Talkin' Sith

What does Star Wars: Episode 3 have that the rightly hated Episodes 1 and 2 did not? Darth Vader, people. I know, it's seems a little simplistic, but Star Wars IS Darth Vader. The whole franchise revolves the Vader character. So, it's about time we all start examining a little more closely about why Vader is so important to the series. This is all we're going to get (in big screen format anyway) of our favorite Lord of the Sith, so let's see what we know about the big bad Dark Side of the Force. What made him so set on the path to the Dark Side?

I hate having to write this, but the following bit has spoilers.


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OK. So let's break down the use of the word Sith, for starters. Characters in previous film have a relationship with the Sith. Sometimes, it seems as though the Sith is a philosophy or religion. Sometimes, the references to the Sith seems to be to a group of people. Perhaps the followers of the Sith ideas, collectively are the Sith. This all makes sense to me. Does calling the characters Sith in this last enstallment follow this model? In my opinion, not really. The Jedi and others refer to Anikin as " a Sith," a statement rather like "a Christian, a Jew" etc. I was looking for more of the tenets of our main characters newly adopted faith. We get only a little bit of mythology about cheating death using the Dark Side.

If wanting to be powerful and immortal drove our confused Anakin to the Sith camp, I could find that plausible. Let's face it. It takes a certain kind of personality to want to be a Jedi anyway. Add the quest for self-realization (and of course power) that is the path of any Jedi, and then offer the young aspirant a quick and easy way to advance more rapidly in raw ability (a kind of Spiritual Steriods). You have the earmarks of legitimate temptation. Anakin could gracefully succumb to such temptation, and we'd all understand. We don't like Darth Vader the power-hungry, but we understand.

Instead, we get Darth Vader the Love-sick, and Darth Vader the Naive. I can presume that the Chancelor's influence is strong. That makes it possible, I think, to give the young Jedi the idea that must be obvious to him anyways. That idea is simply this: "I'd move along further if I didn't play by the rules." I question the whole love story, but the added threat of death in childbirth is not carried of well in this film. Anakin turns to the Dark Side to save his love. That's his big reason. Does that seem like a good idea to you?

Believe it or not, I liked this film a lot. It is dark, as I'd hoped it would be. We get a good amount of face-time with Vader as he follows out the Emperor's instructions to wipe out the Jedi. The Jedi battles are far better than in previous films (The 4-6 series included). It is a tale that hints at the Death Star, TIE Fighters, and other motiffs we've come to associate with the series.

What I don't want are any more love stories in Star Wars. Sorry, they don't work.

Oh, and Metaclorines??? Again???? Give it a rest, Lucas.