USA Today

George Lucas insists that his ‘Star Wars, Episode III: Revenge of the Sith’ is not an attack on the Bush administration. But that doesn’t mean the director’s final installment of his space opera, which opened recently, isn’t rife with hidden references. If anything, Lucas has crammed the story with so many sly asides that catching them all in a single sitting is unlikely. “The movie is meant to be seen more than once,” says Sith producer Rick McCallum.

“He has always tried to make movies layered with messages.” Here, then, is a guide to the subtle and not-so-subtle references in Sith:

Senator Bail Organa (Jimmy Smits) gets a sweet ride in a flying vehicle modelled after one of

Lucas’ favourite cars.

Holy filmmaking, George. Religion has always played a part in the space opera, and never more so than in Sith. In addition to Yoda’s Taoist preaching, Lucas plays with life beyond the

grave, the virgin birth and a climactic scene full of fire and brimstone. And listen for the

order that the Emperor gives to destroy all Jedi.

You, robot. There’s a reason General Grievous, who looks like a droid, has a hacking cough. Lucas likes his creature/machine hybrids, particularly those with breathing problems.

Like mother, like daughter. Princess Leia never lived down her double-bun hairdo. But watch for her mom, Padmé, experimenting with some of her own funky styles.

Jango, say hello to Jango. He was cut down by Mace Windu’s blade in Attack of the Clones, but bounty hunter Boba Fett’s dad returns for Sith. Many times.