Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith is simply the best movie of the prequel trilogy. For the third and final installment of the latest Star Wars trilogy, director George Lucas proficiently weaves all six stories into a fairly seamless whole. There are battle scenes, love scenes, lightsaber battles and actors who actually can act.
The award for most-improved actor in the series goes to Hayden Christensen, who portrays Anakin Skywalker. Christensen's acting is much more convincing; he forces the audience to grasp the magnitude of Anakin's internal struggle as he sheds his Jedi ways and joins the "dark side" to become Darth Vader.
"War!" The first word of the opening crawl sums up the feeling of the movie, where conflicts are omnipresent. The Republic is battling against the droids ? Chancellor Palpatine, played by Ian McDiarmid, wants the Jedi eliminated, and Anakin gets angry at anyone challenging his burgeoning power.
Anakin and Padme, played by Natalie Portman, continue their secret affair, and early in the film it is revealed that she is pregnant (audiences know that she is carrying Luke and Leia). However, Anakin has visions that Padme will die during childbirth. Chancellor Palpatine, leader of the Galactic Senate who moonlights as the evil Darth Sidious, takes Anakin under his wing and tells him that only the powers of the dark side can save Padme. "Learn to know the dark side of the Force, and you will achieve a power greater than any Jedi."
The result is a very angry Anakin and enough lightsaber battles for any Star Wars fan to make a mess of their pants. Lucas and his special effects studio, Industrial Light & Magic, do an excellent job dazzling the audience with movie magic and striking a balance with the actual storyline.
If you're a Star Wars whore, chances are you've already had your tickets for the midnight showing stored away in your safe-deposit box for months. Your wait will be well worth it, for Episode III is a fitting end to the series and a vast improvement over Episode I and II.
And the best part of the film? No Jar-Jar Binks.
