Episode #801: Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Added 2025-05-20 04:00:05 +0000 UTC“Hold on to your hats, folks, Chris Cabin likes this movie!” - Eric
On this week’s episode, we’re going back to The Prequels on the Summer Blockbuster Extravaganza to do a proper episode on Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith! How great is that Count Dooku exit at the beginning? How catty are all the sarcastic Battle Droids? Does this movie have the best-looking space battles in all the prequels? How funny is R2 lighting those guys on fire after whizzing oil all over them? And, yeah, that Vader shout at the end of the movie is still one of the most unintentionally hilarious moments in all of Star Wars! PLUS: Palpatine blurs out his Zoom background when making secret calls from the toilet!
Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith stars Ewan McGregor, Hayden Christian, Natalie Portman, Ian McDiarmid, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson, Anthony Daniels, Christopher Lee, Bruce Spence, Silas Carson, Temuera Morrison, Kenny Baker, and Frank Oz as the voice of Yoda; directed by George Lucas.
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Original cover art by Felipe Sobreiro.
Comments
Really curious how this is gonna go 9 years after the Sithmentary! I live on that commentary during the work times, so I'm pretty familiar with the critiques you guys offer. Excited to drink a tall glass of water--sadly slightly less tall since my bong broke the other day, but bubblers are still on hand--and really dig in! Love you guys, best of luck in Oxford; get set to wear the Blue!
Zora McBride
2025-06-20 17:02:19 +0000 UTCSomeone has probably mentioned this in the past, but Commander Cody's name is also a Lucas serial reference to Rocketeer precursor Commando Cody, who can be seen in many of the (fairly rough) first season MST3K episodes.
Billie Jackson
2025-06-17 16:22:29 +0000 UTCit makes sense that Trickster from that one CD-Rom movie is also Palpatine
Johnny Wrong
2025-05-31 23:48:22 +0000 UTCFun review but wow between this and your commentary, it was like night and day! :) You liked it so much more this time..
Geoff Gershon
2025-05-31 20:32:04 +0000 UTCYou guys should take a trip to Galaxy's Edge together! The Disneyland version is incredible!
Robert Calvillo
2025-05-26 05:41:50 +0000 UTCIt's nice to hear that we're still doing DAVID BOWIE UPDATES when Natalie Portman is in the movie.
Tim O'
2025-05-23 16:45:44 +0000 UTCHuge reccomend?!? Cabin needs to move to a cabin in the mountains & eat elk
Jan
2025-05-23 13:21:40 +0000 UTCCall signs update Andrew: bitchy droid Steve: no steve Eric: blondie Chris: wrong cabin
Jan
2025-05-23 09:05:31 +0000 UTCObiWan leaving Anakin gets explained. Killing Anakin as he burned would have been a mercy he wasn't feeling merciful.
Greg Vann
2025-05-23 03:23:04 +0000 UTCHe may not be in the room but he's still the biggest coward in the room. Andrew saying Steve would bail on the jedi was my favorite moment of this episode
Jonathan Lyons
2025-05-22 21:50:40 +0000 UTCMissing Steve so much, I'm wistfully listening to his MeUndies read on repeat...
Brandon
2025-05-22 21:38:25 +0000 UTCI’ve never been able to stay awake for this entire movie. In fact, I went to a 20th anniversary screening and listened to EP 3 WHM Commentary and made it about an hour in before I fell asleep until the last 10 minutes. Best nap I’ve had in a while.
Shawn
2025-05-22 17:32:50 +0000 UTCWookie space lasers!
Jamie
2025-05-22 15:04:13 +0000 UTCChris Cabin still working for that “most contrarian critic “ title he was shortlisted for a few (many?) years back. I’ve also softened on the prequels, still don’t like them, but I see that they were trying something. Which I can’t say for the sequel trilogy.
John Harrison
2025-05-22 08:38:25 +0000 UTCShit sorry for the novel, Nick Cage’s wife in 8mm would pissed!
