Revenge of the Sith, also known as Star Wars: Episode IX - Revenge of the Sith is a 1992 epic space opera film directed by George Lucas. It is the third installment in the Star Wars sequel trilogy, the sixth installment in the franchise, and the ninth film of the Star Wars saga.
It takes place a year after the events of The Force Awakens and sees Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill), Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), and Han Solo (Harrison Ford) confronting the New Order on the planet Geonosis.
It received positive reviews, with the movie's action and conclusion being praised.
Plot[]
The New Rebellion is hiding out on the planet Ahch-To. Luke Skywalker trains Leia and Darrin on an island, while the Rebellion plans an attack on the New Order. A spy discovers that the New Order is hiding on the planet Geonosis, where the first Death Star was designed, but that there is a shield around the planet.
Han Solo and Lando are sent to the planet Kijimi to shut down the shield generator, while Luke, Leia, and Darrin feel drawn to the moon Kef Bir, where they discover wreckage from the second Death Star. There, they are confronted by Darth Starkiller. Starkiller cuts off Leia's hand, and as the three fly away, Luke shows them a hologram that he discovered in the wreckage, claiming that Darth Starkiller was cloned from Darth Vader in secret.
Meanwhile, on Kijimi, the Rebellion attack the shield generator, but Lando is killed. Han, angry nearly kills the New Order General Marven, who escapes.
Luke, Han, Leia, and Darrin reunite on Geonosis, where they attack the New Order's tower. Darth Starkiller duels Leia, but learns from General Marven that he is a clone. Starkiller kills Marven and destroys the New Order's tower, crippling the army and killing himself in the process.
Back on Yavin 4, Han proposes to Leia, while Luke searches for more Jedi to join Darrin and Leia.
Reviews[]
Contemporary reviews praised the film's plot, effects, end of the story, and acting, and especially praised the final battle on Geonosis, with The New York Times calling it "a breathtaking spectacle of cutting-edge practical effects and computer-generated imagery).
Revenge of the Sith is given a rating of 96% on Rotten Tomatoes. Time's 2021 ranking of the 15 main Star Wars films put Revenge of the Sith at number 7, with the review reading "Revenge of the Sith delivers a powerful and emotional conclusion to the Star Wars sequels, without forgetting the spectacle we all love the movies for."
Imperial Cut[]
Like the other two sequel trilogy films, Revenge of the Sith was rereleased as part of the Imperial Cut of the sequel trilogy, restoring deleted scenes and VFX shots removed from the released cut of the films. This version had the most additions and differences. Some additions include:
- A scene where Leia builds a new lightsaber.
- Multiple scenes of Admiral Ackbar directing the attack on Geonosis from the base on Ahch-To.
- Two additional scenes of Darth Starkiller and General Marven discussing the planned destruction of the Galactic Union's government.
- A scene in which Leia has a vision of Yoda and Obi-Wan.
- An extended version of the battle on Geonosis
- An extended scene where Luke speaks to Anikan Skywalker's force ghost.
- An added scene where the New Rebellion ships encounter a New Order fleet on their way to Geonosis.
- A scene in which several Rebellion soldiers are attacked by undead Geonosians (this scene was removed to maintain a PG rating, but a Geonosian is scene watching the soldiers pass in the theatrical release. In the Imperial Cut, this leads to the attack)