebane72 what?

[@Foebane72]

You need a good kicking for thinking that the Original Trilogy of Star Wars is absolutely flawless and impeccable. It's not.

[@highlandcommando]

Foebane72 nothing is flawless, but the 3 new films were utter shyte. if you enjoyed them, then well done, your keeping all the hacks in hollywood rich.

[@Foebane72]

highlandcommando Have you ever thought that the change in feel and tone of the Prequels was deliberate? For a newer generation? I was born in 1972 and love the OT more, but I have a friend who was born in 1990 who prefers the PT more.

[@LUNATIC75]

Kermode nails it perfectly. Right down to the declaration that Phantom Menace was one of the worst films ever made. I've always said that too.

[@weelittledragon]

To be fair, the dogfights were okay I thought. I agree with everything else Kermode says here.

[@Gadget-Walkmen]

The dogfights were INCREDIBLE and absolutely fantastic throughout! WAY more than "okaY" AT ALL as the Space Battles in this movie were the BEST that Star Wars has ever been. I love Kermode but I have to disagree with everything that which he's saying here about this fight. Revenge of the Sith is still amazing and awesome to this day even with the scattered flaws in the movie like romance and dialogue. The film is outstanding from creating art direction, character/costume design, atmosphere/tone, fight scenes, music that fits the scenes, outstanding visual shots, and even plotting even with scattered flaws like dialogue and romance still unfortunately sucks. It’s an amazing dark tragedy of a film that’s well-made.