The Best Star Wars Film Of All Time, Othello For The Millennial Generation

Rating: 10/10 (30 August 2016)

In 2002, George Lucas took a multitude of creative risks in both writing and directing, raising his "Star Wars" saga (And the Fantasy genre in general) to a level of maturity, intelligence and emotional depth not seen since "The Empire Strikes Back" with his second film of the prequel trilogy, "Attack of the Clones." (Fanboys hated it.) The final film in his prequel trilogy, "Revenge of the Sith", surpasses even franchise juggernaut "Empire" in terms of story, acting, themes, drama and characters. "Revenge of the Sith" is a very far cry from the relatively lighthearted and optimistic original trilogy. "Star Wars Episode III"'s bite matches its bark, its epic battles used to elevate already heavy substance to the tale of a good person losing everything to a tragic flaw, much like in Shakespearean tragedy.
Anakin Skywalker has visibly matured and developed between "Attack of the Clones" and "Revenge of the Sith"; having grown far wiser and more empathetic, mastering his emotions to a point where they guide him rather than control him. This growth in character makes his irreversible descent into darkness all the more tragic, spurred by a horrific vision of his wife's death. When he finally turns to the Dark Side, it's not mere impulsivity; it's a "damned if he does, damned if he doesn't" choice motivated by a very plausible and understandable fear of losing the most important person in his life. Padme is a completely different person from the stoic, reserved Queen we saw in "Phantom Menace." Rather, Padme has become a very extroverted and emotionally open person to Anakin, her love and trust blinding her from seeing his flaws; ones that ironically if spotted earlier could have saved her husband. The same love that brought out her humanity is the love that ultimately leads to her demise. Obi Wan Kenobi is at his most likable and relatable here, having grown into a proud and loving father figure to Anakin. Their trust has grown since "Attack of the Clones", and Obi Wan's admiration for his apprentice prevents him from truly empathizing with him. As Proverbs 16:18 says, "Pride goeth before destruction." All these characters are indeed blinded by their love, and "Revenge of the Sith" does an excellent job telling a story of the terrible danger in emotions clouding reason and leading to destructive delusions. Also poignant is the film's message on being as open as possible to our loved ones, a course of action Anakin refuses to take as his relationship with Padme is, though full of love, severely lacking in trust.
Hayden Christensen gives what is, in my opinion, the best performance of the entire Saga as Anakin Skywalker. He carries an aura of fear, paranoia and sadness to both his facial and vocal acting (With a touch of madness. The scene where he attempts to convince Padme to rule the galaxy with him is chilling.) that makes it impossible not to sympathize with his character.
Natalie Portman gives easily her most intense and passionate performance of the trilogy. She really sells her blinding and undying love for Anakin. Her scene on Mustafar where she begs Anakin to change his ways brings major tears, making even the most cheesy of dialogue sound shockingly touching and heartfelt.
Ewan McGregor has never been better as Obi Wan Kenobi, offering the definitive take on the character in "Episode III." He does a phenomenal job with Obi Wan's transition of loving pride for his apprentice to horror and disgust at his best friend's terrible deeds. He's particularly effective in the final 1/4 of the film.
Ian McDiarmid is downright frightening as Chancellor (And later EMPEROR) Palpatine. The Mephistopheles to Anakin's Johann Faust, McDiarmid boasts a vast range of emotion in his role as Palpatine; from manipulative warmth and deceptive kindness to seething hatred to manic and sadistic glee.
The lightsaber fight between Anakin & Obi Wan is large on scale, but more importantly, it's possibly the most emotional cinematic duel of the new millennium. The duel is truly difficult to watch but impossible to look away from, the emotion and feeling of betrayal experienced by both characters clear in their facial expressions and choreography, the latter almost emphasizing a subtle hesitation or scare attempt Anakin & Obi Wan try to use as attempts to get the other to back down. This culminates in a heart breaking conclusion and a powerful monologue by Obi Wan, delivered with poignant sincerity by Ewan McGregor.
Fanboys prefer the original trilogy and "The Force Awakens" for emphasizing the more upbeat and "fun" side of the "Star Wars" saga. "Sith"'s more adult take finds its real emotional core. The sheer darkness of the film displeases the Saga's fanboys and hipsters who pine for the days of corny one liners and trope characters. One scene in particular, a brilliantly subtle and resonating rumination scene where Anakin gazes out from the Jedi Temple and Padme from her apartment over a sunset descending Coruscant as they ponder their future together, does what no "Star Wars" film before or since "Episode III" has done; it takes a scene with no action and no dialogue, and turns it into a tear inducer. The acting, subtext, cinematography and music in that scene makes it, in my opinion, the apex of the entire "Star Wars" saga. Unlike the soulless, abominable works of Roland Emmerich and Michael Bay, George Lucas uses the gorgeous visuals in "Revenge of the Sith" as a tool to convey emotion rather than a toy to be played with. From a symbolic shot of Anakin solemnly gazing at the sun slowly leaving Mustafar to the horrific sight of him burning alive on its Hellish shores, "Revenge of the Sith" is a work of art.
"Revenge of the Sith" is a masterpiece that transcends the limits of its franchise and its genre. It's one of the most underrated films ever and easily the best film in the Saga.