Real fans want ‘Revenge’ served right

It's fair to say that “Star Wars III: The Revenge of the Sith” is the most anticipated film of the summer. For costumed superfans, who are already lining up in front of local theaters hoping to be first in line to see the conclusion to the saga, this is an event. For those of us who don't want to be fodder for Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, it is also a must-see film, after the initial rush has passed.

I really, really want to like this movie. The fact that it promises to be dark with no happy ending, much like “The Empire Strikes Back,” makes it more appealing. But after seeing “The Phantom Menace” and “Attack of the Clones,” I wonder if George Lucas can bring the emotional intensity needed to make this movie a fitting conclusion.

In the last two movies, Lucas put too much focus on delivering the big Industrial Light and Magic action scenes to the attention-deficit kiddies instead of a well-crafted story for those of us who are his real target audience, the children of the original “Star Wars” generation. Action scenes are a huge part of the success of the original “Star Wars” films, but it was the story that kept bringing the fans back to the theater.

In “Phantom Menace” and “Clones,” Lucas the director appears to only have commissioned Lucas the screenwriter to put some words together to link one action sequence with the next. Stilted dialogue such as “I feel something terrible has happened” and “the power of the Dark Side is strong” repeated over and over does not make for an engaging story.

I didn't hate “Menace” and “Clones,” but I was disappointed. I was hoping for the same thrill that I got from the original films. Maybe, thanks to the cynicism of age, it isn't possible for me to have the same emotional connection to these movies anymore. And unfortunately, Lucas did not hire a better screenwriter and director for “Sith” (both positions are still filled by him). He did, however, recruit Steven Spielberg to help him with certain sequences, which is encouraging.

In order to complete the story and give it the fitting conclusion it deserves, there are a few points that have to be addressed. These are essential to me and some like-minded “Star Wars” fan friends. Here's hoping that Lucas remembered us, and the original story, when he wrapped up “Sith.” We'll be watching.

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