[pending revision] | [accepted revision] |
→Plot: Further modification to my previous edit.
|
Reverted 1 pending edit by 2601:19E:4283:B0B0:C1F0:5CBE:1B03:BC80 to revision 1235199168 by Sjones23: unexplained change
|
||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Short description|2005 film by George Lucas}} |
|||
{{Redirect|Star Wars III|the third film released|Return of the Jedi}} |
|||
{{about|the film|other uses|Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (disambiguation)}} |
|||
{{short description|2005 American epic space-opera film directed by George Lucas}} |
|||
{{Redirect|Star Wars III|the third film released|Return of the Jedi{{!}}''Return of the Jedi''}} |
|||
{{Use American English|date=September 2019}} |
|||
{{pp-pc}} |
|||
{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2019}} |
|||
{{Use American English|date=May 2024}} |
|||
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}} |
|||
{{Infobox film |
{{Infobox film |
||
| name = Star Wars: Episode III –<br />Revenge of the Sith |
| name = Star Wars: Episode III –<br />Revenge of the Sith |
||
Line 35: | Line 37: | ||
| country = United States |
| country = United States |
||
| language = English |
| language = English |
||
| budget = $113 million<ref name="Mojo">{{cite |
| budget = $113 million<ref name="Mojo">{{cite Box Office Mojo |title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |id=0121766 |access-date=March 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304065118/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/title/tt0121766/ |archive-date=March 4, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
| gross = $868.4 million<ref name="Mojo" /> |
| gross = $868.4 million<ref name="Mojo" /> |
||
}} |
}} |
||
'''''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith''''' is a 2005 American [[Epic film|epic]] [[space |
'''''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith''''' is a 2005 American [[Epic film|epic]] [[space opera]] film that is the sequel to ''[[Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace|The Phantom Menace]]'' (1999) and ''[[Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones|Attack of the Clones]]'' (2002). It is the sixth film in the ''[[Star Wars]]'' film series, the third<!-- Do NOT add "and final", that should be obvious for the third installment of a trilogy--> installment in the [[Star Wars prequel trilogy|''Star Wars'' prequel trilogy]], and third chronological chapter of the "[[Skywalker Saga]]". It is written and directed by [[George Lucas]], who also served as executive producer. The film stars [[Ewan McGregor]], [[Natalie Portman]], [[Hayden Christensen]], [[Ian McDiarmid]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], [[Christopher Lee]], [[Anthony Daniels]], [[Kenny Baker (English actor)|Kenny Baker]], and [[Frank Oz]]. |
||
''Revenge of the Sith'' is set three years after the onset of the [[Clone Wars (Star Wars)|Clone Wars]] |
''Revenge of the Sith'' is set three years after the onset of the [[Clone Wars (Star Wars)|Clone Wars]]as established in ''Attack of the Clones''. The [[Jedi]] are spread across the [[Star Wars galaxy|galaxy]] inafull-scale war against the Separatists. The Jedi Council dispatches Jedi Master [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] on a missiontodefeat [[General Grievous]], the head of the Separatist army and [[Count Dooku]]'s former apprentice, to put an end to the war. Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife [[Padmé Amidala]] dying in childbirth, Jedi Knight [[Darth Vader|Anakin Skywalker]] is tasked by the Council to spy on [[Palpatine]], the Supreme Chancellor of the [[Galactic Republic]] and, secretly, the Dark Lord of the [[Sith]] Darth Sidious. Sidious manipulates Anakin into turning to the dark side of [[the Force]] and becoming his apprentice, Darth Vader, with wide-ranging consequences for the galaxy. |
||
Lucas began writing the script before production of ''Attack of the Clones'' ended, citing that he wanted the end of the trilogy to have similar aspects to a romantic tragedy, thus building into Darth Vader's state at the beginning of the next film. Production of ''Revenge of the Sith'' started in June 2003, and filming took place in Australia with additional locations in Thailand, Switzerland, China, Italy, and the United Kingdom. |
|||
''Revenge of the Sith'' premiered on May 15, 2005, at the [[Cannes Film Festival]], then released worldwide on May 19, 2005. The film received positive reviews from critics; praise was directed towards its action sequences, mature themes, score, visual effects, and the performances of McGregor, McDiarmid, Oz, and [[Jimmy Smits]]; criticism largely focused on its dialogue and Christensen's performance. The film is generally considered to be the best of the ''Star Wars'' prequels. It broke several box office records during its opening week and went on to earn over $868 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film in the ''Star Wars'' franchise at the time. It was the highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the [[2005 in film#Highest-grossing films|second-highest-grossing film worldwide]] in 2005. The film also holds the record for the highest opening day gross on a Thursday, making $50 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |title=Opening Thursday Records at the Box Office |website=www.boxofficemojo.com |access-date=July 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170711090954/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/days/?page=thu&p=.htm |archive-date=July 11, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
''Revenge of the Sith'' premiered on May 15, 2005, at the [[Cannes Film Festival]], then released worldwide on May 19, 2005. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with most regarding it as the best film of the trilogy, although some criticism was reserved for Lucas's screenplay and Christensen's performance. It broke several box office records during its opening week and went on to earn $868.4 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film in the ''Star Wars'' franchise at the time. It was the highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the [[2005 in film#Highest-grossing films|second-highest-grossing film worldwide]] in 2005. It also holds the record for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday, making $50 million. It is also the final ''Star Wars'' film to be distributed by Fox, although it would be also [[Acquisition of 21st Century Fox by Disney|acquired by Disney]] five years after it acquired Lucasfilm. |
|||
== Plot == |
== Plot == |
||
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 and 700 words. --> |
<!-- Per WP:FILMPLOT, plot summaries for feature films should be between 400 and 700 words. --> |
||
|
Orbiting above [[Coruscant]], [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]] and [[Darth Vader|Anakin Skywalker]] lead a mission to rescue Supreme Chancellor [[Palpatine]] from the cyborg Separatist commander [[General Grievous]]. After infiltrating Grievous' flagship, Obi-Wan and Anakin battle the [[Sith]] Lord [[Count Dooku]], whom Anakin decapitates at Palpatine's insistence. Grievous escapes the damaged ship before Obi-Wan and Anakin crash-landit on Coruscant. There, Anakin reunites with his wife [[Padmé Amidala]], who tells him that she is pregnant. Soon after, Anakin has visions of Padmé dying in childbirth. |
||
Palpatine appoints Anakin to the Jedi Council as his personal representative. |
Palpatine appoints Anakin to the Jedi Council as his own personal representative. Distrusting Palpatine, the Council agrees but refusestomake Anakin a Jedi Master. They instead instruct him to spy on Palpatine, diminishing Anakin's faith in the Jedi. Meanwhile, on [[Utapau]], Grievous relocates the Separatist leaderstothe volcanic planet [[Mustafar]]. Obi-Wan travels to Utapau where he confronts and kills Grievous, while [[Yoda]] travels to the [[Wookiee]] planetof[[Kashyyyk]] to defend it from the Separatist droid attack on the Wookiees. |
||
Palpatine then issues Order 66, which commands the [[clone trooper]]s to kill their commanding Jedi |
Palpatine tempts Anakin with the dark side of [[the Force]], promising it can save Padmé. Anakin deduces that Palpatine is the Sith Lord behind [[Clone Wars (Star Wars)|the Clone Wars]]{{efn|As depicted in the 2008 television series ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]''}} and reports his treachery to [[Mace Windu]], who confronts and subdues Palpatine, leaving the latter disfigured. Desperate to save Padmé, Anakin prevents Windu from killing Palpatine by slicing his right hand off. Palpatine then sends Windu falling to his death. Anakin pledges himself to the Sith, and Palpatine knights him as Darth Vader. Palpatine issues [[Order 66 (Star Wars)|Order 66]], which commands the [[clone trooper]]s to kill their commanding Jedi generals across the galaxy, while Vader and a battalion of clone troopers kill the remaining Jedi in the Jedi Temple. Vader then travels to Mustafar to assassinate the Separatist leaders, while Palpatine declares himself Emperor before the [[Galactic Senate]], transforming the [[Galactic Republic|Republic]] into the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]]. He denounces the Jedi as traitors. |
||
|
Obi-Wan and Yoda return to Coruscant and learn that Anakin has turnedtothe dark side. Yoda instructs Obi-Wan to confront Vader while he faces Palpatine. Obi-Wan seeks out Padmétodiscover Vader's whereabouts and reveals his treachery. Padmé travels to Mustafar{{emdash}}unaware Obi-Wan has stowed aboard her ship{{emdash}}and pleads with Vadertoabandon the dark side. When Obi-Wan emerges, an enraged Vader believes Padmé has betrayed him and strangles her. Obi-Wan and Vader engage in a [[lightsaber]] duel, which ends with Obi-Wan severing Vader's left arm and both legs. Vader is then burned alive bya nearby lava flowas Obi-Wan retrieves Vader's lightsaber before leaving him for dead. |
||
|
Meanwhile, Yoda battles Palpatine on Coruscant, culminating in a stalemate. Yoda flees with Senator [[Bail Organa]] and regroups with Obi-Wan and Padmé on the [[Minor planet|planetoid]] [[Polis Massa]]. Padmé gives birth to twins, whom she names [[Luke Skywalker|Luke]] and [[Princess Leia|Leia]]. She dies soon after, still believing there is good in Anakin. Palpatine recovers a barely alive Vader. On Coruscant, Vader's mutilated body is treated and encased in a black, armored life-support suit. When he asks about Padmé, Palpatine says Vader killed her out of rage, leaving Vader devastated. |
||
Obi-Wan and Yoda |
Obi-Wan and Yoda conceal the twins' birth from the Sith and retreat into exile until the Empire can be challenged. As Padmé's funeral is underway on [[Naboo]], Palpatine and Vader supervise the construction of the [[Death Star]].{{efn|As depicted in ''[[Star Wars (film)|Star Wars]]'' (1977)}} Bail takes Leia to [[Alderaan]] to raise her as his daughter. Obi-Wan delivers Luke to his step-uncle and step-aunt, Owen and Beru Lars, on [[Tatooine]]. Obi-Wan settles nearby as a recluse while watching over young Luke. |
||
== Cast == |
== Cast == |
||
[[File:Anakin-Jedi.jpg|thumb|Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker in ''Revenge of the Sith'']] |
|||
{{See also|List of Star Wars characters|List of Star Wars cast members}} |
{{See also|List of Star Wars characters|List of Star Wars cast members}} |
||
{{multiple image |
|||
| total_width = 400 |
|||
| direction = horizontal |
|||
| align = right |
|||
| perrow = 3 |
|||
| image1 = Ewan McGregor Premiere Down to love in Sydney 2003 (cropped).JPG |
|||
| alt1 = A photograph of Ewan McGregor |
|||
| image2 = Natalie Portman Thor 2 cropped.png |
|||
| alt2 = A photograph of Natalie Portman |
|||
| image3 = Hayden-cfda2010-0004 (1) (cropped).jpg |
|||
| alt3 = A photograph of Hayden Christensen |
|||
| image4 = The Emperor Has No Robes (cropped).jpg |
|||
| alt4 = A photograph of Ian McDiarmid |
|||
| image5 = Samuel L. Jackson 2019 by Glenn Francis.jpg |
|||
| alt5 = A photograph of Samuel L. Jackson |
|||
| image6 = Jimmy Smits by Gage Skidmore (cropped).jpg |
|||
| alt6 = A photograph of Jimmy Smits |
|||
| footer = Left to right, top to bottom: [[Ewan McGregor]], [[Natalie Portman]], [[Hayden Christensen]], [[Ian McDiarmid]], [[Samuel L. Jackson]], and [[Jimmy Smits]] |
|||
}} |
|||
<!-- Actors are listed in the order they are listed on the film's poster. Please do not reorder them. --> |
<!-- Actors are listed in the order they are listed on the film's poster. Please do not reorder them. --> |
||
* [[Ewan McGregor]] as [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]], a [[Jedi]] Master, general of the [[Galactic Republic (Star Wars)|Galactic Republic]] and Anakin's mentor. |
* [[Ewan McGregor]] as [[Obi-Wan Kenobi]], a [[Jedi]] Master, general of the [[Galactic Republic (Star Wars)|Galactic Republic]] and Anakin Skywalker's best friend and mentor. |
||
* [[Natalie Portman]] as [[Padmé Amidala]], a senator of [[Naboo]] who is secretly Anakin's wife and pregnant with their children. |
* [[Natalie Portman]] as [[Padmé Amidala]], a senator of [[Naboo]] who is secretly Anakin's wife and pregnant with their children. |
||
* [[Hayden Christensen]] as [[Darth Vader|Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader]], a Jedi Knight, hero of the Clone Wars and former Padawan of Obi-Wan and Padmé's secret husband who turns to the dark side of [[the Force]] and becomes a [[Sith]] Lord. Christensen also plays Vader in his suit. [[James Earl Jones]] reprises his role as the voice of Vader from previous ''[[Star Wars]]'' media in an uncredited cameo.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Guerrasio |first=Jason |date=August 7, 2015 |title=1,000 studio workers behind 'Revenge of the Sith' gathered to watch this epic Darth Vader scene get shot |url=https://www.businessinsider.in/1000-studio-workers-behind-revenge-of-the-sith-gathered-to-watch-this-epic-darth-vader-scene-get-shot/articleshow/48395413.cms |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220814002319/https://www.businessinsider.in/1000-studio-workers-behind-revenge-of-the-sith-gathered-to-watch-this-epic-darth-vader-scene-get-shot/articleshow/48395413.cms |archive-date=August 14, 2022 |access-date=June 8, 2022 |website=[[Business Insider]]}}</ref>{{efn|Jones himself has never confirmed his participation. When specifically asked whether he had supplied the voice, possibly from a previous recording, Jones told ''[[Newsday]]'': "You'd have to ask [[George Lucas|Lucas]] about that. I don't know."<ref>{{cite news |last=Lovece |first=Frank |author-link=Frank Lovece |title=Fast Chat: James Earl Jones |date=March 12, 2008 |newspaper=[[Newsday]] |publisher=Newsday Media |location=Melville, New York |access-date=March 1, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204034334/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/fanfare/fast-chat-james-earl-jones-1.883740 |url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/fanfare/fast-chat-james-earl-jones-1.883740 |archive-date=December 4, 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>}} |
|||
* [[Hayden Christensen]] as [[Darth Vader|Anakin Skywalker]], a Jedi Knight, hero of the Clone Wars and former Padawan of Obi-Wan, who turns to the dark side of [[the Force]] and becomes the [[Sith]] lord Darth Vader. |
|||
* [[Ian McDiarmid]] as [[Palpatine|Palpatine / Darth Sidious]], the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic who is secretly a Sith Lord, and later the |
* [[Ian McDiarmid]] as [[Palpatine|Palpatine / Darth Sidious]], the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic who is secretly a Sith Lord, and later the Emperor of the [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]]. He takes advantage of Anakin's distrust of the Jedi and fear of Padmé dying to turn him towards the dark side, becoming Vader's master. |
||
* [[Samuel L. Jackson]] as [[Mace Windu]], a Jedi Master and senior member of the Jedi Council. |
* [[Samuel L. Jackson]] as [[Mace Windu]], a Jedi Master and senior member of the Jedi Council. |
||
* [[Jimmy Smits]] as [[Bail Organa]], a senator |
* [[Jimmy Smits]] as [[Bail Organa]], a senator from [[Alderaan]]. |
||
* [[Christopher Lee]] as [[Count Dooku|Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus]], |
* [[Christopher Lee]] as [[Count Dooku|Count Dooku / Darth Tyranus]], Sidious' Sith apprentice and the leader of the Separatists. He is decapitated by Anakin on the orders of his master. |
||
* [[Anthony Daniels]] as [[C-3PO]], Anakin and Padmé's personal protocol droid that Anakin created as a child. |
* [[Anthony Daniels]] as [[C-3PO]], Anakin and Padmé's personal protocol droid that Anakin created as a child.{{efn|As depicted in ''The Phantom Menace''.}} |
||
* [[Kenny Baker (English actor)|Kenny Baker]] as [[R2-D2]], Anakin's astromech droid. |
* [[Kenny Baker (English actor)|Kenny Baker]] as [[R2-D2]], Anakin's astromech droid. |
||
* [[Frank Oz]] as |
* [[Frank Oz]] as [[Yoda]], a Jedi Grandmaster and the leader of the Jedi Council. |
||
[[Peter Mayhew]], [[Oliver Ford Davies]], [[Ahmed Best]], and [[Silas Carson]] reprise their roles as [[Chewbacca]], Sio Bibble, [[Jar Jar Binks]], and Nute Gunray and Ki-Adi-Mundi respectively from the previous films. [[Joel Edgerton]] and [[Bonnie Piesse]] also make cameo appearances, reprising their roles as Owen and Beru Lars respectively from ''Attack of the Clones''. Sound engineer [[Matthew Wood (sound editor)|Matthew Wood]] provides the voice of [[General Grievous]], the fearsome [[cyborg]] commander of the Separatists' [[Droid (Star Wars)|droid]] army; [[Temuera Morrison]] portrays Commander Cody and the rest of the [[clone trooper]]s |
[[Peter Mayhew]], [[Oliver Ford Davies]], [[Ahmed Best]], and [[Silas Carson]] reprise their roles as [[Chewbacca]], Sio Bibble, [[Jar Jar Binks]], and [[Nute Gunray]] and [[Ki-Adi-Mundi]], respectively, from the previous films. [[Joel Edgerton]] and [[Bonnie Piesse]] also make cameo appearances, reprising their roles as [[Owen Lars|Owen]] and [[Beru Lars]] respectively from ''Attack of the Clones''. Sound engineer [[Matthew Wood (sound editor)|Matthew Wood]] provides the voice of [[General Grievous]], the fearsome [[cyborg]] commander of the Separatists' [[Droid (Star Wars)|droid]] army, who had been trained in wielding a lightsaber by Count Dooku. Wood took over the role, after [[Gary Oldman]] was originally cast in the role, but had to drop out of the production due to scheduling conflicts; Oldman had completed some [[Voice acting|voice-over]] work.<ref name="Oldman_TP">{{cite web|url=https://theplaylist.net/gary-oldman-star-wars-role-general-grievous-20220611/|work=The Playlist|title=Gary Oldman Says He Was Originally Cast As General Grievous' Voice In The 'Star Wars' Prequels|first=Marc|last=Christopher|date=June 11, 2022|accessdate=June 12, 2022|archive-date=June 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220611164535/https://theplaylist.net/gary-oldman-star-wars-role-general-grievous-20220611/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Oldman_SR">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-general-grievous-gary-oldman-role-response/|work=[[Screen Rant]]|title=Gary Oldman On Almost Playing General Grievous In Star Wars Prequels|first=Richard|last=Fink|date=June 13, 2022|accessdate=June 13, 2022|archive-date=June 14, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614042730/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-general-grievous-gary-oldman-role-response/|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Temuera Morrison]] portrays [[Commander Cody (Star Wars)|Commander Cody]] and the rest of the [[clone trooper]]s. [[Bruce Spence]] portrays Tion Medon, local administrator of Utapau. [[Jeremy Bulloch]] (who played [[Boba Fett]] in ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'') appears as Captain Colton, the pilot of the CR70 corvette ''Tantive III''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/05/05/DI2005050500653.html |title=Star Wars: Boba Fett |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |date=May 17, 2005 |first=Jeremy |last=Bulloch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604114439/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/05/05/DI2005050500653.html |archive-date=June 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Genevieve O'Reilly]] portrays senator [[Mon Mothma]], though her speaking scene was ultimately cut.<ref name="Smits">{{cite magazine |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/08/05/rogue-one-star-wars-jimmy-smits |title=Rogue One: A Star Wars Story: Jimmy Smits confirms he has a cameo |date=August 5, 2016 |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |last=Robinson |first=Will |access-date=August 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161213163419/http://www.ew.com/article/2016/08/05/rogue-one-star-wars-jimmy-smits |archive-date=December 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="O'Reilly">{{cite web |last=Crookes |first=Del |date=April 7, 2016 |title=<nowiki>Rogue One: A Star Wars Story - the new trailer dissected and storylines revealed</nowiki> |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35990282/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story---the-new-trailer-dissected-and-storylines-revealed |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180526214323/http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/35990282/rogue-one-a-star-wars-story---the-new-trailer-dissected-and-storylines-revealed |archive-date=May 26, 2018 |access-date=April 7, 2016 |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref><ref name="Cameos">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbr.com/every-rogue-one-cameo-you-wont-want-to-miss/ |title=Every Rogue One Cameo You Won't Want To Miss |last=White |first=Brett |work=[[Comic Book Resources]] |date=December 16, 2016 |access-date=December 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161218024358/http://www.cbr.com/every-rogue-one-cameo-you-wont-want-to-miss/ |archive-date=December 18, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{efn|Her speaking scene (''A Stirring in the Senate'') was featured in the bonus features of the DVD release.}} [[Rohan Nichol]] portrays Captain [[Raymus Antilles]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Swain |first=Sarah |title=He was in Star Wars and now actor Rohan Nichol has moved to Summer Bay for Home and Away |url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/he-was-in-star-wars-and-now-actor-rohan-nichol-has-moved-to-summer-bay-for-home-and-away/news-story/69954669799423a0c11e07508aeedd51 |date=July 12, 2017 |access-date=May 30, 2018 |newspaper=[[Daily Telegraph (Australia)|Daily Telegraph]] |publisher=[[News Limited]] |location=Sydney, Australia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170713192403/http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/manly-daily/he-was-in-star-wars-and-now-actor-rohan-nichol-has-moved-to-summer-bay-for-home-and-away/news-story/69954669799423a0c11e07508aeedd51 |archive-date=July 13, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
[[Wayne Pygram]] appears as a young [[Grand Moff Tarkin|Wilhuff Tarkin]], and stunt coordinator [[Nick Gillard]] appears as a Jedi named Cin Drallig (his name spelled backward, without the 'k').<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507061114/http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp27.html |url= |
[[Wayne Pygram]] appears as a young [[Grand Moff Tarkin|Wilhuff Tarkin]], and stunt coordinator [[Nick Gillard]] appears as a Jedi named Cin Drallig (his name spelled backward, without the 'k').<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050507061114/http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp27.html |url=https://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp27.html |title=Master Behind the Action: Nick Gillard |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-date=May 7, 2005}}</ref> Editor [[Roger Barton (film editor)|Roger Barton]]'s son Aidan Barton portrays [[Luke Skywalker]] and [[Princess Leia|Leia Organa]] as infants. |
||
Director and ''Star Wars'' creator [[George Lucas]] has a cameo as Baron Papanoida, a blue-faced alien in attendance at the Coruscant opera house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-cameos-even-devoted-fans-forgot-about-tom-hardy/|title= |
