The Best of the Prequels

Rating: 9/10 (28 December 2015)

I'm making my way through all six Star Wars movies in preparation for "The Force Awakens", and I just watched "Episode III: Revenge of the Sith".
This is actually the first time that I've seen this movie since it was in theaters ten years ago. I had forgotten how good it is! A couple of minor tiffs aside, this is a really great movie, definitely the best of the prequels (even though I like all of the prequels!), and a very strong chapter in the Star Wars legend.
The things I like about this movie:
All in all this movie flows well and is well told. The gist of the storyline amongst the lead characters comes full circle, with Anakin making his way to the Dark Side, Padmé giving birth, and Obi-Wan having to take on his apprentice. The acting is much better in this movie than in the previous two films, with Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen each growing into their roles. I still find Christensen's performance to be a bit lacking, but he definitely puts on a better show than in "Attack of the Clones".
The special effects in this movie are also the best of the prequels, and the whole thing just works in a way that is fun and enjoyable.
Things I don't like:
As noted, Christensen is still a bit off his game--I see that more as a failure of directing than acting, though. But he could stand to improve. Also, the emperor looks a bit too....something. It's hard to say, but the effects there are just odd and don't really look as good as in the IV-VI movies. And, my biggest beef with the movie is that late in the movie when Anakin has made his debut as Darth Vader in earnest, he has a brief monologue that is just downright silly. Once Anakin has the Darth Vader suit on, he should have been presented as the full fledged icon from the original series. His scene at the close of the film humanizes him way too much, in a way that takes away from the fierceness of the character.
Those minor criticisms aside, this is still a fantastic film! 9/10 stars!