The best film in the saga

Rating: 9/10 (21 May 2005)

What happens when innocence gets corrupted? When goodness is taken over by a tragic evil? You get Anakin Skywalker (Hayden Christensen), and his transformation into the pop culture iconic villain known to virtually everyone in the world as "Darth Vader."
In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, audiences will finally experience Anakin's inevitable destiny. Here we find out that he has become a galactic hero in the eyes of the Republic, and his friendship with Obi-Wan Kenobi (Ewan McGregor) has matured into brotherly love. He's become an even better pilot than in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, and in the beginning of the film plays the main heroic role in rescuing the kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) from the "clutches" of the evil Sith Lord Count Dooku (Christopher Lee) and the new cyborg leader of the Separatists, General Grievous (Mathew Wood). But when all seems well, we find out that the kidnapping, as well as the entire war was staged by the Sith Lord Darth Sidious, and throughout the rest of the film Anakin Skywalker becomes susceptible to his lies - which in turn lead him down the path of the dark side of the force.
Every Star Wars fan has wanted to see Anakin transform into Vader. We all wanted to see him and Obi-Wan become enemies. We were eager to see Padme die and the Skywalker twins birthed into existence. The birth of the Empire, the Jedi Knights getting hunted down and slaughtered and the Chancellor declaring himself Emperor were all things fans have been dreaming to see since the first original Star Wars back in 1977. We wanted all this because we know it leads us into the old Star Wars trilogy that we know and love. However, when I finally got to see this film I didn't want any of it to happen by the time it got over with. I actually cared about the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan to the point where it was saddening to watch them fight each other. I actually wanted Padme to live. I wanted the Emperor to get defeated. I wanted the Jedi Knights to live. I wanted Anakin to stay good. When this happened to my emotions, despite the fact that for years I wanted the dots to be connected with the old trilogy, I knew that George Lucas succeeded in telling a great story. A story that makes one go against all sense of logic, rips apart one's emotions and yet still makes the person come out loving the film in the end.
Is it perfect? Well, it's as perfect as a Star Wars film can get since none of the films have ever been known for great acting and dialog. Wooden acting and cheesy dialog is what makes Star Wars what it is. However, I felt this film had the least amount of those things. I believed the characters were real, and the situations they were going through were authentic. The movie encompassed a broad range of emotions, from fun and energetic, to sorrowful and tragic. With thrilling action and special effects, as well as a dark and harrowing story, it's engaging from start 'till finish. In my humble opinion it truly is the best of the entire six-film saga.