Director and ''Star Wars'' creator [[George Lucas]] has a cameo as Baron Papanoida, a blue-faced alien in attendance at the Coruscant opera house.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-cameos-even-devoted-fans-forgot-about-tom-hardy/|title=10 Star Wars Cameos Even Devoted Fans Forgot About|last=McGinley|first=Rhys|website=[[Screen Rant]]|date=January 4, 2020|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204092734/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-cameos-even-devoted-fans-forgot-about-tom-hardy/|url-status=live}}</ref> Lucas' son Jett portrays Zett Jukassa, a young Jedi-in-training. One of Lucas' daughters, [[Amanda Lucas (fighter)|Amanda]], appears as Terr Taneel, seen in a security hologram, while his other daughter [[Katie Lucas|Katie]] plays a blue-skinned Pantoran named Chi Eekway, visible when Palpatine arrives at the Senate after being saved by the Jedi and talking to Baron Papanoida at the opera house.<ref>{{Cite book|title=George Lucas: A Life|last=Jones|first=Brian Jay|pages=427|date=December 6, 2016|publisher=[[Little, Brown and Company]]|location=New York City|isbn=978-0-316-25745-9 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-a-family-affair |title=Star Wars, A Family Affair |date=December 16, 2014 |website=StarWars.com |access-date=January 5, 2020 |archive-date=September 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190909195344/https://www.starwars.com/news/star-wars-a-family-affair |url-status=live }}</ref> Christian Simpson appeared as a [[stunt double]] for Hayden Christensen.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simpson |first=Christian |date=June 4, 2014 |title=From Fandom to ''Phantom'': When ''Star Wars'' Dreams Become Reality |url=https://www.starwars.com/news/from-fandom-to-phantom-when-star-wars-dreams-become-reality |website=Star Wars.com |access-date=July 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513071453/http://www.starwars.com/news/from-fandom-to-phantom-when-star-wars-dreams-become-reality |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
== Production == |
== Production == |
||
=== Writing === |
=== Writing === |
||
Lucas |
George Lucas said he conceived the ''Star Wars'' saga's story in the form of a plot outline in 1973. However, he later clarified that, at the time of the saga's conception, he had not fully realized the details—only major plot points.<ref name="DVDcom">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD commentary featuring George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett, [2005]</ref> The film's climactic duel has its basis in the [[Return of the Jedi (novel)|''Return of the Jedi'' novelization]], in which Obi-Wan recounts his battle with Vader that ended with the latter falling "into a molten pit".<ref>{{harvnb|Slavicsek|1994|p=[https://archive.org/details/guidetostarwarsu00slav/page/117 117]}}.</ref> Lucas began working on the screenplay for ''Episode III'' before the previous film, ''[[Attack of the Clones]]'', was released, proposing to concept artists that the film would open with a montage of seven battles on seven planets.<ref>{{harvnb|Rinzler|2005|pp=13–15}}.</ref> In ''The Secret History of Star Wars'', Michael Kaminski surmises that Lucas found flaws with Anakin's fall to the dark side and radically reorganized the plot. For example, instead of opening the film with a montage of Clone War battles, Lucas decided to focus on Anakin, ending the first act with him killing Count Dooku, an action that signals his turn to the dark side.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|pp=380–384}}.</ref> |
||
A significant number of fans speculated online about the episode title for the film with rumored titles including ''Rise of the Empire'', ''The Creeping Fear'' (which was also named as the film's title on the official website on April Fool's 2004), and ''Birth of the Empire''.<ref name="IGN1">{{cite web |website=IGN |title=Episode III Title Rumors |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/516/516511p1.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142138/http://movies.ign.com/articles/516/516511p1.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually, ''Revenge of the Sith'' also became a title guessed by fans that George Lucas would indirectly confirm.<ref name="CConfidential">{{cite web |work=Cinema Confidential |title=Lucas: Fans have already guessed the "Episode III" title |url=http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406153 |date=June 15, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926122931/http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406153 |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> The title is a reference to ''Revenge of the Jedi'', the original title of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''; Lucas changed the title scant weeks before the premiere of ''Return of the Jedi'', declaring that Jedi |
A significant number of fans speculated online about the episode title for the film with rumored titles including ''Rise of the Empire'', ''The Creeping Fear'' (which was also named as the film's title on the official website on April Fool's 2004), and ''Birth of the Empire''.<ref name="IGN1">{{cite web |website=IGN |title=Episode III Title Rumors |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/516/516511p1.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142138/http://movies.ign.com/articles/516/516511p1.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eventually, ''Revenge of the Sith'' also became a title guessed by fans that George Lucas would indirectly confirm.<ref name="CConfidential">{{cite web |work=Cinema Confidential |title=Lucas: Fans have already guessed the "Episode III" title |url=http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406153 |date=June 15, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926122931/http://www.cinecon.com/news.php?id=0406153 |archive-date=September 26, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> The title is a reference to ''Revenge of the Jedi'', the original title of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]''; Lucas changed the title scant weeks before the premiere of ''Return of the Jedi'', declaring that a true Jedi could never seek revenge.<ref name="EmpireOfDreams">''Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy'' Star Wars Trilogy Box Set DVD documentary, [2004].</ref> |
||
Lucas had originally planned to include even more ties to the [[original trilogy]], and wrote early drafts of the script in which a 10-year-old [[Han Solo]] appeared on Kashyyyk, but the role was not cast or shot. He also wrote a scene in which Palpatine reveals to Anakin that he created him from [[midichlorians]], and is thus his "father", a clear parallel to Vader's revelation to Luke in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', but later scrapped this scene as well. Another planned scene by Lucas that was written during the early development of the film was a conversation between Master [[Yoda]] and the ghostly [[Qui-Gon Jinn]], with [[Liam Neeson]] reprising his role as Jinn (he also hinted his possible appearance in the film).<ref>{{cite web |last=Keck |first=William |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |title=Movie-star night in Palm Springs |work=USA Today |date=January 10, 2005 |access-date=December 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420233707/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the scene was never filmed and Neeson was never recorded, although the scene was present in the film's novelization. |
|||
Since Lucas refocused the film on Anakin, he had to sacrifice certain extraneous plot points relating to ''Attack of the Clones''.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} Lucas had previously promised fans that he would explain the mystery behind the erasure of the planet [[Kamino (Star Wars)|Kamino]] from the Jedi Archives.<ref name="DVDcom" /> However, Lucas abandoned this plot thread in order to devote more time to Anakin's story, leaving the matter unresolved on film.{{citation needed|date=December 2019}} |
|||
After principal photography was complete in 2003, Lucas made even more changes to Anakin's character, rewriting his turn to the dark side. Lucas accomplished this through editing the principal footage and filming new scenes during [[Pick-up (filmmaking)|pickups]] in London in 2004.<ref name="Within">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD documentary ''Within a Minute'', [2005].</ref> In the previous versions, Anakin had several reasons for turning to the dark side, one of which was his sincere belief that the Jedi were plotting to take over the Republic. Although this is still intact in the finished film, by revising and refilming many scenes, Lucas emphasized Anakin's desire to save Padmé from death. Thus, in the version that made it to theaters, Anakin falls to the dark side primarily to save Padmé.<ref name="Within" /> |
|||
Lucas had originally planned to include even more ties to the original trilogy, and wrote early drafts of the script in which a 10-year-old [[Han Solo]] appeared on Kashyyyk, but the role was not cast or shot. He also wrote a scene in which Palpatine reveals to Anakin that he created him from [[midichlorians]], and is thus his "father", a clear parallel to Vader's revelation to Luke in ''[[The Empire Strikes Back]]'', but Lucas ejected this scene as well. Another planned scene by Lucas that was written during the early development of the film was a conversation between Master [[Yoda]] and the ghostly [[Qui-Gon Jinn]], with [[Liam Neeson]] reprising his role as Jinn (he also hinted his possible appearance in the film).<ref>{{cite web |last=Keck |first=William |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |title=Movie-star night in Palm Springs |work=USA Today |date=January 10, 2005 |access-date=December 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170420233707/https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2005-01-09-palm-springs_x.htm |archive-date=April 20, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the scene was never filmed and Neeson was never recorded, although the scene was present in the film's novelization. Neeson finally reprised the role in an episode of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|The Clone Wars]]'' in 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Blauvelt |first=Christian |url=https://ew.com/article/2011/01/20/liam-neeson-star-wars-clone-wars-exclusive |title=Liam Neeson to voice Qui-Gon Jinn in 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars' – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO |magazine=EW.com |date=January 13, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221062711/http://ew.com/article/2011/01/20/liam-neeson-star-wars-clone-wars-exclusive/ |archive-date=December 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
After principal photography was complete in 2003, Lucas made even more changes in Anakin's character, rewriting the entire "turn" sequence. Lucas accomplished this "rewrite" through editing the principal footage and filming new scenes during [[Pick-up (filmmaking)|pickups]] in London in 2004.<ref name="Within">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD documentary ''Within a Minute'', [2005].</ref> In the previous versions, Anakin had myriad reasons for turning to the dark side, one of which was his sincere belief that the Jedi were plotting to take over the Republic. Although this is still intact in the finished film, by revising and refilming many scenes, Lucas emphasized Anakin's desire to save Padmé from death. Thus, in the version that made it to theaters, Anakin falls to the dark side primarily to save Padmé.<ref name="Within" /> |
|||
=== Art design === |
=== Art design === |
||
For the [[Kashyyyk]] environment, the art department turned to the ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special]]'' for inspiration.<ref name="holiday">{{cite web |work=StarWars.com |title=Kashyyyk Revisited |url= |
For the [[Kashyyyk]] environment, the art department turned to the ''[[Star Wars Holiday Special]]'' for inspiration.<ref name="holiday">{{cite web |work=StarWars.com |title=Kashyyyk Revisited |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/beacon116.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071214071838/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/bts/production/beacon116.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=December 14, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Over a period of months, Lucas would approve hundreds of designs that would eventually appear in the film. He would later rewrite entire scenes and action sequences to correspond to certain designs he had chosen.<ref name="Within" /> The designs were then shipped to the pre-visualization department to create moving [[computer-generated imagery|CGI]] versions known as animatics. [[Ben Burtt]] would edit these scenes with Lucas in order to pre-visualize what the film would look like before the scenes were filmed.<ref name="Within" /> The pre-visualization footage featured a basic raw CGI environment with equally unprocessed character models performing a scene, typically for action sequences. [[Steven Spielberg]] was brought in as a "guest director" for the film's climax, overseeing the pre-visualization of an unused version of the Utapau chase scene<ref>{{cite AV media |title=Star Wars: The Complete Saga Episodes I–VI Bonus Disc I: Utapau Deleted Scenes |medium=Blu-ray |publisher=20th Century Fox |year=2011}}</ref> and making art-design suggestions for the Order 66 assassinations as well as the Mustafar duel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brooks |first=Nicholas |date=August 15, 2023 |title=Steven Spielberg Contributed to Star Wars' Saddest Moment |url=https://www.cbr.com/steven-spielberg-contributed-star-wars-order-66/ |access-date=August 16, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en |archive-date=August 16, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816024339/https://www.cbr.com/steven-spielberg-contributed-star-wars-order-66/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="spiel" />{{efn|Spielberg suggested that Anakin and Obi-Wan should be "dripping sweat" and that "their hair at some point should be smoking", which Lucas loved.<ref name=spiel>{{cite book |last=Jones |first=Brian Jay |title=George Lucas: A Life |date=2016 |publisher=Little, Brown and Company |location=New York City |isbn=978-0-316-25744-2 |page=426}}</ref>}} The pre-visualization and art department designs were sent to the production department to begin building sets, props and costumes.<ref name="Within" /> |
||
=== Filming === |
=== Filming === |
||
Although the first scene filmed was the final scene to appear in the film (shot during the filming of ''Attack of the Clones'' in 2000),<ref name="Suntan">''We Didn't Go to the Desert to Get a Suntan'' Episode II DVD Special Feature, [2002].</ref>{{efn|The scene with Obi-Wan delivering Luke to the Lars homestead was reshot on a sound-stage during the production of Episode III.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|p=397}}.</ref>}} the first bulk of principal photography on the film occurred from June 30, 2003 to September 17, 2003, with additional photography |
Although the first scene filmed was the final scene to appear in the film (shot during the filming of ''Attack of the Clones'' in 2000),<ref name="Suntan">''We Didn't Go to the Desert to Get a Suntan'' Episode II DVD Special Feature, [2002].</ref>{{efn|The scene with Obi-Wan delivering Luke to the Lars homestead was reshot on a sound-stage during the production of Episode III.<ref>{{harvnb|Kaminski|2008|p=397}}.</ref>}} the first bulk of principal photography on the film occurred from June 30, 2003, to September 17, 2003, with additional photography at [[Shepperton Studios]] in Surrey and [[Elstree Studios (Shenley Road)|Elstree Studios]] in Hertfordshire from August 2004 to January 31, 2005.<ref name="Within" /> The initial filming took place on sound stages at [[Fox Studios Australia]] in [[Sydney]], although practical environments were shot as background footage later to be composited into the film. These included the limestone mountains depicting [[Kashyyyk]], which were filmed in [[Phuket Province|Phuket, Thailand]]. The production company was also fortunate enough to be shooting at the same time that [[Mount Etna]] erupted in Italy. Camera crews were sent to the location to shoot several angles of the volcano that were later spliced into the background of the animatics and the final film version of the planet Mustafar.<ref name="Within" /> |
||
While shooting key dramatic scenes, Lucas would often use an "A camera" and "B camera", or the "V technique", a process that involves shooting with two or more cameras at the same time in order to gain several angles of the same performance.<ref name="Within" /> Using the HD technology developed for the film, the filmmakers were able to send footage to the editors the same day it was shot, a process that would require a full 24 hours had it been shot on film.<ref name="Within" /> Footage featuring the planet Mustafar was given to editor [[Roger Barton (film editor)|Roger Barton]], who was on location in Sydney cutting the climactic duel. |
While shooting key dramatic scenes, Lucas would often use an "A camera" and "B camera", or the "V technique", a process that involves shooting with two or more cameras at the same time in order to gain several angles of the same performance.<ref name="Within" /> Using the HD technology developed for the film, the filmmakers were able to send footage to the editors the same day it was shot, a process that would require a full 24 hours had it been shot on film.<ref name="Within" /> Footage featuring the planet Mustafar was given to editor [[Roger Barton (film editor)|Roger Barton]], who was on location in Sydney cutting the climactic duel. |
||
[[Hayden Christensen]] |
[[Hayden Christensen]] said Lucas asked him "to bulk up and physically show the maturity that had taken place between the two films."<ref name="MovieWeb">{{cite web |url=http://movieweb.com/hayden-christensen-talks-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith/ |last=B. |first=Brian |title=Hayden Christensen Talks Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith |date=October 10, 2005 |website=Movieweb |access-date=December 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608142907/http://movieweb.com/hayden-christensen-talks-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith/ |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> The actor explained that he worked out with a trainer in Sydney for three months and ate "six meals a day and on every protein, weight gain supplement that man has created" to go from {{Convert|160|lb|kg|abbr=on}}to{{Convert|185|lb|kg|abbr=on}}.<ref name="SciFi">{{cite web |last1=Rea |first1=Darren |title=Hayden Christensen Interview |url=http://www.sci-fi-online.com/Interview/05-11-01_HaydenChristensen.htm |website=Sc-Fi Online |access-date=December 25, 2016 |date=November 1, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321025339/http://www.sci-fi-online.com/Interview/05-11-01_HaydenChristensen.htm |archive-date=March 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
Christensen and [[Ewan McGregor]] began rehearsing their climactic [[lightsaber]] duel long before Lucas would shoot it. They trained extensively with stunt coordinator [[Nick Gillard]] to memorize and perform their duel together. As in the previous prequel film, McGregor and Christensen performed their own lightsaber fighting scenes without the use of stunt doubles.<ref name="Stunts">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD documentary ''It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III'', [2005].</ref> The speed at which Vader and Obi-Wan engage in their duel is mostly the speed at which it was filmed, although there are instances where single frames were removed to increase the velocity of particular strikes. An example of this occurs as Obi-Wan strikes down on Vader after applying an armlock in the duel's first half.<ref name="DVDcom" /> |
Christensen and [[Ewan McGregor]] began rehearsing their climactic [[lightsaber]] duel long before Lucas would shoot it. They trained extensively with stunt coordinator [[Nick Gillard]] to memorize and perform their duel together. As in the previous prequel film, McGregor and Christensen performed their own lightsaber fighting scenes without the use of stunt doubles.<ref name="Stunts">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' DVD documentary ''It's All for Real: The Stunts of Episode III'', [2005].</ref> The speed at which Vader and Obi-Wan engage in their duel is mostly the speed at which it was filmed, although there are instances where single frames were removed to increase the velocity of particular strikes. An example of this occurs as Obi-Wan strikes down on Vader after applying an armlock in the duel's first half.<ref name="DVDcom" /> |
||
''Revenge of the Sith'' |
''Revenge of the Sith'' was the first ''Star Wars'' film in which Anakin Skywalker and the suited Darth Vader were played by the same actor in the same film. As Christensen recounted, it was originally intended to simply have a "tall guy" in the Darth Vader costume, but, after "begging and pleading", Christensen persuaded Lucas to have the Vader costume used in the film created specifically to fit him. The new costume featured shoe lifts and a muscle suit.<ref name="Freeman">{{cite web |work=[[The Freeman]] |title=Hayden Christensen on the Force and the Future |url=http://www.thefreeman.com/entertainment/story-20050521-30725.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526144507/http://www.thefreeman.com/entertainment/story-20050521-30725.html |archive-date=May 26, 2008}}</ref> It also required Christensen (who is {{convert|6|ft|disp=or}} tall) to look through the helmet's mouthpiece.<ref name="Celebration">{{cite web |work=StarWars.com |title=Live from Italy: Hayden Christensen |url=https://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp15.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050423225541/http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp15.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=April 23, 2005}}</ref> |
||
In 2004, [[Gary Oldman]] was originally approached to provide the voice of General Grievous;<ref name="Oldman">{{cite news |work=MovieWeb |title=Gary Oldman in talks for Star Wars: Episode III |url=https://movieweb.com/gary-oldman-in-talks-for-star-wars-episode-iii/ |access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> however, complications arose during contract negotiations after Oldman learned the film was to be made outside of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], of which he is a member. He backed out of the role rather than violate the union's rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544480p1.html |title=Oldman Out of Sith |date=September 4, 2004 |website=IGN |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142143/http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544480p1.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Matthew Wood (sound editor)|Matthew Wood]], who voiced Grievous, disputed this story at Celebration III, held in [[Indianapolis]]. According to him, Oldman is a friend of producer [[Rick McCallum]], and thus recorded an audition as a favor to him, but was not chosen.<ref>{{cite conference |first=Matthew |last=Wood | |
In 2004, [[Gary Oldman]] was originally approached to provide the voice of General Grievous;<ref name="Oldman">{{cite news |work=MovieWeb |title=Gary Oldman in talks for Star Wars: Episode III |url=https://movieweb.com/gary-oldman-in-talks-for-star-wars-episode-iii/ |access-date=April 12, 2018 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131213326/https://movieweb.com/gary-oldman-in-talks-for-star-wars-episode-iii/ |url-status=live }}</ref> however, complications arose during contract negotiations after Oldman learned the film was to be made outside of the [[Screen Actors Guild]], of which he is a member. He backed out of the role rather than violate the union's rules.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544480p1.html |title=Oldman Out of Sith |date=September 4, 2004 |website=IGN |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142143/http://movies.ign.com/articles/544/544480p1.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Matthew Wood (sound editor)|Matthew Wood]], who voiced Grievous, disputed this story at Celebration III, held in [[Indianapolis]]. According to him, Oldman is a friend of producer [[Rick McCallum]], and thus recorded an audition as a favor to him, but was not chosen.<ref>{{cite conference |first=Matthew |last=Wood |author-link=Matthew Wood (sound editor) |title=Voicing Grievous |publisher=Celebration III |date=April 19, 2005 |location=Indianapolis, Indiana}}</ref> Wood, who was also the supervising sound editor, was in charge of the auditions and submitted his audition anonymously in the midst of 30 others, under the initials "A.S." for [[Alan Smithee]].<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070527090348/http://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp20.html |url=https://www.starwars.com/community/event/celebration/f20050419/indexp20.html |title=General Rumblings: Matthew Wood on Grievous and Sound |work=StarWars.com |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-date=May 27, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Days later, he received a phone call asking for the full name to the initials "A.S."<ref name="Waltersinterview">{{cite web |access-date=May 17, 2008 |url=http://www.bigfanboy.com/pages/interviews/mattwood/mw.html |title=The voice of GENERAL GRIEVOUS |work=Big Fanboy |last=Walters |first=Mark |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422235313/http://www.bigfanboy.com/pages/interviews/mattwood/mw.html |archive-date=April 22, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