RJ Cunningham
2025-05-21 22:12:31 +0000 UTCI had remembered hearing there was a Kenobi show when it was brought up and did my signature eye roll, as I’m a Simon Pegg–like holdout over pretty much everything not Original Trilogy (on VHS). Eric mentioning there was a fan edit intrigued me, and Andrew reminded me, “Oh yeah, a Ewan McGregor movie,” so I found it online and gave it a shot… holy shit. I was blown away. Beyond fantastic. If this had been a theatrically released movie, it would have been fucking enormous. I was excited to actually be impressed, talking 10 minutes in, already having it as the famously easy-to-reach “fourth best Star Wars property.” Halfway through, I realized people having this in the impossible-to-reach “top three Star Wars movies” would be believable. After the movie, it’s my third favorite Star Wars movie. Nice knowing ya ROTJ Vader was actually fucking terrifying again. Ewan McGregor. My fucking god. He’s my Star Wars goat now whatever that would mean. I was fucking bawling at the end. Actually kinda throughout. I’m sliding this into my personal headcanon. And honestly I’m not going to read up on what the (now) Legendary Patterson Cut “got wrong!!” (and lemme guess who every little Nazi boy’s least favorite character is), because to me, this is Kenobi, and I’d be bored by the 12-hour, small-screen, necrocapitalism-supporting experience.
RJ Cunningham
2025-05-21 22:10:17 +0000 UTCSpaghetti and Meatbot. Run with it.
William K. Wolfrum
2025-05-21 21:11:42 +0000 UTCSmiling like the Grinch at Chris liking this (I love it)
Sophie Brown
2025-05-21 14:12:42 +0000 UTCI feel like Lucas missed a real bait and switch opportunity with casting McDiarmid as palpatine. Instead of the world's most obvious "twist", you give Senator Palpatine a super loyal and obsessive number 2. This person feels that the Jedi betrayed him/abandoned him, which led to Palpatine's death. So then this number 2 (secret sith) decides to get revenge on the Jedi and adopts the Palpatine moniker to honor his fallen mentor. Idk, maybe?
Dennis Stack
2025-05-21 13:59:19 +0000 UTCoh my god i want to see andrew jupin's Livejournal
Convincing John
2025-05-21 08:06:29 +0000 UTCAnakin is such a tragic character; the scenes on Mustafar make me cry every time. And a simple change in the score behind existing scenes could go a long way toward painting Obi Wan and the council in the more villainous light that they deserve. I can't remember which actor said there was a 6 hr cut of The Phantom Menace that Lucas screened before the premiere that was really good. But it makes me wish there was still footage around to do alternate cuts now. You can't change the stiff performances but regardless, this movie is evidence that this trilogy could have been great.
Monster Mittenz
2025-05-21 04:15:01 +0000 UTCEric’s right this movie still sucks. I’ll still watch it and I’ll always have a crush on evil Anakin but it’s bad, and that’s okay.
Rhea
2025-05-21 03:57:32 +0000 UTCUnlimited power?
Craig
2025-05-21 03:27:30 +0000 UTCYeah he definitely does, so it’s a callback (call forward?) to that
Craig
2025-05-21 03:25:02 +0000 UTCYoda really does pull a Chuck Schumer on this movie. "Off to Dagobah I am, good luck fellow Jedi!"
Michael Daniels
2025-05-20 23:56:20 +0000 UTCReally liked this particular conversation. I have a soft spot for both RotS and Last Jedi because, for all their stumbles, they demonstrate the potential of storytelling in the setting the best of the post-OT films. RotS carries the essence of a Greek tragedy - a man blessed by the gods whose human frailties ultimately damn him - and it makes you wish the other two films had been focused enough to make the conclusion feel more complete.
John Edwards
2025-05-20 21:31:11 +0000 UTCdude so much funk fakin' in this ep.
Brandon
2025-05-20 21:14:45 +0000 UTCPrior to ep 3 releaae i rrecall having a heated argument with a coworker who didn't think Senator Palpatine and the Emperor was the same person and was a big mislead.
Darryl Bowen
2025-05-20 21:00:32 +0000 UTCDidn’t Chewbacca also do a Tarzan yell with Ewoks before he stole the AT-ST in Return of the Jedi? Maybe Wookiees love Tarzan
Marcus Holdgrave
2025-05-20 20:12:00 +0000 UTCI had that General Grievous maquette from the Tartakovsky series sitting on my bookshelf for a long time, I thought he was an awesome character
Smaug
2025-05-20 19:28:13 +0000 UTCThe grevious cough was for rots meant to show the incompatibility of organic parts and droid tech. But grevious was introduced in the clone wars shorts series without it so in the last episode of the shorts, which is minutes before the start of this movie, they had windu crush grevious chest to sync it up. The later clone wars series I believe follows the original idea . Though the shorts grevious is by far the more intimidating and interesting version outside of the comics. That's probably just my opinion though.
