Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith

Review by Thomas Glorieux:

The Star Wars saga and world has ended, with the darkest of them all movies. Even The Empire Strikes Back isn't this dark nor emotionally grieving, since all comes together in a 2 hour transition from good to evil. George Lucas worked long enough on all movies to know which will remain classics, and which will remain good. And its nice to see Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith is by far the best of the 3. And for the time being, most people agree with me with this fact, simply because it lays the line between everything we know and how its known to be, the birth of the twins Luke & Leia, the transformation from Anakin to Darth Vader, and how all jedi's meet their destiny. Even nice to know is that C-3PO and R2-D2 and Chewbacca aren't forgotten in the end. But we have come a long way from the first 3 movies making history and now, and the same can be said about the scores of John Williams who finished all six movies along with director George Lucas together. The first 3 scores aren't a match, almost not for every score today and only one saga came close in matching it, Lord of the Rings, both in movie as score. Today, the newest Star Wars scores need to be approached differently. And rightfully so, since its not the same Star Wars universe anymore, and not the same Williams at the helm as well. In The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones the difference was already so obvious, it was surprising to see many people still graded it alongside the classic Star Wars scores. For many this didn't happen with Revenge of the Sith, and as well this is a surprise. Not that they are wrong, but that it took them to the third to realize its a different ballgame. The last 3 scores for the Star Wars continuum are all good and great scores, but they lack that special quality that will make them as the first 3 classic, namely simply the feel.

The score of Revenge of the Sith is still a great score, and that is noticeable after hearing this soundtrack presenting the tracks that made most effect in the film. Inevitably it opens with 'Star Wars / The Revenge of the Sith' and naturally with the famous central theme, this however leads into drums and an action version of the force theme, immediately in the film you are noticing that Williams will throw every theme he composed for the genre at you. The action music that follows with it is more the rhythmic and abrasive action music that spiced Last Crusade, Temple of Doom and Jurassic Park those years. The love theme from the second movie is then stated by cello in 'Anakin's Dream', but never swells like in Attack of the Clones, for many a disappointment for sure. The dramatic strings that follow carry the sent of Angela's Ashes. And then the new theme is heard, after Duel of the Fates and Across the Stars, 'Battle of the Heroes' is perhaps the weakest of the 3 themes, but still remains a good theme, not a great theme. What I liked however in the film was that it stayed so long away, until the final battle, and hearing it first orchestrally in 'Anakin vs. Obi-Wan' and in the movie was great, in the latter track the theme is orchestrally battling with the Duel of the Fates theme, but only in the movie since the Phantom Menace theme never shows up here. However as said again in the latter, its battling at least on disc between Darth Vader's theme, and a choral version of the force theme. Altogether, that's nice and in 'Battle of the Heroes' it receives the choral version that sounded so good in the film. Another moment I liked visually and musically was 'Annakin's Betrayal', and because it tries to achieve an Empire of the Sun like choral grieving sound, and while never reaching those heights, it still sounds pretty impressive in the film and on disc.

Of course, the action music surely developed into rhythm and brass in the last 3 Wars scores, and 'General Grievous' can testify for that, with Jurassic Park like whirling flutes and attacking brass. And 'Grievous and the Droids' is the same, yet here capturing a sharp little sub theme for Grievous, and works as an incredible fast tune. The dark moody and mysterious 'Palpatine's Teachings' shows a very hidden version of The Emperor's theme and a brooding Darth Vader's performance, but the force theme and a heroic finale show things differently. In the film all these statements of themes may sound good and fitting, on disc I feel sometimes these statements are out of place, but more simply needed by people to show its a transition from one saga to another. Its like they should be there, and the mix is in the end not working for it. A solo vocal (reminding me of a Zimmer goes ethnic attempt) in 'Padme's Ruminations' is not that interesting, and again for fans the love theme never explodes. 'Anakin's Dark Deeds' is covering again the more choral music of Williams, first showing Latin choir, dark growing suspension music, then the drama tones and moments return to grow to a laden finale in the end. Its all good and especially a highlight but still not reaching the moments of the classic 3. I believe one of the tracks that will utterly disappoint listeners will be 'Enter Lord Vader' since it covers a very poor performance of the Darth Vader theme, because it never receives the threatening grand sound it stands for still, and covered in brassy action music it doesn't work at all. This was the moment for the fans to return to Darth Vader in person, and Williams ignored the chance to let the Vader theme make its threatening comeback for sure.