=== Visual effects === |
=== Visual effects === |
||
The post-production department began work during filming and continued until weeks before the film was released in 2005. Special effects were created using almost all formats, including model work, CGI and practical effects. The same department later composited all such work into the filmed scenes—both processes taking nearly two years to complete. ''Revenge of the Sith'' has 2,151 shots that use special effects, a world record.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/revenge-sith-part-1-circle-now-complete |title=Revenge of the Sith: Part 1 — The Circle is Now Complete |work=[[Animation World Network|VFXWorld]] |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060309/http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/revenge-sith-part-1-circle-now-complete |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
The post-production department (handled by [[Industrial Light & Magic]]) began work during filming and continued until weeks before the film was released in 2005. Special effects were created using almost all formats, including model work, CGI and practical effects. The same department later composited all such work into the filmed scenes—both processes taking nearly two years to complete. ''Revenge of the Sith'' has 2,151 shots that use special effects, a world record.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/revenge-sith-part-1-circle-now-complete |title=Revenge of the Sith: Part 1 — The Circle is Now Complete |work=[[Animation World Network|VFXWorld]] |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=January 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924060309/http://www.awn.com/vfxworld/revenge-sith-part-1-circle-now-complete |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
The |
The film required 910 artists and 70,441 man-hours to create 49 seconds of footage for the Mustafar duel alone.<ref name="Within" /><!--- if a ref is a found, reinclude: The film was produced with a budget of [[United States dollar|US$]]113 million, making it the least expensive of the three [[prequel]] films. ---> Members of Hyperspace, the Official Star Wars Fan Club, received a special look into the production. Benefits included not only special articles, but they also received access to a [[webcam]] that transmitted a new image every 20 seconds during the time it was operating in Fox Studios Australia. Many times the stars, and Lucas himself, were spotted on the webcam.<ref name="Hyperspace">{{cite web |work=StarWars.com |title=Hyperspace Online Star Wars Fan Club |url=https://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/about/news/news20040428.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040429122306/http://www.starwars.com/hyperspace/about/news/news20040428.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-date=April 29, 2004}}</ref> |
||
=== |
=== Deleted scenes === |
||
Lucas excised all |
Lucas excised all scenes of a group of Senators, including Padmé, Bail Organa, and [[Mon Mothma]] ([[Genevieve O'Reilly]]), organizing an alliance to prevent Palpatine from usurping any more emergency powers. Though this is essentially the birth of the [[Rebel Alliance]], the scenes were discarded to achieve more focus on Anakin's story.<ref name="DVDcom" /> The scene where Yoda arrives on [[Dagobah]] to begin his self-imposed [[exile]] was also removed, but is featured as an extended scene in the DVD release, although McCallum stated he hoped Lucas would have added it to the new cut as part of a six-episode DVD box set.<ref name="DVDcom" /> |
||
[[Bai Ling]] filmed minor scenes for the film playing a senator, but her role was cut during editing. She claimed this was because she appeared in a nude pictorial for the June 2005 issue of ''[[Playboy]]'', whose appearance on newsstands coincided with the film's May release. Lucas denied this, stating that the cut had been made more than a year earlier, and that he had cut his own daughter's scenes as well.<ref name="BaiLing">{{cite web |work=Contact Music |title=Ling claims Star Wars bosses cut her after Playboy pose |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ling%20claims%20star%20wars%20bosses%20cut%20her%20out%20after%20playboy%20pose |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416214757/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ling%20claims%20star%20wars%20bosses%20cut%20her%20out%20after%20playboy%20pose |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The bonus features show an additional removed scene in which Jedi Master Shaak Ti is killed by General Grievous in front of Obi-Wan |
[[Bai Ling]] filmed minor scenes for the film playing a senator, but her role was cut during editing. She claimed this was because she appeared in a nude pictorial for the June 2005 issue of ''[[Playboy]]'', whose appearance on newsstands coincided with the film's May release. Lucas denied this, stating that the cut had been made more than a year earlier, and that he had cut his own daughter's scenes as well.<ref name="BaiLing">{{cite web |work=Contact Music |title=Ling claims Star Wars bosses cut her after Playboy pose |url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ling%20claims%20star%20wars%20bosses%20cut%20her%20out%20after%20playboy%20pose |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080416214757/http://www.contactmusic.com/new/xmlfeed.nsf/mndwebpages/ling%20claims%20star%20wars%20bosses%20cut%20her%20out%20after%20playboy%20pose |archive-date=April 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The bonus features show an additional removed scene in which Jedi Master [[Shaak Ti]] is killed by General Grievous in front of Obi-Wan and Anakin.<ref>{{Cite web|date=July 15, 2019|title=Star Wars' Shaak Ti: The Jedi Master Who Died 4 Times|url=https://screenrant.com/star-wars-shaak-ti-deaths/|access-date=June 9, 2020|website=[[Screen Rant]] |archive-date=July 16, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716205123/https://screenrant.com/star-wars-shaak-ti-deaths/|url-status=live}}</ref> The bonus features also show Obi-Wan and Anakin running through Grievous' ship, escaping droids through a fuel tunnel, and arguing over what R2-D2 is saying.<ref name="DVDcom" /> |
||
=== Music === |
=== Music === |
||
{{ |
{{Main|Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (soundtrack)}} |
||
The music was composed and conducted by [[John Williams]] |
The music was composed and conducted by [[John Williams]], who has composed and conducted the score for every episode in the ''Star Wars'' saga, and performed by the [[London Symphony Orchestra]] and London Voices in February 2005.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sonybmgmasterworks.com/artists/johnwilliams602/starwarsepisodeiiirevengeofthesithoriginalmotion_p8611.html |title=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |work=[[Sony BMG]] |access-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720063020/http://sonybmgmasterworks.com/artists/johnwilliams602/starwarsepisodeiiirevengeofthesithoriginalmotion_p8611.html |archive-date=July 20, 2008 }}</ref> The film's soundtrack was released by [[Sony Classical Records|Sony Pictures Classical Records]] on May 3, 2005, more than two weeks before the film's release. A [[music video]] titled ''A Hero Falls'' was created for the film's theme, "[[Battle of the Heroes]]", featuring footage from the film and was also available on the DVD.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071205123253/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/10.html |date=April 30, 2005 |title=A Hero Falls Music Video |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/trailer/10.html |work=[[StarWars.com]] |archive-date=December 5, 2007 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |
||
The soundtrack also came with a collectors' DVD, ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (soundtrack)#Star Wars: A Musical Journey|Star Wars: A Musical Journey]]'', |
The soundtrack also came with a collectors' DVD hosted by McDiarmid, titled ''[[Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (soundtrack)#Star Wars: A Musical Journey|Star Wars: A Musical Journey]]'', which features 16 music videos set to remastered selections of music from all six film scores, set chronologically through the saga.<ref>{{cite web |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050316210453/http://starwars.com/episode-iii/release/publishing/news20050315.html |url=http://starwars.com/episode-iii/release/publishing/news20050315.html |title=Episode III Soundtrack Includes Bonus DVD |work=[[StarWars.com]]|date=March 15, 2005 |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-date=March 16, 2005}}</ref> |
||
== |
== Release == |
||
[[File:Oliver Mark - George Lucas, Berlin 2005.jpg|alt=George Lucas lying on a sofa in hotel room with a pillow on his lap.|thumb|George Lucas in 2005. Portrait by [[Oliver Mark]].]] |
|||
''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' charity premieres took place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Miami on Thursday, May 12, 2005;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/event/star-wars-nyc-premiere |title="Star Wars" NYC Premiere |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908014858/http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/event/star-wars-nyc-premiere |archive-date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> and on May 13, 2005, there were two additional charity premiere screenings in George Lucas's hometown of [[Modesto, California]]. The official premiere was at the [[2005 Cannes Film Festival]] (out of competition) on May 16.<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4278019/year/2005.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |access-date=December 13, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204102943/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4278019/year/2005.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its theatrical release in most other countries took place on May 19 to coincide with the 1999 release of ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'' (the 1977 release of ''[[Star Wars (film)|A New Hope]]'' and the 1983 release of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' were also released on the same day and month, six years apart). The global outplacement firm [[Challenger, Gray & Christmas]] claimed one week before the premiere that it may have cost the U.S. economy approximately [[USD|US$]]627 million in lost productivity because of employees who took a day off or reported in sick.<ref name="Economy">{{cite web |website=[[CNET]] |title=Can't work today, got a nasty case of Episode III-fever |url=http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-5702394-7.html |access-date=April 7, 2008}}</ref> [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]], a traditional venue for the ''Star Wars'' films, did not show it. However, a line of people stood there for more than a month hoping to convince someone to change this.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC |title='Wrong queue' for Star Wars fans |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4419365.stm |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407181017/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4419365.stm |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of them took advantage of an offer to see the film at a nearby cinema, [[Cinerama Dome#Today|ArcLight Cinemas]] (formerly the "Cinerama Dome").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/26/entertainment/ca-bartender23 |title=At ArcLight, cinema with a chaser |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 25, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |first=Chris |last=Lee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141803/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/26/entertainment/ca-bartender23 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 16, the [[Empire, Leicester Square|Empire Cinema]] in [[London]]'s [[Leicester Square]] hosted a day-long [[Star Wars marathon]] showing of all six films; an army of [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|Imperial stormtroopers]] "guarded" the area, and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] gave a free concert of ''Star Wars'' music.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4460299.stm |title=Star Wars marathon marks premiere |work=BBC |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219050555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4460299.stm |archive-date=December 19, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
=== |
=== Marketing === |
||
The first trailer for ''Revenge of the Sith'' premiered in theaters on November 5, 2004, with the release of ''[[The Incredibles]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/Star-Wars-Episode-III-trailer-debuting-with-1573803.php|title='Star Wars: Episode III' trailer debuting with 'Incredibles'|date=October 22, 2004|access-date=February 20, 2022|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220193414/https://www.chron.com/entertainment/movies/article/Star-Wars-Episode-III-trailer-debuting-with-1573803.php|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also attached to the screenings of ''[[The Polar Express (film)|The Polar Express]]'', ''[[National Treasure (film)|National Treasure]]'', ''[[Alexander (2004 film)|Alexander]]'', ''[[Ocean's Twelve]]'', ''[[Meet the Fockers]]'', ''[[Flight of the Phoenix (2004 film)|Flight of the Phoenix]]'' and other films. At the same time, the trailer became available on the Internet.<ref>{{cite web|last=Davidson|first=Paul|title=Revenge of the Sith Teaser Preview|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/12/revenge-of-the-sith-teaser-preview|publisher=IGN|access-date=June 28, 2022|date=October 12, 2004|archive-date=July 3, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703150701/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/10/12/revenge-of-the-sith-teaser-preview|url-status=live}}</ref> Just four months later, another trailer was unveiled on March 10, 2005, debuting with ''[[The O.C.]]''{{'}}s "The Mallpisode" during the [[The O.C. (season 2)|second season]] (Lucas himself would appear in a later episode) and in theaters with the release of ''[[Robots (2005 film)|Robots]]'' the next day on March 11. On March 14, it would then premiere on the official ''Star Wars'' website.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://movieweb.com/when-to-catch-the-revenge-of-the-sith-trailer-debut/|title=When to catch the Revenge of the Sith trailer debut!|date=March 2, 2005|access-date=February 20, 2022|archive-date=February 20, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220220193414/https://movieweb.com/when-to-catch-the-revenge-of-the-sith-trailer-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref> Three days later on March 17, [[George Lucas]] revealed a preview of the film at the ShoWest Convention in [[Las Vegas]], saying "It's not like the old ''Star Wars''. This one's a little bit emotional. We like to describe it as ''[[Titanic (1997 film)|Titanic]]'' in space. It's a tearjerker."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104655524/star-wars-final-chapter-previewed/ |title='Star Wars' final chapter previewed |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220815014438/https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104655524/star-wars-final-chapter-previewed/ |date=March 18, 2005 |access-date=August 15, 2022 |archive-date=August 15, 2022 |page=9 |publisher=[[The Leader-Post]] |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |url-status=live}} {{Open access}}</ref> |
|||
A copy of the film leaked onto [[peer-to-peer]] file sharing networks just hours after opening in theaters. The film was a time-stamped [[workprint]], suggesting it may have come from within the industry rather than from someone who videotaped an advance screening.<ref name="P2P">{{cite news |work=BBC |title=Revenge of the Sith Leaked Online |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4563631.stm |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122134521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4563631.stm |archive-date=November 22, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eight people were later charged with copyright infringement and distributing material illegally. Documents filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney allege that a copy of the film was taken from an unnamed Californian post-production office by an employee, who later pleaded guilty to his charges.<ref name="P2P2">{{cite web |work=[[MPAA]] |title=U.S. ATTORNEY CHARGES STAR WARS MOVIE THIEVES & Academy Award Screener |url=http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2005_09_27b.pdf |format=PDF |access-date=July 30, 2008 |date=September 27, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060930190653/http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2005_09_27b.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2006}}</ref> The illegal copy was passed among seven people until reaching an eighth party, who also pleaded guilty to uploading to an unnamed P2P network.<ref name="P2P3">{{cite press release |publisher=[[U.S. Department of Justice]] |title=Seven Plead Guilty in ''Star Wars'' Leak |url=http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2006/008.html |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=January 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115171605/http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2006/008.html |archive-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> |
|||
=== Theatrical === |
|||
Shortly after the above-mentioned print was leaked, it was released in [[Shanghai]] as a bootleg DVD with Chinese [[subtitle (captioning)|subtitles]]. The unknown producer of this DVD also chose to include English subtitles, which were in fact translated back into English from the Chinese translation, rather than using the original English script. This resulted in the subtitles being heavily mis-translated, often causing unintentional humor. For example, in the opening crawl the title is mis-translated as ''Star War: The Third Gathers – The Backstroke of the West''. Darth Vader's cry of "Noooooooo!" (不要) is rendered as "Do not want". This translation error would later be popularized as an [[Internet meme]].<ref name="virgin_myths">{{cite web |url=http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/top-ten-star-wars-myths-and-legends.php?page=10 |title=Top ten Star Wars myths and legends: Do not want |work=VirginMedia.com |access-date=December 30, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303224441/http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/top-ten-star-wars-myths-and-legends.php?page=10 |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}</ref> In 2016, [[YouTube]] user GratefulDeadpool uploaded a [[fan edit]] of ''Revenge of the Sith'' in which the cast's voices were [[Dubbing (filmmaking)|dubbed]] by other actors to match the bootleg subtitles.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/heat-vision/star-wars-revenge-sith-bootleg-chinese-dialogue-is-a-masterpiece-960452 |title='Revenge of the Sith' Dubbed With Bootleg Chinese Dialogue Is a Fan-Made Masterpiece |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170910063456/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/amp/heat-vision/star-wars-revenge-sith-bootleg-chinese-dialogue-is-a-masterpiece-960452 |archive-date=September 10, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://io9.gizmodo.com/let-us-rejoice-that-someone-dubbed-the-entire-chinese-b-1790936814/amp |title=Let Us Rejoice That Someone Dubbed the Entire Chinese Bootleg of Revenge of the Sith |work=io9 |access-date=August 20, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170826160355/http://io9.gizmodo.com/let-us-rejoice-that-someone-dubbed-the-entire-chinese-b-1790936814/amp |archive-date=August 26, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' charity premieres took place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Miami on Thursday, May 12, 2005;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/event/star-wars-nyc-premiere |title="Star Wars" NYC Premiere |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908014858/http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/event/star-wars-nyc-premiere |archive-date=September 8, 2015}}</ref> and on May 13, 2005, there were two additional charity premiere screenings in George Lucas's hometown of [[Modesto, California]]. The official premiere was at the [[2005 Cannes Film Festival]] (out of competition) on May 16.<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4278019/year/2005.html |title=Festival de Cannes: Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |access-date=December 13, 2009 |work=festival-cannes.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204102943/http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/4278019/year/2005.html |archive-date=February 4, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its theatrical release in most other countries took place on May 19 to coincide with the 1999 release of ''[[The Phantom Menace]]'' (the 1977 release of ''[[Star Wars (film)|A New Hope]]'' and the 1983 release of ''[[Return of the Jedi]]'' were also released on the same day and month, six years apart). The global outplacement firm [[Challenger, Gray & Christmas]] claimed one week before the premiere that it may have cost the U.S. economy approximately [[USD|US$]]627 million in lost productivity because of employees who took a day off or reported in sick.<ref name="Economy">{{cite web |website=[[CNET]] |title=Can't work today, got a nasty case of Episode III-fever |url=http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-5702394-7.html |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131213326/https://www.cnet.com/news/ |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Grauman's Chinese Theatre]], a traditional venue for the ''Star Wars'' films, did not show it. However, a line of people stood there for more than a month hoping to convince someone to change this.<ref>{{cite news |work=BBC |title='Wrong queue' for Star Wars fans |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4419365.stm |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080407181017/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/4419365.stm |archive-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of them took advantage of an offer to see the film at a nearby cinema, [[Cinerama Dome|ArcLight Cinemas]] (formerly the "Cinerama Dome").<ref>{{cite news |url=https://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/26/entertainment/ca-bartender23 |title=At ArcLight, cinema with a chaser |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 25, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |first=Chris |last=Lee |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216141803/http://articles.latimes.com/2005/jun/26/entertainment/ca-bartender23 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> On May 16, the [[Empire, Leicester Square|Empire Cinema]] in [[London]]'s [[Leicester Square]] hosted a day-long [[Star Wars marathon]] showing of all six films; an army of [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|Imperial stormtroopers]] "guarded" the area, and the [[Royal Philharmonic Orchestra]] gave a free concert of ''Star Wars'' music.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4460299.stm |title=Star Wars marathon marks premiere |work=BBC |date=April 19, 2005 |access-date=April 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061219050555/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4460299.stm |archive-date=December 19, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
=== Leaked workprint === |
|||
