Book Review: REVENGE OF THE SITH

I finally finished this book. Due to time restraints from work it took me nearly two weeks to get through it.

Without giving anything away, I can honestly say that this is a very good book. The descriptions, conspiracies, and story lines are extremely intricate and well written. It reads at about a 6th grade level. Not tough reading. Very entertaining.


Now, I will discuss the story. If you want to be surprised when you see the movie skip the following. I can assure you that even if you have read all the spoilers, as I have, on the net about this movie, you still don't have a clear idea what will happen, and how it conspires.

***SPOILERS***


The opening battle will likely be out of control. In the book it's pretty crazy. On film it can only be fantastic.

Previously it's been said that Grievous has a very minor role in this movie. Not true. His role is much more important than Dooku's even. Obi-Wan gets to kill Grievous. That was a diversion so Palpatine can work on Anakin to make him his Sith apprentice.

If you didn't already know, Palpatine is Darth Sidious. Okay?

Pay attention to EVERYTHING. Palpatine's conspiracy is SO involved that there is absolutely no way he could lose unless he was killed.

Jar Jar Binks DOES show up, if only for a second.

Palpatine seriously pwnz3rs some J3di ass. In that famous pic in the Chancellor's office, he kills two of the Masters in absolutely no time. Kit Fisto actually gets to put up a fight but bites it and loses his head.

Ever wonder how the pleasant looking Palpatine ends up as that disfigured looking Emperor in Return of the Jedi? You'll see. During the battle with Mace Sidious channels all the powers of the dark side which forever distorts his appearance.

Mace Windu surely dies. The rumors were always that he gets Force shoved from a balcony. Only partly true. Anakin assists Palpatine in destroying Mace.

Anakin's descent into the dark side is a function of Palpatine's manipulation. Palpatine knows that Anakin will do anything to save the lives of his loved ones. He shares that he knows a Sith method of preserving life. Anakin wants this power so badly that he turns on everyone to achieve it. In the end Anakin destroys all he knows and loves for that power, only not to have anyone to use that power for.

The Force guides Sidious to name Anakin Darth Vader.

Anakin does help destroy the Jedi. He opens up the Temple for the Clones to go in and kill. Anakin assists in the slaughter.

Yoda battles Sidious one on one. During this battle the 900 year old master realizes that the Jedi have adhered to closely to ancient rites and methods, never evolving. However the Sith learned from their mistakes in the past and stepped it up and had become ever more powerful than the Jedi could even conceive. Knowing that the Jedi too must adapt to changes Yoda is defeated by Sidious and escapes with a long-term plan for the future.

Anakin and Obi-Wan do have their epic battle. Only after Obi-Wan learns to let go of his love for his friend is he able to defeat Anakin. Those "toasty" pics on the net seem to be pretty accurate, but he does not fall into the lava. After Obi-Wan cuts off Anakin's legs and last flesh arm, the remaining torso which is Anakin is left clawing at the banks of a lava river trying to keep from being burned to a cinder. Obi-Wan escapes just before Sidious appears and rescues Anakin. This is when the Darth Vader in black that we know and love is built on the shreds of Anakin.

Right after child birth Amidala dies due to systemic failure. Anakin had used the Force to strangle her because he thinks she brought Obi-Wan to kill him. It seems to have infected her in some way. Bail Organa of Alderaan adopts Leia. Obi-Wan brings Luke to the Lars family on Tattooine. Yoda heads to Degobah. In exile these last known two Jedi Masters will remain to master new Jedi techniques in hopes of defeating Sidious.

I have no idea how the ending will be on the screen, but to me, the ending was terribly sad and harsh.