Revenge of the Sith

The new Star Wars Episode III trailer is out: www.starwars.com

As is obvious, this is the movie that brings the entire Star Wars series together. Back in 1999, I predicted that Episode III will be the biggest selling movie of all time. While I and II didn't do as well, this one will bring out the old Star Wars fans in droves, multiple times. (Star Wars - A New Hope was the very first movie I ever saw.)

I recently just explained to my 7 year old nephew about the differences between the dark and good side of the Force and which characters were on each side, who their apprentices/padawans were, etc. While the plot line in Ep. I was quite simple, Ep. II was a very complex story line, difficult for even me to explain to people, which is likely why a lot of people didn't get it or enjoy it as much. It is a political movie, showing how the powerful can play both sides without anyone knowing (even those watching it happen right in front of them).

I had to explain to my nephew that Palpatine and Darth Sidious are the same person. My nephew then asked me which side the clones were on. I said, "That's a very good question and difficult to answer." So here it goes... In Ep. II we see Yoda telling these cloned stormtrooper-like soldiers what to do, yet two movies later, they are dictated by Darth Vader. We must remember that the clones (stormtroopers) were created as clones of Boba Fett, as hired by the Republic, with Chancellor Palpatine at the head of the Senate (he was elected in Ep. I) to defend itself against the separatists, secretly led by, Count Dooku (aka Darth Tyranus), the new apprentice of Darth Sidious (after Darth Maul was killed).

In Ep. III, I predict we will see the clones obviously winning the war -- strengthening Chancellor Palpatine's power. Anakin and Queen Amidala, who were secretly married, will have a couple of children (who become Luke and Leia). But the Jedi find out (Obi Wan) and shame Anakin for his marriage. Amidala is then killed by Darth Tyranus and this fuels Anakin's rage and conversion to the dark side when he kills Darth Tyranus in revenge and because the Jedi basically disown Anakin. The Jedi then secretly take Leia to Bail Organa - Viceroy and First Chairman of Alderaan and Luke will head off to Tatooine to his uncle Owen by Obi Wan. Darth Sidious then takes on an angry Anakin as his new apprentice and Anakin becomes Darth Vader, who kills many Jedi. Yoda obviously flees to his swampy planet, while Obi Wan becomes a hermit on Tatooine.

This may not be entirely accurate, but it does link it all together. As I said, Revenge of the Sith will be a huge success. The plot will be easier to understand (as I have shown above), but the real attraction will be witnessing Anakin's rage and conversion to the dark side, as well as how Palpatine reveals himself as the Emperor. These are the "dark times" when the empire takes over, as revealed to Luke by an old Obi Wan in Episode IV.

Dark times, yes, but there's always a new hope. That and my old roommate will likely get excited again as he continues to increase the size of his Star Wars Lego collection, knowing that it will also come to and end.

May the Force (read: God) be with you. We will discuss the similarities of the Star Wars series with religion at another time.