A copy of the film leaked onto [[peer-to-peer]] file sharing networks just hours after opening in theaters. The film was a time-stamped [[workprint]], suggesting it may have come from within the industry rather than from someone who videotaped an advance screening.<ref name="P2P">{{cite news |work=BBC |title=Revenge of the Sith Leaked Online |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4563631.stm |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122134521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/4563631.stm |archive-date=November 22, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Eight people were later charged with copyright infringement and distributing material illegally. Documents filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney allege that a copy of the film was taken from an unnamed Californian post-production office by an employee, who later pleaded guilty to his charges.<ref name="P2P2">{{cite web |work=[[MPAA]] |title=U.S. ATTORNEY CHARGES STAR WARS MOVIE THIEVES & Academy Award Screener |url=http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2005_09_27b.pdf |access-date=July 30, 2008 |date=September 27, 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060930190653/http://www.mpaa.org/press_releases/2005_09_27b.pdf |archive-date=September 30, 2006}}</ref> The illegal copy was passed among seven people until reaching an eighth party, who also pleaded guilty to uploading to an unnamed P2P network.<ref name="P2P3">{{cite press release |publisher=[[U.S. Department of Justice]] |title=Seven Plead Guilty in ''Star Wars'' Leak |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2006/008.html |access-date=February 8, 2015 |date=January 25, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120115171605/http://www.justice.gov/usao/cac/Pressroom/pr2006/008.html |archive-date=January 15, 2012}}</ref> |
|||
=== Rating === |
=== Rating === |
||
''Revenge of the Sith'' is the first ''Star Wars'' film to receive a [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#PG-13|PG-13]] rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA), officially for " |
''Revenge of the Sith'' is the first ''Star Wars'' film to receive a [[Motion Picture Association of America film rating system#PG-13|PG-13]] rating from the [[Motion Picture Association of America]] (MPAA), officially for "sci-fi violence and some intense images",<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Search|url=https://www.filmratings.com/Search?filmTitle=star+wars&x=25&y=7|access-date=August 1, 2021|website=FilmRatings.com|archive-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801110712/https://www.filmratings.com/Search?filmTitle=star+wars&x=25&y=7|url-status=live}}</ref> namely for the scene in which Darth Vader is set aflame by lava. Lucas had stated months before the MPAA's decision that he felt the film should receive a PG-13 rating, because of Anakin's final moments and the film's content being the darkest and most intense of all six films.<ref>{{cite news|last=Stahl|first=Lesley|date=March 13, 2005|title='Star Wars' Goes To Hell|work=CBS News|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml|url-status=dead|access-date=August 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015112026/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml|archive-date=October 15, 2007}}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] and [[Richard Roeper]] later opined that children would be able to handle the film as long as they had parental guidance.<ref name="Ebert">{{cite web |work=At the Movies with Ebert & Roeper |title=Audio review of Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith |url=http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/050516.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080415214600/http://tvplex.go.com/buenavista/ebertandroeper/050516.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=April 15, 2008}}</ref> All previously released films in the series were rated PG.<ref name=":0" />{{efn|The PG-13 rating had not existed when the films in the [[Star Wars original trilogy|original trilogy]] were released, having been introduced in 1984 as a result of the Lucas-produced film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]''.}} |
||
=== Home media === |
=== Home media === |
||
|
''Revenge of the Sith'' was released on [[DVD]] and [[VHS]] on October 31, 2005, in the UK and Ireland; on November 1, 2005, it was released in the United States and Canada on DVD; and on November 3, 2005, it was released in Australia. It was also released in most major territories on or near the same day.<ref name="DVDrelease">{{cite web |work=StarWars.com |title=November 1: Experience Episode III on DVD and Star Wars Battlefront II |url=https://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/video/news20050725.html |archive-date=July 28, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050728001642/http://www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/video/news20050725.html |access-date=May 17, 2008}}</ref> The DVD release consists of widescreen and [[pan and scan]] full-screen versions and is [[THX]] certified. This two-disc set contains one disc with the film and the other one with bonus features. The first disc features three randomized selected menus, which are [[Coruscant]], [[Utapau]] and [[Mustafar]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews3/starwarsepisode3.html|title=DVD Review – Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=November 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108160657/http://archive.thedigitalbits.com/reviews3/starwarsepisode3.html|url-status=live}}</ref> There is an [[Easter egg (media)|Easter egg]] in the options menu. When the THX Optimizer is highlighted, the viewer can press 1-1-3-8. By doing this, a hip hop music video with Yoda and some clone troopers will play.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eeggs.com/items/46506.html|title=Revenge of the Sith Easter Egg – Hip Hop Yoda – Eeggs.com|access-date=November 8, 2021|archive-date=January 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154131/https://eeggs.com/items/46506.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
The DVD |
The DVD includes a number of documentaries including a new full-length documentary as well as two featurettes, one which explores the prophecy of Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One, the other looking at the film's stunts and a {{nowraplinks|15-part collection}} of web-documentaries from the official web site. Like the other DVD releases, included is an audio commentary track featuring Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director [[Rob Coleman]], and ILM visual effects supervisors [[John Knoll]] and [[Roger Guyett]]. {{nowraplinks|Six deleted scenes}} were included with introductions from Lucas and McCallum. |
||
This release is notable because, due to marketing issues, it was the first ''Star Wars'' film never to be released on [[VHS]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Studio's first no-VHS release for major new title |work=Video Business |date=August 26, 2005 |url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6251599.html |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725123649/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6251599.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the film was released on VHS in Australia, the |
This release is notable because, due to marketing issues, it was the first ''Star Wars'' film never to be released on [[VHS]] in the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Studio's first no-VHS release for major new title |work=Video Business |date=August 26, 2005 |url=http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6251599.html |access-date=July 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725123649/http://www.videobusiness.com/article/CA6251599.html |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, the film was released on VHS in Australia, the UK and other countries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith [2005] |work=[[Amazon.co.uk|Amazon.com]] |date=October 31, 2005 |url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Episode-III-Revenge/dp/B00097E6EK |access-date=February 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070210053158/http://www.amazon.co.uk/Star-Wars-Episode-III-Revenge/dp/B00097E6EK |archive-date=February 10, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{better source needed|date=December 2019}} |
||
The DVD was re-released in a prequel trilogy box set on November 4, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url= |
The DVD was re-released in a prequel trilogy box set on November 4, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/movies/saga/20080826news.html |title=Star Wars Saga Repacked in Trilogy Sets on DVD |access-date=November 8, 2008 |work=Lucasfilm |publisher=StarWars.com |date=August 28, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081026032957/http://www.starwars.com/movies/saga/20080826news.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=October 26, 2008}}</ref> |
||
The ''Star Wars'' films were released by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] on [[Blu-ray]] on |
The six ''Star Wars'' films were released by [[20th Century Fox Home Entertainment]] on [[Blu-ray]] on September 16, 2011, in three different editions.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.starwars.com/themovies/saga/preorder_bluray/index.html |title=Pre-order Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray Now! |publisher=StarWars.com |date=January 6, 2011 |access-date=January 7, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109001917/http://www.starwars.com/themovies/saga/preorder_bluray/index.html |archive-date=January 9, 2011}}</ref> |
||
On April 7, 2015, [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six released ''Star Wars'' films. ''Revenge of the Sith'' was released through the [[iTunes Store]], [[Amazon Video]], [[Vudu]], [[Google Play]], and [[Disney Movies Anywhere]] on April 10, 2015.<ref name="digital download">{{cite news |last1=Vlessing |first1=Etan |title='Star Wars' Movie Franchise Headed to Digital HD |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-movie-franchise-headed-786673 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410030917/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-movie-franchise-headed-786673 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
On April 7, 2015, [[Walt Disney Studios (division)|Walt Disney Studios]], 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six released ''Star Wars'' films. ''Revenge of the Sith'' was released through the [[iTunes Store]], [[Amazon Video]], [[Vudu]], [[Google Play]], and [[Disney Movies Anywhere]] on April 10, 2015.<ref name="digital download">{{cite news |last1=Vlessing |first1=Etan |title='Star Wars' Movie Franchise Headed to Digital HD |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-movie-franchise-headed-786673 |access-date=April 7, 2015 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 6, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410030917/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/star-wars-movie-franchise-headed-786673 |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
[[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] reissued ''Revenge of the Sith'' on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on September 22, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/08/09/star-wars-saga-bluray-rereleases-artwork-covers/#10|title=Newest Star Wars Saga Blu-rays Get Matching Artwork|last=Bonomolo|first=Cameron|date=August 8, 2019|website=Comicbook.com| |
[[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] reissued ''Revenge of the Sith'' on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on September 22, 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/08/09/star-wars-saga-bluray-rereleases-artwork-covers/#10|title=Newest Star Wars Saga Blu-rays Get Matching Artwork|last=Bonomolo|first=Cameron|date=August 8, 2019|website=Comicbook.com|access-date=September 26, 2019|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926042851/https://comicbook.com/starwars/2019/08/09/star-wars-saga-bluray-rereleases-artwork-covers/#10|url-status=live}}</ref> Additionally, all six films were available for [[4K resolution|4K]] [[High-dynamic-range video|HDR]] and [[Dolby Atmos]] streaming on [[Disney+]] upon the service's launch on November 12, 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2019/04/star-wars-franchise-coming-to-disney-within-first-year-after-launch-1202594388|title=Entire 'Star Wars' Franchise Will Be On Disney+ Within Its First Year|last=Hayes|first=Dade|date=April 11, 2019|website=Deadline|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190414084638/https://deadline.com/2019/04/star-wars-franchise-coming-to-disney-within-first-year-after-launch-1202594388/|archive-date=April 14, 2019|access-date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> This version of the film was released by Disney on [[4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on March 31, 2020, whilst being re-released on Blu-ray and DVD.<ref name="SkywalkerSagaBoxSet">{{Cite web|last=Lussier|first=Germain|url=https://io9.gizmodo.com/lets-dive-into-star-wars-the-skywalker-sagas-27-disc-b-1842496774|date=March 27, 2020|title=Let's Dive Into Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga's 27-Disc Box Set|website=[[io9]]|access-date=March 13, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210313074612/https://io9.gizmodo.com/lets-dive-into-star-wars-the-skywalker-sagas-27-disc-b-1842496774|archive-date=March 13, 2021|url-status=live}}</ref> All 20th Century Fox Fanfare and logo sequences on the first six films have been restored following the completion of Disney's acquisition of that studio in 2019 having been removed for the initial digital releases, except for ''A New Hope'', which Fox had asked to retain all rights for prior to the sale of the studio to Disney. |
||
=== 3D re-release === |
=== 3D re-release === |
||
Line 157: | Line 181: | ||
=== Critical response === |
=== Critical response === |
||
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of |
On [[review aggregator]] [[Rotten Tomatoes]], the film has an approval rating of {{RT data|score}} based on {{RT data|count}} reviews, with an average rating of {{RT data|average}}. The site's critical consensus reads, "With ''Episode III: Revenge of the Sith'', George Lucas brings his second ''Star Wars'' trilogy to a suitably thrilling and often poignant – if still a bit uneven – conclusion."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_iii_revenge_of_the_sith|title=Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith (2005)|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201225164618/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/star_wars_episode_iii_revenge_of_the_sith|archive-date=December 25, 2020|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> On [[Metacritic]], the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/movie/star-wars-episode-iii---revenge-of-the-sith/ |title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=December 16, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100130150308/http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/starwarsiii |archive-date=January 30, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average grade of "A−" on an A+ to F scale, the same score as the previous two films.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2487295/yep-rise-of-skywalkers-cinemascore-matches-my-theaters-reaction-to-star-wars-movie |title= Yep, Rise Of Skywalker's CinemaScore Matches My Theater's Reaction To Star Wars Movie |work= CinemaBlend |author= Gina Carbone |date= December 21, 2019 |access-date= December 25, 2020 |archive-date= January 26, 2021 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210126040651/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2487295/yep-rise-of-skywalkers-cinemascore-matches-my-theaters-reaction-to-star-wars-movie |url-status= live }}</ref> |
||
Most critics have considered the film to be the best of the prequel trilogy.<ref name="Yorker">{{cite |
Most critics have considered the film to be the best of the prequel trilogy.<ref name="Yorker">{{cite magazine |magazine=[[The New Yorker]] |title=Star Wars: Episode III |url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/05/23/050523crci_cinema |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516212931/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/05/23/050523crci_cinema |archive-date=May 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'' concluded that it was "the best of the four episodes Mr. Lucas has directed", and equal to ''The Empire Strikes Back'' as "the richest and most challenging movie in the cycle".<ref name="nyt-aoscott">{{cite news |work=[[The New York Times]] |title=Some Surprises in That Galaxy Far, Far Away |date=May 16, 2005 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/movies/some-surprises-in-that-galaxy-far-far-away.html |access-date=July 16, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108192221/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/16/movies/some-surprises-in-that-galaxy-far-far-away.html |archive-date=November 8, 2016 |url-status=live|last1=Scott |first1=A. o. }}</ref> J.R. Jones,a''[[Chicago Reader]]'' critic who disliked ''The Phantom Menace'' and ''Attack of the Clones'', gave the film a positive review, saying that it hada"relatively thoughtful story".<ref>{{cite web |date=May 19, 2005 |last=Jones |first=J. R. |title=Star Wars: Episode III--Revenge of the Sith |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/star-wars-episode-iii--revenge-of-the-sith/Content?oid=918894 |website=[[Chicago Reader]] |access-date=March 7, 2021 |archive-date=December 1, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201223015/https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/star-wars-episode-iii--revenge-of-the-sith/Content?oid=918894 |url-status=live }}</ref> [[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, writing "If [Lucas] got bogged down in solemnity and theory in ''Episode II: Attack of the Clones'', the Force is in a jollier mood this time, and ''Revenge of the Sith'' is a great entertainment", but he noted that "the dialogue throughout the movie is once again its weakest point".<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith-2005 |title=Dark side shadows 'Sith' |last=Ebert |first=Roger |author-link=Roger Ebert |work=Chicago Sun-Times |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=March 8, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216003801/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20050519%2FREVIEWS%2F50503002%2F1023 |archive-date=February 16, 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
Though many critics and fans viewed ''Revenge of the Sith'' as the strongest of the three prequels, some viewers thought it was more or less on par with the previous two episodes.<ref name="Yorker" /> Much of the criticism was directed towards the dialogue, particularly the film's romantic scenes;<ref name="Travers" /><ref name="Writer" /> critics claimed this demonstrated Lucas's weakness as a writer of dialogue, a subject with which Lucas openly agreed when receiving the [[AFI Life Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] from the [[American Film Institute]].<ref name="Writer">{{cite news |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |title=George Lucas admits he's no great writer |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/06/10/lucas050610.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |date=June 10, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416072541/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/06/10/lucas050610.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref> Some film critics and fans criticized Hayden Christensen's acting, calling it "wooden".<ref>{{Cite web|date=May 21, 2020|title=Fifteen years on, how does Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith stand up?|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/21/fifteen-years-on-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-ewan-mcgregor|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=The Guardian |archive-date=November 30, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201130101705/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2020/may/21/fifteen-years-on-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-ewan-mcgregor|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Travers">{{Cite magazine |last=Travers |first=Peter |author-link=Peter Travers |date=May 19, 2005 |title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith-105698/ |access-date=January 28, 2021 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |archive-date=June 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190609090147/https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith-105698/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Chaney|first=Jen|date=December 15, 2017|title=In Defense of Hayden Christensen's Performance in the Star Wars Prequels|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/hayden-christensen-in-the-star-wars-prequels.html|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=[[Vulture.com|Vulture]] |archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034548/https://www.vulture.com/2017/12/hayden-christensen-in-the-star-wars-prequels.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Robinson |first=Joanna |title=Watch Hayden Christensen Cleverly Mock His Worst Star Wars Line|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/hayden-christensen-sand-smooth-star-wars-celebration|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=[[Vanity Fair (magazines)|Vanity Fair]] |date=April 16, 2017 |archive-date=November 11, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111191454/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/04/hayden-christensen-sand-smooth-star-wars-celebration|url-status=live}}</ref> A retrospective review by ''Time'' felt that Christensen's maligned performance was in part affected by the screenwriting.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/6177355/hayden-christensen-obi-wan-kenobi-star-wars-prequels/|title=It's Time to Forgive Hayden Christensen for the ''Star Wars'' Prequels|date=May 20, 2022|last=Dockterman|first=Eliana|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|access-date=July 13, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623003602/https://time.com/6177355/hayden-christensen-obi-wan-kenobi-star-wars-prequels/|archive-date=June 23, 2022|url-status=live}}</ref> |
|||
In 2012, ''[[Glittering Images]]'' art critic [[Camille Paglia]] praised the film, comparing some of its scenes to works by modern painters and calling it "the greatest work of art in recent memory".<ref>Paglia, Camille. Glittering Images: A Journey through Art from Egypt to Star Wars. Pantheon Books, 2012. p. 185, 189</ref> Paglia explained that the film's finale {{quote|...has more inherent artistic value, emotional power, and global impact than anything by the artists you name. It's because the art world has flat-lined and become an echo chamber of received opinion and toxic over-praise. It's like the emperor's new clothes -- people are too intimidated to admit what they secretly think or what they might think with their blinders off. ''Episode III'' epitomizes the modern digital art movement, more so than other piece from the last 30 years. I had considered using Japanese anime for the digital art chapter of the book, but it lacked the overwhelming operatic power and yes, seriousness of Lucas's ''Revenge of the Sith''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Max |title=Is ''Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith'' a Work of Art? Famed art critic calls Episode III the greatest artwork in 30 years. |url=https://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/29/is-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-a-work-of-art |work=IGN |access-date=November 30, 2012 |date=November 29, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107003136/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/29/is-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-a-work-of-art |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>}} |
|||
=== Other responses === |
|||
Though many critics and fans viewed ''Revenge of the Sith'' as the strongest of the three prequels, some viewers thought it was more or less on par with the previous two episodes.<ref name="Yorker" /> Much of the criticism was directed towards the dialogue, particularly the film's romantic scenes,<ref name="Writer" /> and for Christensen's performance which won him his second [[Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor]].<ref name="Razzies" /><ref>{{cite web |last1=Travers |first1=Peter |title=Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-reviews/star-wars-episode-iii-revenge-of-the-sith-105698/ |work=Rolling Stone |access-date=31 December 2019 |language=en |date=19 May 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> Critics have claimed this demonstrated Lucas's weakness as a writer of dialogue, a subject with which Lucas openly agreed when receiving the [[AFI Life Achievement Award|Lifetime Achievement Award]] from the [[American Film Institute]].<ref name="Writer">{{cite news |work=[[Canadian Broadcasting Corporation]] |title=George Lucas admits he's no great writer |url=http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/06/10/lucas050610.html |access-date=May 17, 2008 |date=June 10, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090416072541/http://www.cbc.ca/arts/story/2005/06/10/lucas050610.html |archive-date=April 16, 2009}}</ref> |
|||
