Best of the Series!!

Rating: 10/10 (13 April 2009)

After the much better Episode II, I simply could not wait to see Episode III. Episode III is undoubtedly one of the best Star Wars films ever made, if not comparable to the very first film in fact. The film exceeded my expectations to be honest. I'm well aware there are some die-hard Star Wars fans out there reading this review who will say Episode III was just as horrible as the first two prequels. However, the critics all agree, "Revenge of the Sith" is actually a VERY good film. All the performances were top-rate, Hayden Christensen diving even deeper into Anakin's darkness. The character is portrayed perfectly here and Hayden delivers all the emotions that are need to complete this character. To truly get me on its greatness, let's go through this film shall we....
The opening scene is the BEST space battle ever!! All the spacecraft look excellent and this sequence is thrilling to say the least. Aboard the Separatist battle cruiser, Count Dooku fights a excellent battle against Kenobi and Skywalker, ending with Dooku being gruesomely decapitated. We also meet my favorite villain ever, General Grievous. Lucas did great here, using the cyborg alien as a foreshadowing of what will happen to Anakin later. Anyways, the Chancellor is rescued and the battle is won. While on Corusant, we learn Padme is now pregnant, which causes the real trouble to begin. To make things worse, he has a vision that she will die in child birth, furthering his emotional turmoil. Meanwhile, the Jedi Council senses the Chancellor is up to something, and have Anakin investigate. This brilliant part of the screenplay forces Anakin to ponder his trust of the Jedi and Obi-Wan himself. Ian McDiarmid is excellent as Palpatine and his performance is captivating. It was just how I imagined Anakin would fall and the temptation of the Dark Side is wonderful. Meanwhile, Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor) goes to the beautiful sinkhole planet of Utapa to take out Grievous leading to one of my favorite fight scenes ever. The whole having four-arms thing was a dope idea but it was a little short in my opinion. Of course, though, he can't take up to much screen time but the music by John Williams was spectacular, giving Grievous a sort of theme that sounded, well, dope (Especially as he arrived on Utapa). On Corusant, Anakin informs Windu (Samuel L. Jackson) about how Palpatine is actually Darth Sidious and the Council moves quickly to arrest him but he easily kills nearly all of them. All except Mace Windu, who fights a terrific battle , seemingly winning. However, Anakin intervenes and wounds Windu, and the dark lord kills him. Believing Sidious will help him find a way to save Padme, Anakin finally pledges himself to Sidious and now the story really picks up speed (you did good, Lucas, you did good). Order 66 is given and one of the film's best sequences take place. All around the universe, in mid-battle, clones turn on their Jedi commanders and kill them. The moment is a tragedy in itself, and the score here is one of John William's best. The moment is perfect. Meanwhile, Darth Vader leads a legion of clones in an attack on the Jedi Temple. In one horrific scene, Anakin is shown getting ready to slaughter children. This is probably the darkest moment in Star Wars history. It is moments like these Lucas out does himself as the seriousness takes new heights. This tone is much better than the past two flicks, one fans and critics alike have been waiting for.
Obi-Wan and Yoda manage to survive and make it back to Corusant thanks to Senator Organa. It is here they learn of Anakin's betrayal. It is also here that Palpatine becomes Emperor as the Republic is forever gone, replaced by the Empire. Darth Vader meanwhile brutally kills the Separatist, and the story all comes together as we realize how the Empire was born. Lucas doesn't let us down here and Mustufar looks fantastic. The planet is a burning hell that helps mold the atmosphere of the coming final battle. Yoda fights the Emperor and it is much better than the Yoda vs. Dooku fight in Episode II, which looked a bit ridiculous to be honest. However, the finale is on Mustufar......
Padme confronts Anakin about what he's done, only to discover he's become an entirely different person. The music adds to the emotional power of this scene as Natalie Portman gives it her all, only for Anakin to strangle her, one of the film's saddest moments. Twisted by the Dark Side, he now has nearly killed the woman he loves in his anger. This anger he now focuses on Obi-Wan as the two begin to circle one another. The dialogue is great and I love how brothers are now forced to fight to the death. Nick Gillard, the sword fight coordinator, makes sure this is the best lightsaber duel ever, and I for one am not disappointed. The battle last forever, the moves are insane, fierce body blows are served up and all along they must deal with the hazards of a planet that is a giant active volcano!! It is the MOST AMAZING DUEL EVER!!!!! The piece by our acclaimed composer is the best in the film and will leave you stunned. When Obi-Wan finally mortally wounds Anakin, tears will roll as Obi-Wan mourns his gone friend. As Padme dies, Vader is reborn and audiences will feel Anakin's pain as his sole reason for taking this path he knows is now gone.
Emotionally powerful, visually thrilling, with some dope action scenes, with a compelling score, "Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith" is the best of the series in my opinion.