Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith (2005)

This film is easily the best prequel. It has better acting and less cringe worthy dialogue, as well as better CGI. (Although there is still an over reliance on it). There are some truly good scenes in this film such as the anything containing General Grievous who should have been included in Attack of the Clones as well. The action scenes looks somewhat more realistic with the use of CGI but they are also the most over the top action scenes in the whole franchise. It honestly becomes ridiculous watching Anakin and Obi Wan swinging their lightsabers around like a couple of circus performers. The argument could be made that the Jedi are in their prime here but there isn't any feeling of wieght or tension in these scenes so I really don't consider that a valid defence for the film. After all it's about making a great action scene, not making fan service to let Star Wars fans watch a light show of a fight. However the ship battles, planets, the alien creatures and most other CGi creations all look decent in this movie.There are some good dramatic moments such as the order 66 sequence and Anakin staring across to Padme usingthe force.Overall this film is watchable and I do re-watch it from time to time. The story is kind of interesting and as mentioned there is more to like here than what was in the other prequels. However it definitely does not compare with the original trilogy or the newer films.

I just finished re-watching all six Lucas-era Star Wars films in episode order (I-VI) with the commentary and want to give my reviews of each film. Let me preface by saying that I am a lifelong Star Wars fan who grew up with the original trilogy and literally have no memory of a time in my life before SW. As such, I am not going to be totally unbiased in my reviews, but I will try to be somewhat objective.The Clone Wars have been raging for three years now. Obi-Wan and Anakin have become great war heroes, and Padme is now secretly pregnant with her first child (well, twins but she and Anakin don't know that). Meanwhile, Palpatine's plans are nearly at fruition, as he begins to actively tutor Anakin on the Dark Side, leading to a final confrontation between him and the Jedi council, with Anakin stuck in the middle. Anakin believes Padme will die in childbirth, and Palpatine has promised he can save her, so in order to keep Palpatine (and thus Padme) alive, Anakin betrays the Jedi and becomes Darth Vader. The rest is history.The movie is really the payoff of the first two prequels. Everything come together here, as the fatal flaws in the Jedi, the Republic, Anakin, and corrupt humanity are all exploited by Palpatine to execute his brilliant and carefully-laid plan to become the supreme ruler of the galaxy. Even if you were one of those people who thought the politics of Episodes I and II were tedious and unnecessary, you can't possibly argue that the way it comes together in this movie is anything short of genius.There are very few flaws and many, many high points, which is why overall this is my favorite of all the SW films. The way it ties the two trilogies together in terms of everything--aesthetics, storyline, characters, settings, etc.--is amazing and spine-tingling. So many scene just give me the chills, from Anakin burning in the lava, to seeing Alderaan and Bail and his wife cradling the infant Leia, to Beru and Lars holding the infant Luke watching the twin suns set. The last third of the movie is probably the best forty minutes of cinema I have ever experienced. Thank you, George Lucas, for sharing your artistic vision with the world. There have been some bumps along the way, but as a fan I really appreciate what you have done. Bravo.THE GOODThere are too many good parts in this movie for me to note them all, but I'll try to hit some of the absolute best points-The opening shot with the space battle might be the best space battle shot of all time. You think it's just one Republic cruiser in frame and then the camera follows the two Jedi fighters around and on the other side--holy mackerel. What a great shot to start the movie on. That entire space battle is exactly what I had in my imagination reading Michael Stackpole's X-wing novels as a kid and it was a real treat to see it for real.-In ANH, Obi-Wan describes Anakin as having been "seduced" by the Dark Side of the Force. Well in this movie we see how incredibly apt of a verb that was. What Palpatine does to Anakin is really a masterful seduction--not a sexual one, but one of power. He knows Anakin's weakness and exploits it, promising him the power ostensibly to save the one he loves, but really knowing that the power, once tasted, will become and end in and of itself and Anakin will be seduced down a path he can't retrace (and ironically lose the one he loves as a result). The scene in the zero gravity opera is particularly great in this respect.-"So this is how liberty dies--to thunderous applause." Goosebumps. Every. Time. Padme is kind of an incidental character in this film but at least she gets the best line by far in the whole trilogy.-Seeing Anakin burn in the lava. And I'm saying that only half-jokingly. Yes, Anakin is a frustrating character and he deserved it for what he does, but also as a kid growing up I always read references in the EU to Anakin being burned in the lavas of Mustafa and that's why he needed the suit. To finally see it happen and see him become Vader was something I never thought I'd get to experience. It really was the payoff moment for the entire prequel trilogy.-Vader taking his first breath.-The entire ending montage, with Alderaan, Tatooine, and Vader, Palpatine, and Tarkin standing on the bridge of the star destroyer as the Imperial March plays. Amazing.THE BAD-"ANAKIN...YOU'RE BREAKING MY HEART." -Really most of the dialogue is bad, unfortunately, but the above line is probably the one that makes me cringe the most. -The cgi isn't as bad as in AotC, but some moments are still very fake looking, like the flip Dooku does off the railings before the fight with Anakin and Obi-Wan. THE UGLY-I have never been able to decide if Mace Windu actually beats Palpatine, or if Palpatine fakes getting beat in order to force Anakin to save him. He looks legit terrified after Mace beats him and it's hard to believe he knew Anakin would arrive right in the nick of time and save him. Mace deciding that Palpatine should be summarily executed is also extremely un-Jedi-like and I've never totally bought it. That whole sequence is rather confusing, probably due to the numerous re-edit Lucas did in post-production (originally it was very different, apparently).-In the commentary, Lucas says that there was a whole subplot filmed of Padme helping to form the beginnings of the Rebel Alliance (along with Bail Organa and Mon Mothma), but that storyline was sadly cut from the final version. Someday I hope we get extended versions of the prequels like Lord of the Rings did so we can see stuff like that (as well as the rumored epic 7-hour cut of TPM that has never been released publicly). Unfortunately, since Lucas has given up the franchise to the soulless Disney corporation, I'm pretty sure that will never happen.

This episode largely revolves around Anikan being of a part of the trap set up by the Lord Chancellor. The biggest reveal was that the Chancellor himself was the Lord Sith. The Jedi make efforts for ending the dark forces but the Chancellor manages to poison the mind of Anikan who turns towards dark forces with the bait of protection of Padme's life using his powers later. This part was a sharp turn from the earlier ones where are story seemed predictable but now Anikan makes the wrong choice and transforms into invincible Lord Darth Vader. The Jedi forces are largely killed at the hands of a treachery planned leaving only few like Master Yoda. The fighting sequence between Anikan and Obi Wan was breathtaking with unprecedented results. Interested to see how the Jedi reassemble to fight the dark forces.

Easily the greatest Star Wars film, All the events leading up to this movie has been an emotional rollercoaster. I still cry myself to sleep every night thinking about anakin's turn.