Some American [[Conservatism in the United States|conservatives]] criticized the film, claiming it had a [[Media bias|liberal bias]] and was a commentary on the [[George W. Bush]] [[Presidency of George W. Bush|administration]] and [[Iraq War]]. Some websites went so far as to propose a [[boycott]] of the film.<ref name="Politics">{{cite news |work=[[USA Today]] |title=Politics creates a disturbance in the Force |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm |access-date=May 17, 2008 |first=César G. |last=Soriano |date=May 17, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505054308/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lucas defended the film, stating that the film's storyline was written during the [[Vietnam War]] and was influenced by that conflict rather than the war in Iraq. Lucas also said "The parallels between Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable".<ref name="Politics" /> |
|||
Art critic [[Camille Paglia]] praised the film as an essential example of the modern [[digital art]] movement due to its "overwhelming operatic power and yes, seriousness", and arguing that its finale has "more inherent artistic value, emotional power, and global impact" than the work of some [[contemporary art]]ists.<ref>{{cite web |last=Nicholson |first=Max |date=November 29, 2012 |title=Is ''Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith'' a Work of Art? Famed art critic calls Episode III the greatest artwork in 30 years. |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2012/11/29/is-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-a-work-of-art |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107003136/http://uk.ign.com/articles/2012/11/29/is-star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-a-work-of-art |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |access-date=November 30, 2012 |work=IGN}}</ref><ref>{{cite interview |author=Sean Craig |title=Critic Camille Paglia Thinks 'Revenge of the Sith' Is Our Generation's Greatest Work of Art |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/7beqeq/camille-paglia-believes-that-revenge-of-the-sith-is-our-generations-greatest-work-of-art |website=Vice.com |date=November 28, 2012 |access-date=April 19, 2021 |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154132/https://www.vice.com/en/article/7beqeq/camille-paglia-believes-that-revenge-of-the-sith-is-our-generations-greatest-work-of-art |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>Paglia, Camille. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=QnhrFeuq2t8C Glittering Images: A Journey through Art from Egypt to Star Wars] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154132/https://books.google.com/books?id=QnhrFeuq2t8C |date=January 11, 2023 }}''. Pantheon Books, 2012. pp. 185, 189.</ref> |
|||
Some American [[Conservatism|conservatives]] criticized the film, claiming it had a [[Liberalism|liberal]] bias and was a commentary on the [[George W. Bush]] [[Presidency of George W. Bush|administration]] and [[Iraq War]]. Some websites went so far as to propose a [[boycott]] of the film.<ref name="Politics">{{cite news |work=[[USA Today]] |title=Politics creates a disturbance in the Force |url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm |access-date=May 17, 2008 |first1=César G. |last1=Soriano |date=May 17, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505054308/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2005-05-17-sith-politics_x.htm |archive-date=May 5, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Lucas defended the film, stating that the film's storyline was written during the [[Vietnam War]] and was influenced by that conflict rather than the war in Iraq. Lucas did say, however, that "The parallels between Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable".<ref name="Politics" /> |
|||
During the late 2010s, the film amassed a cult following on social media among some young fans who were children when the film was released, using the film's dialogue to create [[Internet meme]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 9, 2020 |author=Caitlin Chappell |title=Star Wars: Gen Z Has Turned Revenge of the Sith Into a Cult Classic |url=https://www.cbr.com/star-wars-gen-z-turned-revenge-of-the-sith-into-cult-classic/ |access-date=March 31, 2021 |website=CBR |archive-date=January 11, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230111154134/https://pixels.ad.gt/api/v1/getpixels?tagger_id=AU1T-0100-2F5C03C325A37A4C727FE325F78429F6&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cbr.com%2Fstar-wars-gen-z-turned-revenge-of-the-sith-into-cult-classic%2F&code=%27none%27 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
|||
=== Box office === |
=== Box office === |
||
The film was released in 115 countries. Its worldwide gross eventually reached $849 million—making it the second |
The film was released in 115 countries. Its worldwide gross eventually reached $849 million—making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2005,<ref name="Mojo" /> behind ''[[Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (film)|Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire]]''.<ref>{{cite web |title=2005 Worldwide Grosses |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2005&p=.htm |access-date=December 20, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019075324/http://boxofficemojo.com/yearly/chart/?view2=worldwide&yr=2005&p=.htm |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The film earned an estimated $16.91 million from 2,900 midnight screenings in North America upon its release. In total, it earned a record $50 million on its opening day,<ref name="first day" /> marking the record for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/release_top_daily_gross_by_dow/?by_occasion=thursday |title=Top Single Day Grosses By Day Of The Week |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=November 2, 2020 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131213327/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/chart/release_top_daily_gross_by_dow/?by_occasion=thursday |url-status=live }}</ref> It was surpassed the following year by ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'', which earned $55.5 million on its opening day.<ref name="Pirates">{{cite web |work=Coming Soon |title=Pirates Breaks Opening Day Record!! |url=https://comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=15303 |access-date=May 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060718222913/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=15303 |archive-date=July 18, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
With only the May 19 earnings, the film broke four box office records: midnight screenings gross (previously held by ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', $8 million), opening day gross (''[[Spider-Man 2]]'', with $40.4 million), single day gross (''[[Shrek 2]]'' with $44.8 million) and Thursday gross (''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' with $37.5 million).<ref name="first day">{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1824 |title='Sith' Destroys Single Day Record |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=May 20, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216151031/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1824 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its single day and opening day gross records were later surpassed by ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' on July 7, 2006, when that movie grossed $55.5 million on its opening day,<ref name="Pirates" /> and its midnight screening gross was broken by ''[[ |
With only the May 19 earnings, the film broke four box office records: midnight screenings gross (previously held by ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'', $8 million), opening day gross (''[[Spider-Man 2]]'', with $40.4 million), single day gross (''[[Shrek 2]]'' with $44.8 million) and Thursday gross (''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' with $37.5 million).<ref name="first day">{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1824 |title='Sith' Destroys Single Day Record |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |date=May 20, 2005 |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216151031/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/news/?id=1824 |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Its single day and opening day gross records were later surpassed by ''[[Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest]]'' on July 7, 2006, when that movie grossed $55.5 million on its opening day,<ref name="Pirates" /> and its midnight screening gross was broken by ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' on July 18, 2008, with $18.5 million.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2008/07/080721.aspx |title=Dark Knight Beats Spider-Man |work=[[Guinness World Records]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |date=July 21, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805012840/http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2008/07/080721.aspx |archive-date=August 5, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> With a total gross of $108.4 million, ''Revenge of the Sith'' would go on to hold the record for having the biggest opening weekend for any [[20th Century Fox]] film for a decade until it was taken by ''[[Deadpool (film)|Deadpool]]'' in 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/deadpool-shatters-box-office-records-with-135-million-weekend-2016-02-14|title='Deadpool' shatters box-office records with $135 million weekend|access-date=March 26, 2022|archive-date=May 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511224520/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/deadpool-shatters-box-office-records-with-135-million-weekend-2016-02-14|url-status=live}}</ref> The year prior, ''[[Minions (film)|Minions]]'' had already surpassed ''Revenge of the Sith'' for having the largest opening weekend for a prequel.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mendelson |first=Scott |date=July 12, 2015 |title=Box Office: 'Minions' Nabs Despicable $115M Weekend For Stunning $395M Worldwide Cume |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/07/12/box-office-minions-nabs-despicable-115m-weekend/ |url-access=limited |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117221802/https://www.forbes.com/sites/scottmendelson/2015/07/12/box-office-minions-nabs-despicable-115m-weekend/ |archive-date=January 17, 2021 |access-date=August 26, 2021 |website=[[Forbes]] }}</ref> |
||
According to box office analysis sites, the film set American records for highest gross in a given number of days for each of its first 12 days of release except for the seventh and eighth, where the record is narrowly held by ''Spider-Man 2''. On its fifth day, it became the highest-grossing film of 2005, surpassing ''[[Hitch (film)|Hitch]]'' ($177.6 million). The film earned $158.5 million in its first four-day period, surpassing the previous four-day record held by ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' ($134.3 million), and joining |
According to box office analysis sites, the film set American records for highest gross in a given number of days for each of its first 12 days of release except for the seventh and eighth, where the record is narrowly held by ''Spider-Man 2''. Within three days, ''Revenge of the Sith'' surpassed ''[[Spider-Man (2002 film)|Spider-Man]]'' for having the highest three-day gross of any film, scoring a total of $124.7 million.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/may/24/star-wars-breaks-box-office-records/|title='Star Wars' breaks box office records|access-date=May 6, 2022|archive-date=May 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506161224/https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2005/may/24/star-wars-breaks-box-office-records/|url-status=live}}</ref> On its fifth day, it became the highest-grossing film of 2005, surpassing ''[[Hitch (film)|Hitch]]'' ($177.6 million). The film earned $158.5 million in its first four-day period, surpassing the previous four-day record held by ''[[The Matrix Reloaded]]'' ($134.3 million), and joining the latter film, ''Spider-Man'', and ''Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire'' as oneof the only four films to make $100 million in their first three days. In eight days, it reached the $200 million mark (a record tied with ''Spider-Man 2'') and by its 17th day, the film had passed $300 million (surpassing the record of 18 days of ''[[Shrek 2]]''). It was eventually the third-fastest film (after ''Shrek 2'' and ''Spider-Man'') to reach $350 million.<ref name="Mojo" /> ''Revenge of the Sith'' earned a total of $55.2 million during its second weekend, making it the [[List of highest-grossing second weekends for films|fourth-highest-grossing second weekend]] of all time, behind ''[[Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone (film)|Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone]]'', ''Spider-Man'' and ''Shrek 2''. The film then earned $70 million in just four days, becoming the seventh-highest [[Memorial Day]] weekend gross of any film, trailing only behind ''Shrek 2'', ''[[The Lost World: Jurassic Park]]'', ''[[The Day After Tomorrow]]'', ''[[Bruce Almighty]]'', ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' and ''[[Mission: Impossible 2]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3279356932/|title='Star Wars' Edges Out Computerized Critters and Secondhand Convicts|first=Brandon|last=Gray|publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]]|access-date=May 6, 2022|archive-date=May 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220506025236/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/article/ed3279356932/|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
The film ended its run in American theaters on October 20, 2005,<ref name="Mojo" /> finishing with a total gross of $380,270,577. It ranks 29th in all-time domestic grosses and is the highest-grossing U.S. of 2005, out-grossing second-place ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' by nearly $90 million.<ref name="Mojo" /> The film sold an estimated 59,324,600 tickets in the US.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm |title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 3, 2016 |date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093611/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
The film ended its run in American theaters on October 20, 2005,<ref name="Mojo" /> finishing with a total gross of $380,270,577. It ranks 29th in all-time domestic grosses and is the highest-grossing U.S. of 2005, out-grossing second-place ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]'' by nearly $90 million.<ref name="Mojo" /> The film sold an estimated 59,324,600 tickets in the US. It topped the domestic box office for two consecutive weekends before being overtaken by ''[[Madagascar (2005 film)|Madagascar]]'' and ''[[The Longest Yard (2005 film)|The Longest Yard]]'' (which were in their second weekend).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm |title=Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith |website=Box Office Mojo |access-date=June 3, 2016 |date=June 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304093611/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=starwars3.htm&adjust_yr=1&p=.htm |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
International grosses that exceeded $460 million include those Australia ($27.2 million), France and Algeria ($56.9 million), Germany ($47.3 million), Italy ($11.3 million), Japan ($82.7 million), Mexico ($15.3 million), South Korea ($10.3 million), Spain ($23.8 million), and the United Kingdom and Ireland ($72.8 million).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=starwars3.htm |title=Star Wars: Episode III – International Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=April 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201042042/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=starwars3.htm |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
International grosses that exceeded $460 million include those Australia ($27.2 million), France and Algeria ($56.9 million), Germany ($47.3 million), Italy ($11.3 million), Japan ($82.7 million), Mexico ($15.3 million), South Korea ($10.3 million), Spain ($23.8 million), and the United Kingdom and Ireland ($72.8 million).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=starwars3.htm |title=Star Wars: Episode III – International Box Office Results |website=[[Box Office Mojo]] |access-date=April 8, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201042042/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=starwars3.htm |archive-date=February 1, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The total worldwide opening of ''Revenge of the Sith'' for each country was $254 million, combined with $304 million from its four-day weekend. It would go on to hold this record for two years before ''[[Spider-Man 3]]'' took it in 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-07-fi-boxoffice7-story.html|title=Spidey sets a new standard for movie openings: rule the world|website=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=May 7, 2007|access-date=March 11, 2022|archive-date=March 11, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220311001726/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-may-07-fi-boxoffice7-story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
=== Accolades === |
=== Accolades === |
||
Following the release of ''Revenge of the Sith''—the completion of the |
Following the release of ''Revenge of the Sith''—the completion of the original and prequel ''Star Wars'' series—on June 9, 2005, George Lucas was presented with the 33rd [[American Film Institute]] Lifetime Achievement Award. The institute honored his "astonishing contributions to the art and technology of filmmaking, as well as the impact of the epic Star Wars series".<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.afi.com/laa/laa05.aspx |title=2005: George Lucas |work=[[American Film Institute]] |date=June 9, 2005 |access-date=May 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328080639/http://www.afi.com/laa/laa05.aspx |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> |
||
Despite being the prequel trilogy's best reviewed and received film, it received fewer award nominations than the previous films. It became the only ''Star Wars'' film not to be nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]; |
Despite being the prequel trilogy's best reviewed and received film, it received fewer award nominations than the previous films. It became the only ''Star Wars'' film not to be nominated for an [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Visual Effects|Best Visual Effects]]; it was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Makeup and Hairstyling|Best Makeup]] ([[Dave Elsey]] and [[Nikki Gooley]]), losing to ''[[The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/78academyawards/nomswins.html |title=Nominees and Winners: 78th Annual Academy Awards |work=[[AMPAS]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703204819/http://www3.oscars.org/78academyawards/nomswins.html |archive-date=July 3, 2008}}</ref> It also won "Favorite Motion Picture" and "Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture" awards at the [[People's Choice Awards]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pcavote.com/pca/history.jsp?year=2006 |title=Past Winners: 2006 |work=[[People's Choice Awards]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622141234/http://www.pcavote.com/pca/history.jsp?year=2006 |archive-date=June 22, 2008}}</ref> "Hollywood Movie of the Year" award at the [[Hollywood Film Festival]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://hollywoodfestival.com/ |title=2005 Hollywood Movie Awards |work=Hollywood Festival |access-date=March 24, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302162916/http://hollywoodfestival.com/ |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Empire Award]]s for [[Empire Award for Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy|Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film]] and [[Empire Award for Scene of the Year|Scene of the Year]] (The birth of Vader),<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/scifi.asp |title=Sony Ericsson Empire Awards 2006: Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy |work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130616205230/http://www.empireonline.com/awards2006/winners/scifi.asp |archive-date=June 16, 2013}}</ref> and the [[Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Action]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.fox.com/tca2005/nominees.htm |title=The Teen Choice Awards 2005 |work=[[Fox Broadcasting Network|Fox]] |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308035958/http://www.fox.com/tca2005/nominees.htm |archive-date=March 8, 2008}}</ref> |
||
As did every film of the original trilogy, the film won the [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Saturn2006.html |title=2006 Saturn Awards |work=Locus Magazine |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829123823/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Saturn2006.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=August 29, 2008}}</ref> |
As did every film of the original trilogy, the film won the [[Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film]]. Williams also won [[Saturn Award for Best Music|Best Music]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Saturn2006.html |title=2006 Saturn Awards |work=Locus Magazine |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080829123823/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Saturn2006.html <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=August 29, 2008}}</ref> The film was nominated for ten [[Saturn Award]]s overall, including [[Saturn Award for Best Director|Best Director]] and [[Saturn Award for Best Writing|Best Writing]] for Lucas, [[Saturn Award for Best Actor|Best Actor]] for Christensen, [[Saturn Award for Best Actress|Best Actress]] for [[Natalie Portman]], and [[Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best Supporting Actor]] for [[Ian McDiarmid]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Saturn Award Nominations |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/02/10/saturn-award-nominations |website=[[IGN]] |publisher=[[Imagine Media]] |access-date=June 6, 2024 |language=en |date=February 10, 2005}}</ref> |
||
Of the three ''Star Wars'' prequels, the film received the fewest [[Golden Raspberry Award]]s nominations: only one, for Christensen as Worst Supporting Actor,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.razzies.com/history/05nomSActo.asp |title=Razzies© 2006 Nominees for Worst Supporting Actor |work=Golden Raspberry Foundation |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623025710/http://www.razzies.com/history/05nomSActo.asp |archive-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> [[26th Golden Raspberry Awards|which he won]].<ref name="Razzies">{{cite web |url=http://www.razzies.com/history/05winners.asp |title=26th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie©) Award "Winners" |work=Golden Raspberry Foundation |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705030031/http://www.razzies.com/history/05winners.asp |archive-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref> (''The Phantom Menace'' and ''Attack of the Clones'' received seven nominations each, with [[20th Golden Raspberry Awards|one]] and [[23rd Golden Raspberry Awards|two wins]], respectively.) It is the only ''Star Wars'' prequel not to receive a Razzie nomination for |
Of the three ''Star Wars'' prequels, the film received the fewest [[Golden Raspberry Award]]s nominations: only one, for Christensen as Worst Supporting Actor,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.razzies.com/history/05nomSActo.asp |title=Razzies© 2006 Nominees for Worst Supporting Actor |work=Golden Raspberry Foundation |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623025710/http://www.razzies.com/history/05nomSActo.asp |archive-date=June 23, 2011}}</ref> [[26th Golden Raspberry Awards|which he won]].<ref name="Razzies">{{cite web |url=http://www.razzies.com/history/05winners.asp |title=26th Annual Golden Raspberry (Razzie©) Award "Winners" |work=Golden Raspberry Foundation |access-date=August 4, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080705030031/http://www.razzies.com/history/05winners.asp |archive-date=July 5, 2008}}</ref> (''The Phantom Menace'' and ''Attack of the Clones'' received seven nominations each, with [[20th Golden Raspberry Awards|one]] and [[23rd Golden Raspberry Awards|two wins]], respectively.) It is the only ''Star Wars'' prequel not to receive a Razzie nomination for Worst Picture. Christensen further won the "Best Villain" award at the [[MTV Movie Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2006/ |title=2006 MTV Movie Awards |work=MTV |access-date=August 4, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423094936/http://www.mtv.com/ontv/movieawards/2006/ |archive-date=April 23, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The film also received the fewest nominations (and no wins) at the [[2005 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards]]: Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More Than $100M, and Worst On-Screen Couple (Christensen and Portman).<ref>{{cite web |title=2005 Stinkers Awards Announced |url=https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/2005-stinker-awards-announced/ |website=Rotten Tomatoes |access-date=September 23, 2019 |archive-date=December 20, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20161220193801/https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/2005-stinker-awards-announced/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
