My Favorite Star Wars Film

Rating: 10/10 (30 June 2019)

Introduction:
I am not afraid to say it, this is my favorite Star Wars film. And I'm not gonna lie, I love the Star Wars Prequels. And I'm not afraid to say it with incredible amounts of confidence. And no matter how many little nitpicks or issues you can find in all three of these films, I will continue loving them. It was my introduction to star Wars. And the reason Star Wars is still my favorite film franchise. When I first watched the film I loved it for the spectacle, which it succeeds at. But going back to it, I can commend it for it's great writing. Many might criticize the movie, but I have nothing but praise.
Revenge of the Sith is not only a great Star Wars film, but a great film. A film that practically crafted my childhood. And I know this is an unpopular opinion, but I don't have to agree with the majority. I'd rather be a free thinker, than just another sheep. It was a film that I fell in love with, and a film that still leaves an effect on me.
Why I Love It:
1. The Characters:
The number one reason I love the film is because of the characters. We see how they became the way they were in the original films. In this Shakespearean tragedy. As we see the transformation of our center character, Anakin Skywalker. From a once great Jedi, to an evil and ruthless Sith Lord, and a pawn of Lord Sidious.
Hayden Christiansen as Anakin, Ewan McGregor as Obi-Wan, and Ian McDiarmid as Darth Sidious. Are three of my favorite performances in film history. They each have so much range.
As Anakin is usually a robot from the surface, but when the events force him, he shows emotion. Feeling like a pawn of the Jedi, and that they are people that don't respect him, after all he did for them. Basically being the poster boy for them, going into endless battles for them. They don't treat him the way he feels. Then them expecting him to betray friends, and lie for them. As well as the stress of his secret marriage being discovered and the possibility of his wife Padme dying in childbirth. It was easy for secret Sith Lord, Darth Sidious or Palpatine, to manipulate him into joining his side. With stories of ways to bring back the dead. And his shaking trust with the Jedi. Seeing the holes in their teachings and hypocrisy. As a person who has been through a lot in his life. Starting out as a slave boy, then being taken by the Jedi away from his mother, and her later dying. The Jedi told him to bottle up his emotions. Putting on a mask in front of the Jedi. Still being a good person at heart, wanting to do the right thing, but really not fully understanding what it means to cross the line. But by the end of the film, becoming an evil Sith Lord obsessed with power.
Obi-Wan's character in this film is interesting as well. As he is a character who has a brotherly bond to Anakin, but couldn't be more different from him. This is shown in both their actions, with Anakin killing Dooku early into the film, something Obi-Wan wouldn't do, among other things. But also, the clothing they wear. Obi-Wan wore a white and brown Jedi robe in the film, showing his devotion and faith in the light side, so powerful it was basically unbreakable. However, Anakin wore black clothing, representing his shaky devotion to the light side, and inner darkness. But the man was not flawless, he was so sure of the Jedi's teachings never questioning it. And refusing to acknowledge that it was the partly the fault of the Jedi that they were destroyed. And partly his fault that Anakin turned, as there bond was too close, and attachment was forbidden by the Jedi.
Last character I will analyze is Darth Sidious. One of my favorite villains, devious, evil and calculated. He was so smart that he won. He took over the galaxy and achieved all his goals. With an over the top performance, but subtle moments as well. Where he quietly plants seeds of the dark side inside Anakin. And takes advantage of the politics and the arrogance of the Jedi, and their hypocritical nature. As well as the corruption in the Senate to manipulate everyone and take over. Truly evil, as he sits back and laughs at everyone's misery. Ian McDiarmid puts all his effort into this performance. And George Lucas puts all of his effort into his writing.
I've been talking about this for a while, so I will end it here. I haven't talked about the other characters, because I wanted to discuss my favorite in depth but I love all the other characters. The only character I didn't like was General Grievous, he felt kind of pointless. And had almost no character, and didn't feel like a threat. But all the other characters are great to watch.
2. The Story:
The film's writing is perfect. The story is entertaining and it gets darker as the film continues. Starting out with a light-hearted sequence of space action, to shifting into dark imagery of Anakin killing Count Dooku. Showing his true self to him, and letting it out, as he cuts off the head of the Sith, making an unsettling sound, that gives me chills every time. To some more action, the film steadily gets darker in tone. As by the end many of the characters are dead. And the galaxy has a dark future ahead itself. Uttering a new era.
I also like the pasting, even though there's a very long period of no action and mostly talking. It's not boring as you are still invested. And it makes it the fastest two hours I've spent watching a film. And making it the most entertaining of the Star Wars films.
I could praise the story all day, but I can't make the review too long. So, I'll say this, this is in my opinion, the best written Star Wars film. Pastes well, entertaining, perfect when it comes to tone, and written like an epic poem or Shakespearean tragedy, as I mentioned before.
3. The Visuals & Action
This film has visuals that for the time were incredible, and some that still hold up fifteen years later. The effects team for this film put in a lot of passion and effort. And it was a bold choice on Lucas's part to use computer effects, a technology in it's infancy. Creating a unique looking film, that was ahead of it's time with great lighting and creative worlds.
The action is also great, with big and grand set pieces, along with great choreography. Containing what I think is the best lightsaber duel in the series, Anakin and Obi-Wan's final fight, though long, packs an emotional punch, and looks great. With fast editing, and fast movement, along with a setting, and great sword clashing. This fight is still favorite, as it has emotions, as they have the most difficult fight of their lives and careers as Jedi.
The action and visuals are amazing. Marvelous to look at and behold, the film succeeds in this category as well.
Conclusion:
Revenge of the Sith is my favorite Star Wars, and one of my favorite films. The characters are great, the visuals are spectacular for it's time, the writing is on point, and the action is amazing. Many prefer Empire, but while Empire is a fun film with great characters and story. Revenge plays like a poetic and Shakespearean tragedy. A film that I find few flaws with, and a film I will rewatch over and over again.