If Empire Strikes Back didn't exist this would be my favorite Star Wars movie

Rating: 10/10 (8 May 2020)

This was my favorite Star Wars movie growing up, and it is one of my all time favorite movies. For me this is the best non happy ending movie ever. This movie would be a 10/10 but because of some sloppily delivered dialogue, it is not. Otherwise this movie is great. The first two prequels may not have been perfect, but what many choose to ignore is the fact that they were setting the stage for this movie. I have always loved the fact that the prequels present the Jedi how they should be presented. They aren't perfect beings and instead they are presented as naive, arrogant, self righteous, bigots who try to bend everything to their will and in the process, indirectly and ironically cause their own destruction. The way that Anakin is turned to the dark side is well presented and not burdened down by the heavy handed dialogue of the first two films. The action is perhaps the best in the series with Order 66 and the lightsaber duels are well directed as well. My favorite scene in this movie is when Palpatine tells Anakin about the tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise. This scene cements Anakin's curiosity about the dark side, and also gives Palpatine a foothold in Anakin's mind a the kind of teacher that would teach him anything about the force. Needless to say this is the best of the prequel trilogy and my 2nd favorite SW movie. Overall this movie is iconic to me and i always will appreciate what George Lucas did by ending the prequels this way.
9.5/10