== Themes == |
== Themes == |
||
{{See also|Star Wars sources and analogues}} |
{{See also|Star Wars sources and analogues}} |
||
Throughout ''Revenge of the Sith'', Lucas refers to a wide range of films and other sources, drawing on political, military, and mythological motifs to enhance his story's impact. |
Throughout ''Revenge of the Sith'', Lucas refers to a wide range of films and other sources, drawing on political, military, and mythological motifs to enhance his story's impact. The most media coverage was likely given to an exchange between Anakin and Obi-Wan, leading to the aforementioned conflict: "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy", Anakin declares. Despite Lucas' insistence to the contrary, ''[[The Seattle Times]]'' concluded, "Without naming [[George W. Bush|Bush]] or the [[USA PATRIOT Act|Patriot Act]], it's all unmistakable no matter what your own politics may be."<ref>{{cite news |access-date=May 17, 2008 |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002278140_starwars18.html |title=The Force is with Lucas in his 'Star Wars' finale |work=[[The Seattle Times]] |date=May 18, 2005 |author=Rahner, Mark |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080522140134/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2002278140_starwars18.html |archive-date=May 22, 2008}}</ref> |
||
McDiarmid, Lucas, and others have also called Anakin's journey to the dark side [[Faust]]ian in the sense of making a "pact with the devil" for short-term gain, with the fiery volcano planet Mustafar representing hell.<ref>Lucas interview on CBS's ''[[60 Minutes]]''. [https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml Transcript] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706072716/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml |date=July 6, 2008 }} March 13, 2005</ref> Midway through the film, Lucas intercuts between Anakin and Padmé by themselves, thinking about one another in the Jedi Temple and their apartment, respectively, during sunset. The sequence is without dialogue and complemented by a moody, [[Synthesizer|synthesized]] soundtrack. Lucas' coverage of the exterior cityscapes, skylines and interior isolation in the so-called "Ruminations" sequence is similar to the [[cinematography]] and ''[[Mise en scène|mise-en-scène]]'' of ''[[Rosemary's Baby (film)|Rosemary's Baby]]'', a film in which a husband makes a literal pact with the devil.<ref name="DevilDeal">{{cite web |work=[[Today.com]] |title=Star Wars III: "Titanic in Space" |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/lucas-calls-new-star-wars-film-tearjerker-wbna7224080 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |date=April 11, 2005}}</ref> |
McDiarmid, Lucas, and others have also called Anakin's journey to the dark side [[Faust]]ian in the sense of making a "pact with the devil" for short-term gain, with the fiery volcano planet Mustafar representing hell.<ref>Lucas interview on CBS's ''[[60 Minutes]]''. [https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml Transcript] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080706072716/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/03/10/60minutes/main679325.shtml |date=July 6, 2008 }} March 13, 2005</ref> Midway through the film, Lucas intercuts between Anakin and Padmé by themselves, thinking about one another in the Jedi Temple and their apartment, respectively, during sunset. The sequence is without dialogue and complemented by a moody, [[Synthesizer|synthesized]] soundtrack. Lucas' coverage of the exterior cityscapes, skylines and interior isolation in the so-called "Ruminations" sequence is similar to the [[cinematography]] and ''[[Mise en scène|mise-en-scène]]'' of ''[[Rosemary's Baby (film)|Rosemary's Baby]]'', a film in which a husband makes a literal pact with the devil.<ref name="DevilDeal">{{cite web |work=[[Today.com]] |title=Star Wars III: "Titanic in Space" |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/lucas-calls-new-star-wars-film-tearjerker-wbna7224080 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |date=April 11, 2005 |archive-date=September 27, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927073947/https://www.today.com/popculture/lucas-calls-new-star-wars-film-tearjerker-wbna7224080 |url-status=live }}</ref> |
||
== Other media == |
== Other media == |
||
=== Novelization ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Anakin Skywalker]] --> |
=== Novelization ===<!-- This section is linked from [[Anakin Skywalker]] --> |
||
{{ |
{{Main|Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (novel)}} |
||
The film's novelization was written by [[Matthew Stover]]. It includes much more dialogue than the film, including: a conversation between Count Dooku and Darth Sidious, where the reader learns Palpatine lied to Dooku about what the Empire would truly be; a conversation between Mace Windu and Obi-Wan Kenobi where Obi-Wan expresses self-doubt about whether he is the right Jedi to battle General Grievous; and a conversation between Anakin and Palpatine in which Palpatine promises to give Anakin anything he wants—whether it be a new speeder or the star system Corellia. The novel includes many minor details. For example, during the [[Coruscant|Battle of Coruscant]], Anakin's callsign is Red 5, a reference to Luke's callsign in the [[Battle of Yavin|climactic battle]] of ''[[Star Wars (film)|A New Hope]]'', and one of the Republic capital ships is commanded by Lieutenant Commander Lorth Needa, who becomes Captain Needa in ''The Empire Strikes Back''. There are also references to the ''[[Star Wars: Republic]]'' comic book series, such as the Battle of Jabiim (Volume 3). In addition to this, the siege of the Jedi Temple is much more violent and far more graphically explained than the cinematic version.<ref name="Novel">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' – Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, {{ISBN|0-7126-8427-1}}</ref> |
|||
The film's novelization was written by [[Matthew Stover]]. It has more dialogue than the film, and certain story elements were expanded upon in the novelization including Anakin and Palpatine's relationship and Palpatine's apprenticeship to [[Darth Plagueis]].<ref name="Novel">''Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith'' – Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, {{ISBN|0-7126-8427-1}}</ref> |
|||
Certain story elements were fleshed out further in the novelization. For example, further interactions between Anakin and Palpatine were explored; in one such conversation, Palpatine explicitly says that [[Darth Plagueis]] was his master (in the film, this was merely hinted at). Additionally, it is revealed that the primary reason for Anakin's outrage over not becoming a Jedi master is that only masters have access to the holocrons in the Temple archives, which is where Anakin had hoped to find information about how to prevent Padmé's death. Not only is Saesee Tiin revealed to be a [[telepathy|telepath]], but his horn, lost in the Clone Wars, is revealed to have grown back. The book explains that Palpatine purposely manipulated the Council into sending Obi-Wan to fight General Grievous, because he knew he needed to get Obi-Wan off Coruscant before he could turn Anakin to the dark side. The novel also reveals Mace Windu's rationale for not bringing Anakin along to the fight with Palpatine: he can sense Anakin's fear and distress, and does not believe the young Jedi is in any mental state to fight a Sith Lord. Some humorous lines of dialogue were also included, including extra dialogue in the battle between Grievous and Obi Wan; Grievous says, "I was trained by Count Dooku," and Obi-Wan replies, "What a coincidence; I trained the man who killed him."<ref name="Novel" /> |
|||
=== Video game === |
=== Video game === |
||
{{ |
{{Main|Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith (video game)}} |
||
A [[video game]] based on the film was released on May 5, 2005, two weeks before the film. The game followed the film's storyline |
A [[video game]] based on the film was released on May 5, 2005, two weeks before the film. The game generally followed the film's storyline, integrating scenes from the film. However, many sections of the game featured [[Cutscene|scenes cut]] from the film, or entirely new scenes for the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/608/608359p2.html |title=Revenge of the Sith: The Goods (Part II): Beyond The Movie |access-date=July 7, 2008 |website=IGN |date=April 28, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216142303/http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/608/608359p2.html |archive-date=December 16, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The style of the game was mostly lightsaber combat and fighting as Obi-Wan or Anakin.<ref name="IGN2">{{cite web |url=http://uk.ps2.ign.com/articles/608/608359p1.html |title=Revenge of the Sith: The Goods |access-date=July 7, 2008 |website=IGN |date=April 28, 2005 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131213331/https://www.ign.com/videos |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also has a form of multiplayer mode, which includes both "VS" and "Cooperative" mode.<ref name="IGN2" /> In the first mode, two players fight with characters of their choice against each other in a lightsaber duel to the death. In the latter mode, two players team up to combat increasingly difficult waves of enemies.<ref name="IGN2" /> |
||
== |
=== ''The Clone Wars'' === |
||
{{Main|Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)}} |
|||
{{Portal|Speculative fiction|Film|United States|Science fiction}} |
|||
* [[List of films featuring extraterrestrials]] |
|||
The [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (film)|2008 animated film]] and subsequent [[Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series)|television series]] fill the three-year gap between the events of ''Attack of the Clones'' and ''Revenge of the Sith''. A number of plot threads initially developed for inclusion in ''Revenge of the Sith'' were instead incorporated into ''The Clone Wars''. These include [[Boba Fett]]'s revenge plot against Mace Windu for his father [[Jango Fett|Jango]]'s death, and the solving of the mystery behind deceased Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas which was introduced in ''Attack of the Clones''. The final four episodes of the series take place concurrently with ''Revenge of the Sith''. Several scenes from the film were recreated and expanded for these episodes in order to showcase the whereabouts of Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan [[Ahsoka Tano]] during the events of the film. While Ahsoka was a major character in ''The Clone Wars'', she is not referenced in ''Revenge of the Sith'' as the character had not yet been created at the time that the film was written.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/01/entertainment/star-wars-the-clone-wars-series-finale-preview/index.html |title='Star Wars: The Clone Wars' meets 'Revenge of the Sith' in final episodes |date=May 2020 |access-date=October 31, 2020 |archive-date=July 16, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200716022231/https://edition.cnn.com/2020/05/01/entertainment/star-wars-the-clone-wars-series-finale-preview/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> |
|||
* [[List of films featuring space stations]] |
|||
* [[List of Star Wars films|List of ''Star Wars'' films]] |
|||
=== ''The Bad Batch'' === |
|||
* [[List of Star Wars television series|List of ''Star Wars'' television series]] |
|||
{{Main|Star Wars: The Bad Batch}} |
|||
Several scenes from ''Revenge of the Sith'' were recreated in the first episode ''Aftermath''. This episode also takes place concurrently with the film and the following episodes deal with the aftermath of Order 66 and the Clone Wars. |
|||
=== ''Obi-Wan Kenobi'' === |
|||
{{Main|Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series)}} |
|||
The 2022 miniseries takes place ten years after ''Revenge of the Sith'' (and approximately nine years before ''A New Hope''),{{efn|''Revenge of the Sith'' is set 19 years before ''A New Hope'' (19 BBY) so ''Obi-Wan Kenobi'' is 9 BBY.}} and features flashbacks taking place prior and during the events of the film, with some of the latter via archive footage. McGregor, Christensen, Earl Jones, Edgerton, Piesse, Smits, McDiarmid, and Daniels reprise their roles from the film.<ref>{{cite web |title=Obi-Wan Kenobi |url=https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/obi-wan-kenobi |website=[[disney.com]] |access-date=August 18, 2022 |archive-date=August 19, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220819201516/https://disneyplusoriginals.disney.com/show/obi-wan-kenobi |url-status=live }}</ref> |
|||
=== ''Backstroke of the West'' === |
|||
In 2016, a [[fandub]] of ''Revenge of the Sith'' was released titled ''Star War{{sic}} the Third Gathers: Backstroke of the West''. The script used in the fandub originated from the English subtitles of a [[Mandarin Chinese]] [[Bootleg recording|bootleg]] DVD of the film that had been purchased by an American in [[Shanghai]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/revenge-sith-backstroke-west-bootleg |title=6 reasons why a goofy bootleg is the best version of Revenge of the Sith |last=Glennon |first=Jen |date=May 20, 2020 |website=inverse.com |publisher= |access-date=September 2, 2023 |quote=In 2005, a fellow by the name of Jeremy Winterson bought a bootleg of the movie in Shanghai and noticed something amiss with the English subtitles. |archive-date=September 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902065310/https://www.inverse.com/entertainment/revenge-sith-backstroke-west-bootleg |url-status=live }}</ref> The subtitles, almost entirely filled with errors and mistranslations, stemmed from a bootlegger first having listened to the film in English, writing down what they believed to have heard and occasionally making things up, which was then converted into Mandarin and back into English via inaccurate [[machine translation]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://winterson.com/2009/01/episode-iii-backstroke-of-west-redux.html|title=episode iii, the backstroke of the west redux|date=January 27, 2009|first=Jeremy|last=Winterson|access-date=January 21, 2024|website=Winterson.com|language=en-US|archive-date=January 15, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170115091456/http://winterson.com/2009/01/episode-iii-backstroke-of-west-redux.html}}</ref> resulting in nonsensical [[Chinglish]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Shanley |first=Patrick |date=January 3, 2017 |title='Revenge of the Sith' Dubbed With Bootleg Chinese Dialogue Is a Fan-Made Masterpiece |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/star-wars-revenge-sith-bootleg-chinese-dialogue-is-a-masterpiece-960452/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> |
|||
The dub became an [[Internet meme]] and a [[viral video]] and received praise from multiple news outlets. Patrick Shanley from [[The Hollywood Reporter]] described it as "a fan-made masterpiece",<ref name=":1" /> while Julia Alexander from [[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] called the dub "hilarious".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Alexander |first=Julia |date=January 4, 2017 |title=Bootleg version of Revenge of the Sith features hilarious and bad subtitles |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/4/14167442/star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-bootleg |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512225125/https://www.polygon.com/2017/1/4/14167442/star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-bootleg |url-status=live }}</ref> Derrick Rossignol from [[Nerdist]] went so far as to say that the fandub was "way better" than the original film.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossignol |first=Derrick |title=STAR WARS: REVENGE OF THE SITH Is Way Better with Nonsensical Bootleg Subtitles |url=https://nerdist.com/article/star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-is-way-better-with-nonsensical-bootleg-subtitles/ |access-date=June 8, 2023 |website=Nerdist |language=en-US |archive-date=July 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230701070439/https://nerdist.com/article/star-wars-revenge-of-the-sith-is-way-better-with-nonsensical-bootleg-subtitles/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
|||
== References == |
== References == |
||
=== Footnotes === |
=== Footnotes === |
||
{{ |
{{Notelist}} |
||
=== Citations === |
=== Citations === |
||
{{ |
{{Reflist}} |
||
=== Sources === |
=== Sources === |
||
{{refbegin}} |
{{refbegin}} |
||
* {{cite book |title=The Secret History of Star Wars |publisher=Legacy Books Press |location=Kingston, Ontario |first=Michael |last=Kaminski |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-9784652-3-0 |
* {{cite book |title=The Secret History of Star Wars |publisher=Legacy Books Press |location=Kingston, Ontario |first=Michael |last=Kaminski |year=2008 |isbn=978-0-9784652-3-0 }} |
||
* {{cite book |title=The Making of Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofstarwars0000rinz |url-access=registration |publisher=Del Ray |location=New York City |first=Jonathan W |last=Rinzler |year=2005 |isbn=0-345-43139-1 |
* {{cite book |title=The Making of Star Wars, Revenge of the Sith |url=https://archive.org/details/makingofstarwars0000rinz |url-access=registration |publisher=Del Ray |location=New York City |first=Jonathan W |last=Rinzler |year=2005 |isbn=0-345-43139-1 }} |
||
* {{cite book |last=Slavicsek |first=Bill |title=A Guide to the Star Wars Universe |year=1994 |publisher=Del Rey |edition=2nd |isbn=0-345-38625-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/guidetostarwarsu00slav/page/117 117] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetostarwarsu00slav/page/117 |
* {{cite book |last=Slavicsek |first=Bill |title=A Guide to the Star Wars Universe |year=1994 |publisher=Del Rey |edition=2nd |isbn=0-345-38625-6 |page=[https://archive.org/details/guidetostarwarsu00slav/page/117 117] |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetostarwarsu00slav/page/117 }} |
||
{{refend}} |
{{refend}} |
||
Line 232: | Line 271: | ||
* {{Wookieepedia|Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith''}} |
* {{Wookieepedia|Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith|''Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith''}} |
||
* {{IMDb title|0121766|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
* {{IMDb title|0121766|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
||
* {{ |
* {{ISFDB title|id=171582|title=Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} <!-- novelisation --> |
||
* {{ |
* {{TCMDb title|533702|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
||
* {{ |
* {{AllMovie title|286686|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
||
* {{rotten-tomatoes|star_wars_episode_iii_revenge_of_the_sith|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
|||
* {{mojo title|starwars3|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
|||
* {{metacritic film|star-wars-episode-iii---revenge-of-the-sith|Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith}} |
|||
{{Navboxes| |
|||
|title = ''Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith'' |
|||
|list1 = |
|||
{{Star Wars prequel trilogy}} |
|||
{{Star Wars|state=collapsed}} |
{{Star Wars|state=collapsed}} |
||
{{George Lucas}} |
{{George Lucas}} |
||
Line 245: | Line 285: | ||
{{Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film 1991–2010}} |
{{Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film 1991–2010}} |
||
{{Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Action}} |
{{Teen Choice Award Choice Movie Action}} |
||
{{Yearly highest-grossing US films}} |
|||
}} |
|||
{{Authority control}} |
{{Authority control}} |
||
{{Portal bar|Film|United States|Speculative fiction|Science fiction|Space}} |
|||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith}} |
||
[[Category:Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith| ]] |
[[Category:Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith| ]] |
||
[[Category:2005 films]] |
|||
[[Category:2005 science fiction films]] |
|||
[[Category:American films]] |
|||
[[Category:English-language films]] |
|||
[[Category:2000s adventure films]] |
[[Category:2000s adventure films]] |
||
[[Category:2000s |
[[Category:2000s English-language films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:2000s pregnancy films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:2000s science fiction adventure films]] |
||
[[Category:American |
[[Category:2000s American films]] |
||
[[Category:American science fiction action films]] |
[[Category:American science fiction action films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:2005 films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:2005 science fiction action films]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]] |
||
[[Category:American films about revenge]] |
[[Category:American films about revenge]] |
||
[[Category:American pregnancy films]] |
|||
[[Category:American science fiction war films]] |
|||
[[Category:Film and television memes]] |
|||
[[Category:Films directed by George Lucas]] |
|||
[[Category:Films produced by Rick McCallum]] |
|||
[[Category:Films scored by John Williams]] |
|||
[[Category:Films shot at Elstree Film Studios]] |
|||
[[Category:Films shot at Shepperton Studios]] |
|||
[[Category:Films shot in China]] |
[[Category:Films shot in China]] |
||
[[Category:Films shot in Italy]] |
[[Category:Films shot in Italy]] |
||
[[Category:Foreign films shot in Switzerland]] |
|||
[[Category:Films shot in Sydney]] |
[[Category:Films shot in Sydney]] |
||
[[Category:Foreign films shot in Thailand]] |
|||
[[Category:Interquel films]] |
|||
[[Category:Films using computer-generated imagery]] |
|||
[[Category:2000s science fiction adventure films]] |
|||
[[Category:Star Wars films|Revenge of the Sith]] |
|||
[[Category:20th Century Fox films]] |
|||
[[Category:Films shot at Elstree Studios]] |
|||
[[Category:Lucasfilm films|Star Wars Episode 3]] |
|||
[[Category:Films scored by John Williams]] |
|||
[[Category:Films directed by George Lucas]] |
|||
[[Category:Films produced by Rick McCallum]] |
|||
[[Category:Films with screenplays by George Lucas]] |
[[Category:Films with screenplays by George Lucas]] |
||
[[Category: |
[[Category:Films shot in Switzerland]] |
||
[[Category:Films shot in Thailand]] |
|||
[[Category:Films using motion capture]] |
|||
[[Category:Golden Raspberry Award winning films]] |
|||
[[Category:Interquel films]] |
|||
[[Category:Lucasfilm films]] |
|||
[[Category:Star Wars Skywalker Saga films|Revenge of the Sith]] |
|||
[[Category:Films about coups d'état]] |
|||
[[Category:American sequel films]] |
|||
[[Category:American prequel films]] |
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith | |
---|---|
![]()
Theatrical release poster by Drew Struzan
| |
Directed by | George Lucas |
Written by | George Lucas |
Produced by | Rick McCallum |
Starring |
|
Cinematography | David Tattersall |
Edited by |
|
Music by | John Williams |
Production | |
Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 140 minutes[1] |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $113 million[2] |
Box office | $868.4 million[2] |
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a 2005 American epic space opera film that is the sequel to The Phantom Menace (1999) and Attack of the Clones (2002). It is the sixth film in the Star Wars film series, the third installment in the Star Wars prequel trilogy, and third chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". It is written and directed by George Lucas, who also served as executive producer. The film stars Ewan McGregor, Natalie Portman, Hayden Christensen, Ian McDiarmid, Samuel L. Jackson, Christopher Lee, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz.
