8. Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
The finale film in the Prequel Trilogy hit theaters during 2005 with the release of Revenge of the Sith. Fans generally regard it as the best of the prequel movies, and it was received much warmer than the two previous films.
The dialogue is cringe-worthy, as is the entire prequel trilogy . Anakin and Padme’s relationship is handled with all the subtly of a Sith Lord in a corridor of rebels.
Lucas isn’t shy about his own ability when it comes to writing dialogue, and where he really excels is in the world building and storytelling. Anakin’s turn to the dark side is handled with dexterity for the most part, even if it does feel rushed towards the end.
When he finally does don the iconic Vader mask and we hear those inaugural robotic breaths, it’s truly spine-tingling.
The entire first act of the movie is a non-stop set piece as Obi-Wan and Anakin attempt to rescue Chancellor Palpatine.
The opening shot as we follow the Jedi’s spaceships through the midst of a giant space battle is beautiful. The visual effects here are the best they’ve been in a Star Wars movie.
Lucas’s proclivity for CGI is still very evident here, but the images we do get are stunning. Hayden Christensen’s performance also excels when he has no awkward lines to say and can really let his face do all the work.
Ewan McGregor continues to be a stand out as Obi-Wan, and Ian McDiarmid chews all the green screen scenery in the best possible way.
The action is strong, giving us some of the best lightsaber action the saga has to offer. It’s a joy to see the franchise tie up all the loose ends, but poor dialogue and overuse of visual effects still holds the film back from greatness.
