Critical reaction towards the film was generally positive. Film review site Rotten Tomatoes calculated an approval rating of 80% based on 253 reviews, making it the prequel trilogys highest-rated film and the third-highest-rated film of the entire Star Wars saga: The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones and Return of the Jedi are rated 57%, 67%, and 78% respectively, while A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back are rated 93% and 96% respectively. Some critics considered it the best of the prequels,[56] while other reviewers judged it to be the best Star Wars film since The Empire Strikes Back. 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.[56] In a 2007 summary of the 100 Best Science-Fiction Films on Rotten Tomatoes, Revenge of the Sith was placed 51 out of 100, making it the only prequel film in the Star Wars series to earn a ranking. Jonathan Rosenbaum, a critic who disliked A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, gave the film a positive review saying that it had a relatively thoughtful story. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times gave the film 3½ stars out of four, 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.[57] Camille Paglia praised the film, comparing some of its scenes to works by modern painters.[58] Though many critics and fans saw it as one of the best of the series, or at least, the strongest of the three prequels, some saw it as more or less on par with The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.[56] Much of the criticism for the film was directed towards the dialogue, particularly the films romantic scenes, and for Hayden Christensens performance (which won him his second Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor). Critics and fans alike were quick to jump on such lines as Hold me, Ani. Hold me, like you did by the lake on Naboo...where there was nothing but our love...[56] Critics have claimed this demonstrated Lucas weakness as a writer of dialogue, a subject with which Lucas openly agreed when receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute.[59] Some American conservatives criticized the film, claiming it has a liberal bias and is a commentary on the George W. Bush administration and the Iraq War. Some websites went so far as to propose a boycott of the film. Lucas defended the film, stating that the films storyline was written during the Vietnam War and was influenced by that conflict rather than the war in Iraq. Lucas did note, however, that The parallels between Vietnam and what were doing in Iraq now are unbelievable.[60] In November 2012, art critic Camille Paglia wrote in her book Glittering Images that analyzed 29 works throughout art history that the film was the greatest work of art in recent memory. Paglia explained, The long finale of Revenge of the Sith has more inherent artistic value, emotional power, and global impact than anything by the artists you name. Its because the art world has flat-lined and become an echo chamber of received opinion and toxic over-praise. Its like the emperors 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 Lucass Revenge of the Sith.[61]
Posted on: Thu, 13 Nov 2014 06:22:48 +0000
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015