Revenge of the Sith is set three years after the onset of the Clone Wars as established in Attack of the Clones. The Jedi are spread across the galaxy in a full-scale war against the Separatists. The Jedi Council dispatches Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi on a mission to defeat General Grievous, the head of the Separatist army and Count Dooku's former apprentice, to put an end to the war. Meanwhile, after having visions of his wife Padmé Amidala dying in childbirth, Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker is tasked by the Council to spy on Palpatine, the Supreme Chancellor of the Galactic Republic and, secretly, the Dark Lord of the Sith Darth Sidious. Sidious manipulates Anakin into turning to the dark side of the Force and becoming his apprentice, Darth Vader, with wide-ranging consequences for the galaxy.
Lucas began writing the script before production of Attack of the Clones ended, citing that he wanted the end of the trilogy to have similar aspects to a romantic tragedy, thus building into Darth Vader's state at the beginning of the next film. Production of Revenge of the Sith started in June 2003, and filming took place in Australia with additional locations in Thailand, Switzerland, China, Italy, and the United Kingdom.
Revenge of the Sith premiered on May 15, 2005, at the Cannes Film Festival, then released worldwide on May 19, 2005. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, with most regarding it as the best film of the trilogy, although some criticism was reserved for Lucas's screenplay and Christensen's performance. It broke several box office records during its opening week and went on to earn $868.4 million worldwide, making it the second-highest-grossing film in the Star Wars franchise at the time. It was the highest-grossing film in the U.S. and the second-highest-grossing film worldwide in 2005. It also holds the record for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday, making $50 million. It is also the final Star Wars film to be distributed by Fox, although it would be also acquired by Disney five years after it acquired Lucasfilm.
Orbiting above Coruscant, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker lead a mission to rescue Supreme Chancellor Palpatine from the cyborg Separatist commander General Grievous. After infiltrating Grievous' flagship, Obi-Wan and Anakin battle the Sith Lord Count Dooku, whom Anakin decapitates at Palpatine's insistence. Grievous escapes the damaged ship before Obi-Wan and Anakin crash-land it on Coruscant. There, Anakin reunites with his wife Padmé Amidala, who tells him that she is pregnant. Soon after, Anakin has visions of Padmé dying in childbirth.
Palpatine appoints Anakin to the Jedi Council as his own personal representative. Distrusting Palpatine, the Council agrees but refuses to make Anakin a Jedi Master. They instead instruct him to spy on Palpatine, diminishing Anakin's faith in the Jedi. Meanwhile, on Utapau, Grievous relocates the Separatist leaders to the volcanic planet Mustafar. Obi-Wan travels to Utapau where he confronts and kills Grievous, while Yoda travels to the Wookiee planet of Kashyyyk to defend it from the Separatist droid attack on the Wookiees.
Palpatine tempts Anakin with the dark side of the Force, promising it can save Padmé. Anakin deduces that Palpatine is the Sith Lord behind the Clone Wars[a] and reports his treachery to Mace Windu, who confronts and subdues Palpatine, leaving the latter disfigured. Desperate to save Padmé, Anakin prevents Windu from killing Palpatine by slicing his right hand off. Palpatine then sends Windu falling to his death. Anakin pledges himself to the Sith, and Palpatine knights him as Darth Vader. Palpatine issues Order 66, which commands the clone troopers to kill their commanding Jedi generals across the galaxy, while Vader and a battalion of clone troopers kill the remaining Jedi in the Jedi Temple. Vader then travels to Mustafar to assassinate the Separatist leaders, while Palpatine declares himself Emperor before the Galactic Senate, transforming the Republic into the Galactic Empire. He denounces the Jedi as traitors.
Obi-Wan and Yoda return to Coruscant and learn that Anakin has turned to the dark side. Yoda instructs Obi-Wan to confront Vader while he faces Palpatine. Obi-Wan seeks out Padmé to discover Vader's whereabouts and reveals his treachery. Padmé travels to Mustafar—unaware Obi-Wan has stowed aboard her ship—and pleads with Vader to abandon the dark side. When Obi-Wan emerges, an enraged Vader believes Padmé has betrayed him and strangles her. Obi-Wan and Vader engage in a lightsaber duel, which ends with Obi-Wan severing Vader's left arm and both legs. Vader is then burned alive by a nearby lava flow as Obi-Wan retrieves Vader's lightsaber before leaving him for dead.
Meanwhile, Yoda battles Palpatine on Coruscant, culminating in a stalemate. Yoda flees with Senator Bail Organa and regroups with Obi-Wan and Padmé on the planetoid Polis Massa. Padmé gives birth to twins, whom she names Luke and Leia. She dies soon after, still believing there is good in Anakin. Palpatine recovers a barely alive Vader. On Coruscant, Vader's mutilated body is treated and encased in a black, armored life-support suit. When he asks about Padmé, Palpatine says Vader killed her out of rage, leaving Vader devastated.
Obi-Wan and Yoda conceal the twins' birth from the Sith and retreat into exile until the Empire can be challenged. As Padmé's funeral is underway on Naboo, Palpatine and Vader supervise the construction of the Death Star.[b] Bail takes Leia to Alderaan to raise her as his daughter. Obi-Wan delivers Luke to his step-uncle and step-aunt, Owen and Beru Lars, on Tatooine. Obi-Wan settles nearby as a recluse while watching over young Luke.
Peter Mayhew, Oliver Ford Davies, Ahmed Best, and Silas Carson reprise their roles as Chewbacca, Sio Bibble, Jar Jar Binks, and Nute Gunray and Ki-Adi-Mundi, respectively, from the previous films. Joel Edgerton and Bonnie Piesse also make cameo appearances, reprising their roles as Owen and Beru Lars respectively from Attack of the Clones. Sound engineer Matthew Wood provides the voice of General Grievous, the fearsome cyborg commander of the Separatists' droid army, who had been trained in wielding a lightsaber by Count Dooku. Wood took over the role, after Gary Oldman was originally cast in the role, but had to drop out of the production due to scheduling conflicts; Oldman had completed some voice-over work.[5][6] Temuera Morrison portrays Commander Cody and the rest of the clone troopers. Bruce Spence portrays Tion Medon, local administrator of Utapau. Jeremy Bulloch (who played Boba FettinThe Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi) appears as Captain Colton, the pilot of the CR70 corvette Tantive III.[7] Genevieve O'Reilly portrays senator Mon Mothma, though her speaking scene was ultimately cut.[8][9][10][e] Rohan Nichol portrays Captain Raymus Antilles.[11]
Wayne Pygram appears as a young Wilhuff Tarkin, and stunt coordinator Nick Gillard appears as a Jedi named Cin Drallig (his name spelled backward, without the 'k').[12] Editor Roger Barton's son Aidan Barton portrays Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa as infants.
Director and Star Wars creator George Lucas has a cameo as Baron Papanoida, a blue-faced alien in attendance at the Coruscant opera house.[13] Lucas' son Jett portrays Zett Jukassa, a young Jedi-in-training. One of Lucas' daughters, Amanda, appears as Terr Taneel, seen in a security hologram, while his other daughter Katie plays a blue-skinned Pantoran named Chi Eekway, visible when Palpatine arrives at the Senate after being saved by the Jedi and talking to Baron Papanoida at the opera house.[14][15] Christian Simpson appeared as a stunt double for Hayden Christensen.[16]
George Lucas said he conceived the Star Wars saga's story in the form of a plot outline in 1973. However, he later clarified that, at the time of the saga's conception, he had not fully realized the details—only major plot points.[17] The film's climactic duel has its basis in the Return of the Jedi novelization, in which Obi-Wan recounts his battle with Vader that ended with the latter falling "into a molten pit".[18] Lucas began working on the screenplay for Episode III before the previous film, Attack of the Clones, was released, proposing to concept artists that the film would open with a montage of seven battles on seven planets.[19]InThe Secret History of Star Wars, Michael Kaminski surmises that Lucas found flaws with Anakin's fall to the dark side and radically reorganized the plot. For example, instead of opening the film with a montage of Clone War battles, Lucas decided to focus on Anakin, ending the first act with him killing Count Dooku, an action that signals his turn to the dark side.[20]
A significant number of fans speculated online about the episode title for the film with rumored titles including Rise of the Empire, The Creeping Fear (which was also named as the film's title on the official website on April Fool's 2004), and Birth of the Empire.[21] Eventually, Revenge of the Sith also became a title guessed by fans that George Lucas would indirectly confirm.[22] The title is a reference to Revenge of the Jedi, the original title of Return of the Jedi; Lucas changed the title scant weeks before the premiere of Return of the Jedi, declaring that a true Jedi could never seek revenge.[23]
Lucas had originally planned to include even more ties to the original trilogy, and wrote early drafts of the script in which a 10-year-old Han Solo appeared on Kashyyyk, but the role was not cast or shot. He also wrote a scene in which Palpatine reveals to Anakin that he created him from midichlorians, and is thus his "father", a clear parallel to Vader's revelation to Luke in The Empire Strikes Back, but later scrapped this scene as well. Another planned scene by Lucas that was written during the early development of the film was a conversation between Master Yoda and the ghostly Qui-Gon Jinn, with Liam Neeson reprising his role as Jinn (he also hinted his possible appearance in the film).[24] However, the scene was never filmed and Neeson was never recorded, although the scene was present in the film's novelization.
After principal photography was complete in 2003, Lucas made even more changes to Anakin's character, rewriting his turn to the dark side. Lucas accomplished this through editing the principal footage and filming new scenes during pickups in London in 2004.[25] In the previous versions, Anakin had several reasons for turning to the dark side, one of which was his sincere belief that the Jedi were plotting to take over the Republic. Although this is still intact in the finished film, by revising and refilming many scenes, Lucas emphasized Anakin's desire to save Padmé from death. Thus, in the version that made it to theaters, Anakin falls to the dark side primarily to save Padmé.[25]
For the Kashyyyk environment, the art department turned to the Star Wars Holiday Special for inspiration.[26] Over a period of months, Lucas would approve hundreds of designs that would eventually appear in the film. He would later rewrite entire scenes and action sequences to correspond to certain designs he had chosen.[25] The designs were then shipped to the pre-visualization department to create moving CGI versions known as animatics. Ben Burtt would edit these scenes with Lucas in order to pre-visualize what the film would look like before the scenes were filmed.[25] The pre-visualization footage featured a basic raw CGI environment with equally unprocessed character models performing a scene, typically for action sequences. Steven Spielberg was brought in as a "guest director" for the film's climax, overseeing the pre-visualization of an unused version of the Utapau chase scene[27] and making art-design suggestions for the Order 66 assassinations as well as the Mustafar duel.[28][29][f] The pre-visualization and art department designs were sent to the production department to begin building sets, props and costumes.[25]
Although the first scene filmed was the final scene to appear in the film (shot during the filming of Attack of the Clones in 2000),[30][g] the first bulk of principal photography on the film occurred from June 30, 2003, to September 17, 2003, with additional photography at Shepperton Studios in Surrey and Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire from August 2004 to January 31, 2005.[25] The initial filming took place on sound stages at Fox Studios AustraliainSydney, although practical environments were shot as background footage later to be composited into the film. These included the limestone mountains depicting Kashyyyk, which were filmed in Phuket, Thailand. The production company was also fortunate enough to be shooting at the same time that Mount Etna erupted in Italy. Camera crews were sent to the location to shoot several angles of the volcano that were later spliced into the background of the animatics and the final film version of the planet Mustafar.[25]
While shooting key dramatic scenes, Lucas would often use an "A camera" and "B camera", or the "V technique", a process that involves shooting with two or more cameras at the same time in order to gain several angles of the same performance.[25] Using the HD technology developed for the film, the filmmakers were able to send footage to the editors the same day it was shot, a process that would require a full 24 hours had it been shot on film.[25] Footage featuring the planet Mustafar was given to editor Roger Barton, who was on location in Sydney cutting the climactic duel.
