A underrated tragedy.

Rating: 8/10 (11 November 2019)

So to be honest it's hard to watch film you know the ending of and what happens before without worrying how it will go and that's the point this story literally ties it all in and shows us how it happens. There is a lot to fill in between episode 2 and 4 so this is definitely a fast paced film. For me it's definitely space opera tragedy at its best as the world created in the first two movies crumbles around you.
Despite some well acknowledged iffy dialogue. The characters intentions are clear. Hayden Christensen actually is very convincing as a older stronger anakin Skywalker and the most powerful jedi to exist at that time. Having watched the clone wars and watched this again with fresh eyes after a couple of years you really get the sense that it was all leading up to this pivotal moment and whichever side anakin fell on was going to win. Palatine knew anakin was attached to padme so therefore knew he could use that to win. The twoway mistrust of the Jedi and the chancellor is actually subtle but compelling in why anakin is conflicted.
So before iose the plot here are sone of my highlights.
The opening sequence of the battle is great at showing the conflict and scale.
Grevious and dooku are well used but not wasted or rushed or drawn out.
The contrapuntal scenes of padme dying in white and anakin dying into Darth Vader in black I never noticed but is quite jarring and emotional.
Ian mcdairmoid and Ewan McGregor are stars of their characters.
The clones and droid war has a gritty astetic which is nice after the war going on for a few years.
The music is epic and the best emotional gives of the film
The lightsaber fights are the best of any of the 8 moves so far. I like the ep1 one but the anakin Vs obi-wan one here really shows off two jedi at peak power and ability which you only dream of seeing after watching the original trilogy.
So overall it's very very good. Not as genre defining as ep 4 or poetic and powerful as ep5 but nevertheless it blends a lot of action with emotion and turmoil well. Easily the best of the prequels and better the the first two sequels.
My only gripes are a little two much ep4 setup ie tarkin the death star. Having Chewbacca making an unessesary cameo etc.
And the slight overuse of blue or green screen for certain moments.
If you watch it expecting star wars to be told in a way you've never seen and ignore most movie conventions you won't be disappointed. Definitely not a first star wars to watch as a newbie as none of it has any meaning. But for fans it has some nice tie ins and subtle moments.