May the 4th be with you! It’s Star Wars Day for our US audience, but in Australia it’s already Sith Day, time for Revenge of the 5th. What better way to celebrate than by getting Dionne’s first reactions to Revenge of the Sith after she’s just seen it for the first time? We dive into the prequel trilogy but especially that final film, as well as two animated endeavours that both introduced fan-favourite villains long before they were ever seen in live-action.

Darth Maul, battle droids and Qui-Gon Jinn. Dooku, clone troopers and coarse sand that gets everywhere. We preface our discussion of Episode III with a highlights tour through Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) and Episode II: Attack of the Clones (2002).

In the concluding season of Clone Wars: The Micro-Series (2003), the Jedi barely escape from a formidable General Grievous revealed in this series a year before his appearance on the movie screen. Grievous returns near the end of the Clone War to kidnap Chancellor Palpatine. This animated precursor to Episode III comes from visionary Genndy Tartakovsky and deepens Anakin’s tragic fall to the dark side with a detour to help the planet Nelvaan.

Infamous variety show, The Star Wars Holiday Special, aired on TV in 1978 and was largely a bizarre first TV entry in the Star Wars franchise. The highlight was a 12-minute animated short, The Story of The Faithful Wookiee (1978), which introduced audiences to an animated Boba Fett, two whole years before he’d arrive in cinemas via The Empire Strikes Back (1981).

Finally, we witness Order 66 and the creation of the Galactic Empire and Darth Vader in Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005). We discuss Anakin Skywalker’s tragic downfall, CG Yoda, Coruscant space battles, concept art, coughs, comics, cameos, Chewbacca’s family, Cinefex, Mustafar, and the combination of breakthrough digital technology, miniature work and practical effects.

Timestamps:

• Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace (1999) &
  Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones (11:34)
• Star Wars: Clone Wars: Micro-Series (2003) (30:10)
• Star Wars: The Story of the Faithful Wookiee (1978) (44:24)
• Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith (2005) (53:15)
• Star Wars: Obi-Wan Kenobi (2022) (40:14)

Follow Us:

You can find us online via DIY Film School:

• Facebook
• Instagram
• Twitter
• Our Website (under construction)
• Subscribe on Apple Podcasts