Hayden Christensen said Lucas asked him "to bulk up and physically show the maturity that had taken place between the two films."[32] The actor explained that he worked out with a trainer in Sydney for three months and ate "six meals a day and on every protein, weight gain supplement that man has created" to go from 160 lb (73 kg) to 185 lb (84 kg).[33]
Christensen and Ewan McGregor began rehearsing their climactic lightsaber duel long before Lucas would shoot it. They trained extensively with stunt coordinator Nick Gillard to memorize and perform their duel together. As in the previous prequel film, McGregor and Christensen performed their own lightsaber fighting scenes without the use of stunt doubles.[34] The speed at which Vader and Obi-Wan engage in their duel is mostly the speed at which it was filmed, although there are instances where single frames were removed to increase the velocity of particular strikes. An example of this occurs as Obi-Wan strikes down on Vader after applying an armlock in the duel's first half.[17]
Revenge of the Sith was the first Star Wars film in which Anakin Skywalker and the suited Darth Vader were played by the same actor in the same film. As Christensen recounted, it was originally intended to simply have a "tall guy" in the Darth Vader costume, but, after "begging and pleading", Christensen persuaded Lucas to have the Vader costume used in the film created specifically to fit him. The new costume featured shoe lifts and a muscle suit.[35] It also required Christensen (who is 6 feet or 1.8 metres tall) to look through the helmet's mouthpiece.[36]
In 2004, Gary Oldman was originally approached to provide the voice of General Grievous;[37] however, complications arose during contract negotiations after Oldman learned the film was to be made outside of the Screen Actors Guild, of which he is a member. He backed out of the role rather than violate the union's rules.[38] Matthew Wood, who voiced Grievous, disputed this story at Celebration III, held in Indianapolis. According to him, Oldman is a friend of producer Rick McCallum, and thus recorded an audition as a favor to him, but was not chosen.[39] Wood, who was also the supervising sound editor, was in charge of the auditions and submitted his audition anonymously in the midst of 30 others, under the initials "A.S." for Alan Smithee.[40] Days later, he received a phone call asking for the full name to the initials "A.S."[41]
The post-production department (handled by Industrial Light & Magic) began work during filming and continued until weeks before the film was released in 2005. Special effects were created using almost all formats, including model work, CGI and practical effects. The same department later composited all such work into the filmed scenes—both processes taking nearly two years to complete. Revenge of the Sith has 2,151 shots that use special effects, a world record.[42]
The film required 910 artists and 70,441 man-hours to create 49 seconds of footage for the Mustafar duel alone.[25] Members of Hyperspace, the Official Star Wars Fan Club, received a special look into the production. Benefits included not only special articles, but they also received access to a webcam that transmitted a new image every 20 seconds during the time it was operating in Fox Studios Australia. Many times the stars, and Lucas himself, were spotted on the webcam.[43]
Lucas excised all scenes of a group of Senators, including Padmé, Bail Organa, and Mon Mothma (Genevieve O'Reilly), organizing an alliance to prevent Palpatine from usurping any more emergency powers. Though this is essentially the birth of the Rebel Alliance, the scenes were discarded to achieve more focus on Anakin's story.[17] The scene where Yoda arrives on Dagobah to begin his self-imposed exile was also removed, but is featured as an extended scene in the DVD release, although McCallum stated he hoped Lucas would have added it to the new cut as part of a six-episode DVD box set.[17]
Bai Ling filmed minor scenes for the film playing a senator, but her role was cut during editing. She claimed this was because she appeared in a nude pictorial for the June 2005 issue of Playboy, whose appearance on newsstands coincided with the film's May release. Lucas denied this, stating that the cut had been made more than a year earlier, and that he had cut his own daughter's scenes as well.[44] The bonus features show an additional removed scene in which Jedi Master Shaak Ti is killed by General Grievous in front of Obi-Wan and Anakin.[45] The bonus features also show Obi-Wan and Anakin running through Grievous' ship, escaping droids through a fuel tunnel, and arguing over what R2-D2 is saying.[17]
The music was composed and conducted by John Williams, who has composed and conducted the score for every episode in the Star Wars saga, and performed by the London Symphony Orchestra and London Voices in February 2005.[46] The film's soundtrack was released by Sony Pictures Classical Records on May 3, 2005, more than two weeks before the film's release. A music video titled A Hero Falls was created for the film's theme, "Battle of the Heroes", featuring footage from the film and was also available on the DVD.[47]
The soundtrack also came with a collectors' DVD hosted by McDiarmid, titled Star Wars: A Musical Journey, which features 16 music videos set to remastered selections of music from all six film scores, set chronologically through the saga.[48]
The first trailer for Revenge of the Sith premiered in theaters on November 5, 2004, with the release of The Incredibles.[49] It was also attached to the screenings of The Polar Express, National Treasure, Alexander, Ocean's Twelve, Meet the Fockers, Flight of the Phoenix and other films. At the same time, the trailer became available on the Internet.[50] Just four months later, another trailer was unveiled on March 10, 2005, debuting with The O.C.'s "The Mallpisode" during the second season (Lucas himself would appear in a later episode) and in theaters with the release of Robots the next day on March 11. On March 14, it would then premiere on the official Star Wars website.[51] Three days later on March 17, George Lucas revealed a preview of the film at the ShoWest Convention in Las Vegas, saying "It's not like the old Star Wars. This one's a little bit emotional. We like to describe it as Titanic in space. It's a tearjerker."[52]
Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith charity premieres took place in Seattle, Los Angeles, Chicago, Washington D.C., Boston, Denver, Atlanta, San Francisco, and Miami on Thursday, May 12, 2005;[53] and on May 13, 2005, there were two additional charity premiere screenings in George Lucas's hometown of Modesto, California. The official premiere was at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival (out of competition) on May 16.[54] Its theatrical release in most other countries took place on May 19 to coincide with the 1999 release of The Phantom Menace (the 1977 release of A New Hope and the 1983 release of Return of the Jedi were also released on the same day and month, six years apart). The global outplacement firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas claimed one week before the premiere that it may have cost the U.S. economy approximately US$627 million in lost productivity because of employees who took a day off or reported in sick.[55] Grauman's Chinese Theatre, a traditional venue for the Star Wars films, did not show it. However, a line of people stood there for more than a month hoping to convince someone to change this.[56] Most of them took advantage of an offer to see the film at a nearby cinema, ArcLight Cinemas (formerly the "Cinerama Dome").[57] On May 16, the Empire CinemainLondon's Leicester Square hosted a day-long Star Wars marathon showing of all six films; an army of Imperial stormtroopers "guarded" the area, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra gave a free concert of Star Wars music.[58]
A copy of the film leaked onto peer-to-peer file sharing networks just hours after opening in theaters. The film was a time-stamped workprint, suggesting it may have come from within the industry rather than from someone who videotaped an advance screening.[59] Eight people were later charged with copyright infringement and distributing material illegally. Documents filed by the Los Angeles District Attorney allege that a copy of the film was taken from an unnamed Californian post-production office by an employee, who later pleaded guilty to his charges.[60] The illegal copy was passed among seven people until reaching an eighth party, who also pleaded guilty to uploading to an unnamed P2P network.[61]
Revenge of the Sith is the first Star Wars film to receive a PG-13 rating from the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA), officially for "sci-fi violence and some intense images",[62] namely for the scene in which Darth Vader is set aflame by lava. Lucas had stated months before the MPAA's decision that he felt the film should receive a PG-13 rating, because of Anakin's final moments and the film's content being the darkest and most intense of all six films.[63] Roger Ebert and Richard Roeper later opined that children would be able to handle the film as long as they had parental guidance.[64] All previously released films in the series were rated PG.[62][h]
Revenge of the Sith was released on DVD and VHS on October 31, 2005, in the UK and Ireland; on November 1, 2005, it was released in the United States and Canada on DVD; and on November 3, 2005, it was released in Australia. It was also released in most major territories on or near the same day.[65] The DVD release consists of widescreen and pan and scan full-screen versions and is THX certified. This two-disc set contains one disc with the film and the other one with bonus features. The first disc features three randomized selected menus, which are Coruscant, Utapau and Mustafar.[66] There is an Easter egg in the options menu. When the THX Optimizer is highlighted, the viewer can press 1-1-3-8. By doing this, a hip hop music video with Yoda and some clone troopers will play.[67]
The DVD includes a number of documentaries including a new full-length documentary as well as two featurettes, one which explores the prophecy of Anakin Skywalker as the Chosen One, the other looking at the film's stunts and a 15-part collection of web-documentaries from the official web site. Like the other DVD releases, included is an audio commentary track featuring Lucas, producer Rick McCallum, animation director Rob Coleman, and ILM visual effects supervisors John Knoll and Roger Guyett. Six deleted scenes were included with introductions from Lucas and McCallum.
This release is notable because, due to marketing issues, it was the first Star Wars film never to be released on VHS in the United States.[68] However, the film was released on VHS in Australia, the UK and other countries.[69][better source needed]
The DVD was re-released in a prequel trilogy box set on November 4, 2008.[70]
The six Star Wars films were released by 20th Century Fox Home EntertainmentonBlu-ray on September 16, 2011, in three different editions.[71]
On April 7, 2015, Walt Disney Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Lucasfilm jointly announced the digital releases of the six released Star Wars films. Revenge of the Sith was released through the iTunes Store, Amazon Video, Vudu, Google Play, and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 10, 2015.[72]
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment reissued Revenge of the Sith on Blu-ray, DVD, and digital download on September 22, 2019.[73] Additionally, all six films were available for 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos streaming on Disney+ upon the service's launch on November 12, 2019.[74] This version of the film was released by Disney on 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray on March 31, 2020, whilst being re-released on Blu-ray and DVD.[75] All 20th Century Fox Fanfare and logo sequences on the first six films have been restored following the completion of Disney's acquisition of that studio in 2019 having been removed for the initial digital releases, except for A New Hope, which Fox had asked to retain all rights for prior to the sale of the studio to Disney.
On September 28, 2010, it was announced that all six films in the series were to be stereo-converted to 3D. The films would be re-released in chronological order beginning with The Phantom Menace on February 10, 2012. Revenge of the Sith was originally scheduled to be re-released in 3D on October 11, 2013.[76][i] However, on January 28, 2013, Lucasfilm announced that it was postponing the 3D release of episodes II and III in order to "focus 100 percent of our efforts on Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and that further information about 3D release plans would be issued at a later date.[78][79][80] The premiere of the 3D version was shown on April 17, 2015, at Star Wars Celebration Anaheim.[81]
Onreview aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 79% based on 305 reviews, with an average rating of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "With Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, George Lucas brings his second Star Wars trilogy to a suitably thrilling and often poignant – if still a bit uneven – conclusion."[82]OnMetacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 68 out of 100, based on 40 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews".[83] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film an average grade of『A−』on an A+ to F scale, the same score as the previous two films.[84]
Most critics have considered the film to be the best of the prequel trilogy.[85] A. O. ScottofThe New York Times concluded that it was "the best of the four episodes Mr. Lucas has directed", and equal to The Empire Strikes Back as "the richest and most challenging movie in the cycle".[86] J.R. Jones, a Chicago Reader critic who disliked The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, gave the film a positive review, saying that it had a "relatively thoughtful story".[87] Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, writing "If [Lucas] got bogged down in solemnity and theory in Episode II: Attack of the Clones, the Force is in a jollier mood this time, and Revenge of the Sith is a great entertainment", but he noted that "the dialogue throughout the movie is once again its weakest point".[88]
Though many critics and fans viewed Revenge of the Sith as the strongest of the three prequels, some viewers thought it was more or less on par with the previous two episodes.[85] Much of the criticism was directed towards the dialogue, particularly the film's romantic scenes;[89][90] critics claimed this demonstrated Lucas's weakness as a writer of dialogue, a subject with which Lucas openly agreed when receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.[90] Some film critics and fans criticized Hayden Christensen's acting, calling it "wooden".[91][89][92][93] A retrospective review by Time felt that Christensen's maligned performance was in part affected by the screenwriting.[94]
Some American conservatives criticized the film, claiming it had a liberal bias and was a commentary on the George W. Bush administration and Iraq War. Some websites went so far as to propose a boycott of the film.[95] Lucas defended the film, stating that the film's storyline was written during the Vietnam War and was influenced by that conflict rather than the war in Iraq. Lucas also said "The parallels between Vietnam and what we're doing in Iraq now are unbelievable".[95]
Art critic Camille Paglia praised the film as an essential example of the modern digital art movement due to its "overwhelming operatic power and yes, seriousness", and arguing that its finale has "more inherent artistic value, emotional power, and global impact" than the work of some contemporary artists.[96][97][98]
During the late 2010s, the film amassed a cult following on social media among some young fans who were children when the film was released, using the film's dialogue to create Internet memes.[99]
The film was released in 115 countries. Its worldwide gross eventually reached $849 million—making it the second-highest-grossing film of 2005,[2] behind Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.[100] The film earned an estimated $16.91 million from 2,900 midnight screenings in North America upon its release. In total, it earned a record $50 million on its opening day,[101] marking the record for the highest opening-day gross on a Thursday.[102] It was surpassed the following year by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, which earned $55.5 million on its opening day.[103]
With only the May 19 earnings, the film broke four box office records: midnight screenings gross (previously held by The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, $8 million), opening day gross (Spider-Man 2, with $40.4 million), single day gross (Shrek 2 with $44.8 million) and Thursday gross (The Matrix Reloaded with $37.5 million).[101] Its single day and opening day gross records were later surpassed by Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest on July 7, 2006, when that movie grossed $55.5 million on its opening day,[103] and its midnight screening gross was broken by The Dark Knight on July 18, 2008, with $18.5 million.[104] With a total gross of $108.4 million, Revenge of the Sith would go on to hold the record for having the biggest opening weekend for any 20th Century Fox film for a decade until it was taken by Deadpool in 2016.[105] The year prior, Minions had already surpassed Revenge of the Sith for having the largest opening weekend for a prequel.[106]
According to box office analysis sites, the film set American records for highest gross in a given number of days for each of its first 12 days of release except for the seventh and eighth, where the record is narrowly held by Spider-Man 2. Within three days, Revenge of the Sith surpassed Spider-Man for having the highest three-day gross of any film, scoring a total of $124.7 million.[107] On its fifth day, it became the highest-grossing film of 2005, surpassing Hitch ($177.6 million). The film earned $158.5 million in its first four-day period, surpassing the previous four-day record held by The Matrix Reloaded ($134.3 million), and joining the latter film, Spider-Man, and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as one of the only four films to make $100 million in their first three days. In eight days, it reached the $200 million mark (a record tied with Spider-Man 2) and by its 17th day, the film had passed $300 million (surpassing the record of 18 days of Shrek 2). It was eventually the third-fastest film (after Shrek 2 and Spider-Man) to reach $350 million.[2] Revenge of the Sith earned a total of $55.2 million during its second weekend, making it the fourth-highest-grossing second weekend of all time, behind Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Spider-Man and Shrek 2. The film then earned $70 million in just four days, becoming the seventh-highest Memorial Day weekend gross of any film, trailing only behind Shrek 2, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, The Day After Tomorrow, Bruce Almighty, Pearl Harbor and Mission: Impossible 2.[108]
The film ended its run in American theaters on October 20, 2005,[2] finishing with a total gross of $380,270,577. It ranks 29th in all-time domestic grosses and is the highest-grossing U.S. of 2005, out-grossing second-place The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by nearly $90 million.[2] The film sold an estimated 59,324,600 tickets in the US. It topped the domestic box office for two consecutive weekends before being overtaken by Madagascar and The Longest Yard (which were in their second weekend).[109]
International grosses that exceeded $460 million include those Australia ($27.2 million), France and Algeria ($56.9 million), Germany ($47.3 million), Italy ($11.3 million), Japan ($82.7 million), Mexico ($15.3 million), South Korea ($10.3 million), Spain ($23.8 million), and the United Kingdom and Ireland ($72.8 million).[110] The total worldwide opening of Revenge of the Sith for each country was $254 million, combined with $304 million from its four-day weekend. It would go on to hold this record for two years before Spider-Man 3 took it in 2007.[111]
Following the release of Revenge of the Sith—the completion of the original and prequel Star Wars series—on June 9, 2005, George Lucas was presented with the 33rd American Film Institute Lifetime Achievement Award. The institute honored his "astonishing contributions to the art and technology of filmmaking, as well as the impact of the epic Star Wars series".[112]
Despite being the prequel trilogy's best reviewed and received film, it received fewer award nominations than the previous films. It became the only Star Wars film not to be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects; it was nominated for Best Makeup (Dave Elsey and Nikki Gooley), losing to The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.[113] It also won "Favorite Motion Picture" and "Favorite Dramatic Motion Picture" awards at the People's Choice Awards,[114] "Hollywood Movie of the Year" award at the Hollywood Film Festival,[115] Empire Awards for Sci-Fi/Fantasy Film and Scene of the Year (The birth of Vader),[116] and the Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie – Action.[117]
As did every film of the original trilogy, the film won the Saturn Award for Best Science Fiction Film. Williams also won Best Music.[118] The film was nominated for ten Saturn Awards overall, including Best Director and Best Writing for Lucas, Best Actor for Christensen, Best Actress for Natalie Portman, and Best Supporting Actor for Ian McDiarmid.[119]
Of the three Star Wars prequels, the film received the fewest Golden Raspberry Awards nominations: only one, for Christensen as Worst Supporting Actor,[120] which he won.[121] (The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones received seven nominations each, with one and two wins, respectively.) It is the only Star Wars prequel not to receive a Razzie nomination for Worst Picture. Christensen further won the "Best Villain" award at the MTV Movie Awards.[122] The film also received the fewest nominations (and no wins) at the 2005 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards: Worst Screenplay for a Film Grossing More Than $100M, and Worst On-Screen Couple (Christensen and Portman).[123]
Throughout Revenge of the Sith, Lucas refers to a wide range of films and other sources, drawing on political, military, and mythological motifs to enhance his story's impact. The most media coverage was likely given to an exchange between Anakin and Obi-Wan, leading to the aforementioned conflict: "If you're not with me, then you're my enemy", Anakin declares. Despite Lucas' insistence to the contrary, The Seattle Times concluded, "Without naming Bush or the Patriot Act, it's all unmistakable no matter what your own politics may be."[124]
McDiarmid, Lucas, and others have also called Anakin's journey to the dark side Faustian in the sense of making a "pact with the devil" for short-term gain, with the fiery volcano planet Mustafar representing hell.[125] Midway through the film, Lucas intercuts between Anakin and Padmé by themselves, thinking about one another in the Jedi Temple and their apartment, respectively, during sunset. The sequence is without dialogue and complemented by a moody, synthesized soundtrack. Lucas' coverage of the exterior cityscapes, skylines and interior isolation in the so-called "Ruminations" sequence is similar to the cinematography and mise-en-scèneofRosemary's Baby, a film in which a husband makes a literal pact with the devil.[126]
The film's novelization was written by Matthew Stover. It has more dialogue than the film, and certain story elements were expanded upon in the novelization including Anakin and Palpatine's relationship and Palpatine's apprenticeship to Darth Plagueis.[127]
Avideo game based on the film was released on May 5, 2005, two weeks before the film. The game generally followed the film's storyline, integrating scenes from the film. However, many sections of the game featured scenes cut from the film, or entirely new scenes for the game.[128] The style of the game was mostly lightsaber combat and fighting as Obi-Wan or Anakin.[129] It also has a form of multiplayer mode, which includes both "VS" and "Cooperative" mode.[129] In the first mode, two players fight with characters of their choice against each other in a lightsaber duel to the death. In the latter mode, two players team up to combat increasingly difficult waves of enemies.[129]
The 2008 animated film and subsequent television series fill the three-year gap between the events of Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith. A number of plot threads initially developed for inclusion in Revenge of the Sith were instead incorporated into The Clone Wars. These include Boba Fett's revenge plot against Mace Windu for his father Jango's death, and the solving of the mystery behind deceased Jedi Master Sifo-Dyas which was introduced in Attack of the Clones. The final four episodes of the series take place concurrently with Revenge of the Sith. Several scenes from the film were recreated and expanded for these episodes in order to showcase the whereabouts of Anakin Skywalker's former Padawan Ahsoka Tano during the events of the film. While Ahsoka was a major character in The Clone Wars, she is not referenced in Revenge of the Sith as the character had not yet been created at the time that the film was written.[130]
Several scenes from Revenge of the Sith were recreated in the first episode Aftermath. This episode also takes place concurrently with the film and the following episodes deal with the aftermath of Order 66 and the Clone Wars.
The 2022 miniseries takes place ten years after Revenge of the Sith (and approximately nine years before A New Hope),[j] and features flashbacks taking place prior and during the events of the film, with some of the latter via archive footage. McGregor, Christensen, Earl Jones, Edgerton, Piesse, Smits, McDiarmid, and Daniels reprise their roles from the film.[131]
In 2016, a fandubofRevenge of the Sith was released titled Star War [sic] the Third Gathers: Backstroke of the West. The script used in the fandub originated from the English subtitles of a Mandarin Chinese bootleg DVD of the film that had been purchased by an American in Shanghai.[132] The subtitles, almost entirely filled with errors and mistranslations, stemmed from a bootlegger first having listened to the film in English, writing down what they believed to have heard and occasionally making things up, which was then converted into Mandarin and back into English via inaccurate machine translation,[133] resulting in nonsensical Chinglish.[134]
The dub became an Internet meme and a viral video and received praise from multiple news outlets. Patrick Shanley from The Hollywood Reporter described it as "a fan-made masterpiece",[134] while Julia Alexander from Polygon called the dub "hilarious".[135] Derrick Rossignol from Nerdist went so far as to say that the fandub was "way better" than the original film.[136]
In 2005, a fellow by the name of Jeremy Winterson bought a bootleg of the movie in Shanghai and noticed something amiss with the English subtitles.
International |
|
---|---|
National |
|