Star Wars has been walking around in cinemas since 1977, and has amassed a fan base and spin-offs of Star Wars movies and series that will have the franchise probably making content for generations to come. While the saga may not be perfect and has its fair share of ups and downs, there is, however, one film that doesn't get the proper credit that it truly deserves — that film is 2005’s Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Unlike the two previous prequel entries, the film received positive reviews from critics and was able to answer the age-old question of how Anakin Skywalker became the legendary villain Darth Vader. Because it has been lumped in with the other prequels, it is often dismissed as rubbish with some laser swords and poorly written dialogue. To be fair, none of the Star Wars movies have particularly powerful scripts, but that hasn’t stopped the movies from making hundreds of millions of dollars at the box-office.
Despite all of that, here is what makes Revenge of the Sith arguably the most underrated Star Wars film ever made.
Lightsaber Duels Rule
Lightsaber fights are common in the Star Wars movies, but no film in the saga other than Revenge of the Sith has made such strides in having duels this vibrant and poetic, that they often speak in a rhythm (especially as a compliment to the final moments of the film). Its skillful choreography coupled with its brilliant score from John Williams makes for a tantalizing venture into the galaxy.
Not only does the lightsaber duel between Obi-Wan Kenobi and General Grievous give some of the best moments in the saga’s history, but the final duel between Obi-Wan and his former protege-turned-enemy Anakin Skywalker is almost incredibly heartbreaking to watch, and is visually splendid.
New Lore Covered
In addition to its duels in the empire of George Lucas, the lore of Star Wars is developed in Revenge of the Sith, albeit, in a more implicit way, when Emperor Palpatine tells Anakin of “the tragic tale of Darth Plagueis the wise.” The Emperor explains that the dark lord could save others from death but not himself, and his apprentice, presumably Palpatine, killed him in his sleep.
What is so amazing and captivating about the story is that Palpatine reveals himself to be the sith lord who trained under Plagueis’ wise tutelage. It gives fans an extra layer of lore that they have been craving since the dawn of the franchise. It begs the question of what conspired between the characters Palpatine and Plagueis for a possible spin-off that could make a killing.
Anakin’s Arc is Immaculate
Despite what anyone thinks of the casting choice of Hayden Christensen and opinions on his acting, his arc as the misbegotten and impressionable student of the sith has been as riveting as Star Wars has ever seen. When the character starts Revenge of the Sith as a loyal Jedi with many strengths and talents and ends as a corrupted agent of darkness, it is important that his motivations be properly fleshed out.
He believes that the only way to protect his wife Padme is through his new-found powers of the dark side, and that the Jedi are a corrupted power that must be eliminated. His motivations are authentic and true to character, and actually pretty pure, which makes his descent into darkness all that much more emotional. Admittedly, the audience already knows that Anakin will redeem himself in Return of the Jedi, but that payoff wouldn’t be worth it had it not been for the drastic change in Skywalker’s humanity.
The Villains Are Incredible
What seems like an overlooked aspect of the film is its villainous players that hold so much weight in the story. Whether it’s Count Dooku’s reverent and civilized yet corrupted villainy, or the chaotic Darth Sidious who eventually ruled over the galaxy, the dark side has taken over this Star Wars entry beyond any hope.
People say there is beauty in goodness, but there is also beauty in the qualities of evil. The explicit and devious nature of these villains is a thing of beauty that is scripted better than the protagonists, which could only work in a Star Wars movie, with its boisterous action and crass wickedness hoisted upon the silver screen with each villain more nefarious and avarice-driven than the last. This film packs its excellent baddies with enough screen time to unveil them patiently throughout its 140-minute runtime.
It Wraps Up the Trilogy Perfectly
One thing that Revenge of the Sith does perfectly that the other third chapters in the Star Wars movies fail to do is wrap up the trilogy with a satisfying send-off. Its explanation of so many unanswered questions that have kept fans awake for so long is genuinely fulfilling. Thanks to Revenge of the Sith, the prequel series enriched the legacy and elegance of the originals instead of bastardizing them, as many fear the Disney films have done.
Revenge of the Sith does so much in its epic conclusion, that it should be a model for any future Star Wars movies (especially involving J.J. Abrams, who can sometimes not stick his landings). Its bravura and sheer popcorn value at the cinema is what makes it so enjoyable to watch; seeing how everyone’s choices have landed them in the situation that they wound up in during the original trilogy was always going to be a thrill, but Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith went above and beyond expectations and deserves more recognition as such.