Further we have another Angela's Ashes dramatic string moment in 'The Immolation Scene', 'Grievous Speaks to Lord Sidious' having the sub theme of track 7 and a very fast love theme and 'The Birth of the Twins / Padme's Destiny' even some Outcast choir (of course referring to Qui Gon's funeral music of the first) but they don't have the appeal of the last track, at least by name. Sadly how good this track sounds in the end, it has other problems. 'A New Hope / End Credits' will have appealed to all fans in the film, since it stated Leia and Luke's theme, but the Luke theme (and the scene with the 2 suns) never reaches the classic moment in the original (not even close) and why Han Solo and Leia's love theme and the Throne Room music is included in the end credits, having no part whatsoever to do with the final film or transition shows again how Lucas wanted the themes to return. This shows me again that putting these themes together in the movie is a forced attempt to simply capture the audience of the first 3 again with a musical promising but flawed attempt. Sad is also that the Star Wars theme is slower, and that the Throne Room lacks the power of the original, and the force theme is slower as well. More this feels like it wasn't performed by the excellent London Symphony orchestra but by a different adequate orchestra this time, and ultimately it sounds good but it should have been superb, and a worthy finisher for the end of a classic saga in space. Of course what we are grading by is comparing classic with great and then no score comes even close to the first 3 Star Wars scores. The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, they all have their moments and excellent cues, but they lack the ultimate class of the first 3, and the 3rd above all fails to simply deliver those classic themes with the worthiness they reserve. Altogether, Revenge of the Sith is a good listen, but lacks the ultimate Star Wars feel. In the film I immensely enjoyed each second and indeed you hear each theme interact the way you wanted it. On disc the mix job is a flawed attempt because it doesn't sound natural anymore, especially the way Leia's theme is simply stated for seconds and tossed in the general score again is a sad moment. Still, Revenge of the Sith will again deliver Star Wars momentum and fans will love it, but you must be true to your Jedi hart, they aren't the classic 3, they belong a step down the ranking, how good they all sound in the end.

The Soundtrack release of Revenge of the Sith comes with a satisfying DVD release, containing 16 musical selections, from all films and supports them through carefully selected scenes and each having a brief narration by Ian McDiarmid. Its a labor of love these pieces and at times the stunning musical feel supports the scene flawlessly. No better the example then Princess Leia's selection, this is the best and most perfect piece of them all, covering the scenes made for the music, and the thought behind it should not be ignored. All selections have occasionally brief dialogue but none interrupt the flow of John Williams work. Sadly, no interview with the composer himself is included (which would have given even more insight to his ideas and reservations about the films and score), but the free bonus DVD is nonetheless a wonderful present that comes at no extra charge with an already high selling market CD. Its a perfect gift for the Star Wars fans and comes highly recommended.

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Tracks

Single Disc

1. Star Wars / The Revenge Of The Sith (7.31)

2. Anakin's Dream (4.46)

3. Battle Of The Heroes (3.42) Excellent Track

4. Annakin's Betrayal (4.03) Excellent Track

5. General Grievous (4.06)

6. Palpatine's Teachings (5.24)

7. Grievous And The Droids (3.27)

8. Padme's Ruminations (3.16)

9. Anakin Vs. Obi-Wan (3.57) Excellent Track

10. Anakin's Dark Deeds (4.05) Excellent Track

11. Enter Lord Vader (4.14)

12. The Immolation Scene (2.41)

13. Grievous Speaks To Lord Sidious (2.49)

14. The Birth Of The Twins / Padme's Destiny (3.37)

15. A New Hope / End Credits (13.05) Excellent Track

Total Length: 70.50

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=== Link to Composer Site: John Williams ===