Kureigu
2025-05-20 19:18:05 +0000 UTCThis prequel trilogy really showed the three kinds of actors. Ones who are good, only good with good directors, and good regardless.
Tala Hobballah
2025-05-20 18:48:26 +0000 UTCThe romances are hardly my fave part of Star Wars, but to contrast the weird-yet-hot pathology of Syril/Dedra and the genuine tenderness of Cassian/Bix to the wooden bizarreness of Anakin and Padmé is just...truly something.
Rose Esposito
2025-05-20 18:25:35 +0000 UTCIt’s pretty interesting that this eps AND the Sithmentary are both individually better than the fckn movie. That’s right Chris, i said it
Jan
2025-05-20 18:23:00 +0000 UTCIs this a poem?
Rose Esposito
2025-05-20 18:12:24 +0000 UTCI believe this is now the 2nd episode that also has a commentary (the first being C.H.U.D.) and I'm happy to have them! It's great to be able to pop on the commentary and then download the new episode and get a double-serving of good comedy.
Busiris
2025-05-20 17:25:44 +0000 UTCit's interesting how 20+yo bad movies have been aging gracefully compared to their modern counterparts. When something like The Electric State gets shat out, of course movies with real choices being made look better
StylinGreymon
2025-05-20 16:03:55 +0000 UTCGeneral Grievous’ Wheel is 100% Dr. Doom’s vehicle from the Marvel toy line in the ‘80s. I definitely had that
Kevin Lynch
2025-05-20 15:27:06 +0000 UTCThis is the most polished turd of the three polished turds and I’m sorry we have to be immune to the ‘no, they are actually good’ retrospective because these movies are BAD. Also J.J. is back in TV with HBO (Max)’s Duster!
Meara Brady
2025-05-20 15:16:59 +0000 UTCGreat ep! This movie's not for me, but I love the jokes. "George does have some really cool, grounded ideas about how we should feel about death...let go of everything you fear you will use." I think this is the only time I've ever heard Andrew have something complimentary to say about religion, even if it's indirectly. George is just whole cloth inserting Buddhist (most of them Zen) and Toaist ideas into his movie just like he did with the original trilogy and his concept of the force and the Jedi
Smaug
2025-05-20 14:37:30 +0000 UTCI WANT to love this movie so much. I have definitely softened on it though. I would agree with Chris that this is my #4. I can reconcile with everything but the dialogue. Good lord George have you ever met a real person?
Matt
2025-05-20 13:41:19 +0000 UTCI absolutely hate this movie. I hate it with a PASSION. And that passion gives me strength, through which I attain POWER. Of course that power leads to victory. The force will set me free of this fucking shit ass movie. BUT it’s okay to like a movie.
imipolexGforce
2025-05-20 13:40:17 +0000 UTCMarjorie Taylor Gleep 😂😂😂
TDB
2025-05-20 13:27:34 +0000 UTCit’s one of those rare moments I’m glad there’s a 7 hour time difference between you and I. June 20th is my brother’s birthday but I’ll be able to make it to the live show as always. Thanks for everything you do!
Eren Keskin
2025-05-20 13:08:59 +0000 UTCThat was probably cut because it actually gave the character some agency. And God forbid.
MarkNM
2025-05-20 13:06:18 +0000 UTCYou're likely right and I forgot because I didn't rewatch that one. Apologies, my Lord! - Eric
We Hate Movies
2025-05-20 12:55:08 +0000 UTCAccording to Iain McCaig who was the lead concept artist behind this(he’s also the reason I love this mess), the original ending was Anakin leaving to go to Mustafar, while Padme secretly plotting the Rebellion, already knowing Anakin has turned to the dark side. When she goes to him on Mustafar she has a knife in her hands. She gets off the ship and Anakin lets her embrace him. She puts her arms around him and puts the knife in his throat but loves him too much to go through with it. Then Anakin sees Obi-Wan and they fight and things proceed the same as in film.
Eren Keskin
2025-05-20 12:50:13 +0000 UTCDon’t turn fascist for pussy, folks
Eren Keskin
2025-05-20 12:37:03 +0000 UTCIt's okay to Stockholm Syndrome a movie.
