10 Reasons ‘Revenge of the Sith’ Is the Best Star Wars Movie
The crown jewel of the prequel trilogy, Revenge of the Sith is the culmination of George Lucas' vision for Star Wars, roughly 28 years in the making. While he would go on to make The Clone Wars animated series, this would mark the final time that Lucas would sit in the director chair for a live-action Star Wars project. Taking place three long years after the events of Episode II, the third installment in the Skywalker saga depicts a galaxy torn apart by war, as well as a Jedi Order blindly walking the path to destruction. As the end of the Clone Wars unfolds on screen and the Sith grand plan comes to a head, audiences are thrust down a path of war, betrayal, and a plethora of intensely awesome lightsaber duels. Here are 10 reasons why Revenge is the best Star Wars movie.
1. Opening Space Battle
Beginning with the Rebels' attack on the Death Star, Star Wars is built on the foundation of dogfighting in the cold, unforgiving vacuum of space. One of the best examples of this is the opening scenes of Revenge of the Sith as Grievous' flagship attempts to flee the besieged Republic capital. Onboard the flagship, Invisible Hand, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine is held captive. As Generals Skywalker and Kenobi race to recover this invaluable captive, a visually stunning orbital battle rages onscreen for the audience. Before the debut of the animated The Clone Wars series, this was one of the first examples of the large scale conflict of the Clone Wars. Punctuated by an extremely acrobatic exit from his starfighter by Obi-Wan, this battle was a fast-paced and brutal way to start Episode III.
2. General Grievous
The cyborg leader of the CIS droid army, General Grievous was a Kaleesh warlord who was recruited by Sidious and fought ruthlessly against the Republic throughout the Clone Wars. Known for his brutality in combat, Grievous was not above using underhanded tactics to kill his enemies, or escape from the fight and live to fight another day. The voice acting of Grievous by Head Sound Designer Mathew Wood, supplemented with the coughing of George Lucas, is certainly a highlight of his character in Revenge of the Sith.
3. Acting of Ewan McGregor
One of the highlights of the entirety of the prequel trilogy is the performance of Obi-Wan Kenobi himself, Ewan McGregor. Tailoring his performance for a younger, less world-weary Jedi, he still seamlessly leads into the original performance of Alec Guinness. His unflappable, sarcastic demeanor, giving way to emotional vulnerability at the right moments make him a relatable and authentic character.
4. Battle of Kashyyyk
One of the final battles of the Clone Wars, the Republic dispatched clone legions to help the Wookiees defend their densely forested homeworld of Kashyyyk from the CIS invasion. First appearing in the seldom viewed Star Wars Holiday Special, the homeworld of the Wookiee people proved to be an excellent backdrop for one of the climatic battles of the Clone Wars. As the droid army charges the beach, Wookiees and clones alike rain fire on their ill-fated landing. With Master Yoda leading the Republic forces and the ensuing events of Order 66, the Battle of Kashyyyk is a fast-paced halfway point of the film.
5. Christopher Lee
Sir Christopher Lee, accomplished actor, author, singer, and decorated soldier brings quite the presence to the screen of the prequels. A member of British Royal Air Force Intelligence during World War II, Lee saw combat in North Africa with his squadron averaging 5 missions per day. Starring in such iconic roles as Saruman and Count Dracula, Lee followed in the footsteps of such acting greats as Guinness and Lee's close friend Peter Cushing by bringing a legendary acting resume to the Star Wars universe.
6. Order 66
Possibly the most pivotal moment in the galaxy, the Great Jedi Purge saw the Jedi Order decimated and the Galactic Republic replaced by the evil Empire. Set in motion years prior as part of the Sith grand plan for revenge, the betrayal of the Jedi by their clone troopers is one of the darkest moments in Star Wars. Expertly scored by John Williams, the music is haunting and drives home the emotional weight of the unfolding scene as fan-favorite Jedi masters are shot in the back by their former allies.
7. March on the Jedi Temple
Running parallel with Order 66, the March on the Temple represents the worst of Order 66. Led by the newest Sith Lord, Darth Vader, the clones of the 501st Legion lay siege to the heart of the Jedi Order. Virtually all the Jedi in the Temple are killed by the new Imperial strike team, including Master Shaak Ti. The visual of the hooded Vader leading the clones up the steps of the temple is an iconic shot in the Skywalker saga.
8. Yoda vs Palps
First introduced as a hermit-like Jedi on the swamp world of Dagobah in Empire, Grand Master Yoda didn't see much action during the original trilogy. However, this changed during the prequels, first in his match against Dooku in Attack of the Clones and then in one of the most unique duels in the saga in Episode III. Arriving in the office of the Chancellor to confront Darth Sidious, Yoda quickly eliminates the Sith Lord's guards. With no one standing between the Jedi Master and the Sith Lord, they launch into an intense, acrobatic, Force-fueled duel.
9. Battle of the Heroes
The favorite duel of many fans, Obi-Wan Kenobi vs the Jedi formerly known as Anakin Skywalker was one of the first aspects of the film envisioned by George Lucas. Lucas first imagined a hellish duel between Master and Apprentice while working on the original trilogy. The result is one of the most intricate and painstakingly practiced duels in the entire saga across the lava world of Mustafar. With fast-paced action and memes galore, this scene makes for an excellent crescendo for the best Star Wars movie.
10. George Lucas Cameo
Befitting of his filmmaking style, Lucas' singular Star Wars cameo is almost impossible to catch due to his heavy makeup and unrecognizable alien visage. Portraying the Pantoran Baron Papanoida in the Galactic Opera, Lucas can briefly be seen as Anakin rushes to meet the Chancellor. While the character was later fleshed out in The Clone Wars, the cameo was at best a "blink and you'll miss it" moment when Revenge of the Sith first hit theaters.