MarkNM
2025-05-20 12:36:07 +0000 UTCVader: oh no the TV is talking to me!!! The TV: JUICE BY TAPPY! JUICE BY TAPPY!!!
DMAC
2025-05-20 12:32:34 +0000 UTCIt ain’t right
Rhea
2025-05-20 12:23:06 +0000 UTCI might of Mandela effected this but I could of swore they name-drop Darth Tyranus in AOTC
Jacob
2025-05-20 11:29:43 +0000 UTCI had a truly legendary moment watching this movie opening night. I had a friend who hated the prequels with a passion, and on opening night, he calls me and says, "Want to go see a terrible movie with me?" He gave me a nervous laugh, and I said yes. Mind you, this man has a very loud, very distinct laugh. The theater was packed, and the moment came at the end. When the dejected-sounding robot announces that Padme's diagnosis is that she's lost the will to live, my friend started laughing hysterically. The only other sound I could hear was the shhhhft of 100 people in their seats turning towards us. I shrank down in my seat and pretended I didn't know him. But much like Chris Cabin, time has caused me to reevaluate this moment. Rather than being embarrassed, my friend was a goddamn legend for what he did. THAT line is the dumbest fucking thing I've ever heard. Love the show, and looking forward to episode 1000. -Dead Andrea
Dominic Kovell
2025-05-20 10:51:36 +0000 UTCI rewatched the prequels recently and somehow they were both better and worse than I remembered
Craig
2025-05-20 10:32:36 +0000 UTCHe’s also proof that a great actor can still be great no matter how bad the director is.
Craig
2025-05-20 10:31:43 +0000 UTCNo Steve on a Star Wars episode 😢
David Thompson
2025-05-20 10:31:21 +0000 UTCTurn on that hot jizz music everyone!
Jason
2025-05-20 10:00:55 +0000 UTCI always have agreed with Eric when he says "it's OK to like a movie".... until today 😂
Purple Roundy
2025-05-20 09:44:41 +0000 UTCI 100% thought Lucas and McDiarmid were hinting Sidious was Plaguis' apprentice. With the fact Sidious is telling Anakin later he can keep Padme from dying and the way McDiarmid plays that part of the scene as if he is rewatching himself kill Plaguis and he starts to crack that sinister grin of his. I don't think this is a good movie, but fucking A, Ian McDiarmid is more than reason enough for me to always choose this one if I get a craving to watch prequel era Star Wars.
Adam Ray
2025-05-20 09:26:51 +0000 UTCWell. Chris Cabin is wrong Again As usual This movie is too long Too much happens And the phantom menace is better because this & started the clone wars has sucks
Jan
2025-05-20 06:30:32 +0000 UTCI'm with Simon Pegg on this one. You guys are nuts, this movie is garbage. (still love the show and will keep listening)
Steve Bunnell
2025-05-20 06:03:24 +0000 UTCI've listened to over 300 episodes. This might be the most generous I've ever heard you guys be.
John Beckmann
2025-05-20 05:27:57 +0000 UTCCome June 20th, the Reeve era of The Man of Steel will be complete by WHM! Such a lovely pre-summer surprise & immediately bought my ticket/after party on Moment.co BTW, Andrew: funny enough, after you were kind to reply to my post on THE ACCOUNTANT WHM post here on Patreon, I did see the sequel (a solid rec) but caved like you. I only own 3 speciality 🍿 bucket: DUNE PART 2 (the grand daddy of them all), PADDINGTON IN PERU & ACCOUNTANT 2. The Gulfstream trailer bucket was too rich & tempting to turn down 😎 Can't wait until ON SCREEN LIVE returns next month. Take care, guys 🫡
Cody Downs
2025-05-20 04:57:54 +0000 UTCSo love has blinded him?
MarkNM
2025-05-20 04:20:53 +0000 UTCHope Steve is worm deep in a bottle of tequila
Nicholas Knecht
2025-05-20 04:13:30 +0000 UTClol of course Chris likes this one
Voror
2025-05-20 04:09:22 +0000 UTCBoys, I needed this one tonight. Crackin a cold one and sparkin a doob. Gonna hit play on that sweet Blu ray and treat this almost like a commentary. A classic out the gates. 💯
Ig Helmer
2025-05-20 04:05:10 +0000 UTC
