PT Why is Revenge of the Sith widely considered the best of the Prequels?

I care about memes. They’re all in good fun. They show what sticks in peoples’ heads. Whether it’s in irony or not, those lines are quite memorable. I personally quote TPM a lot because I simply have seen it more but my friends and I are always quoting ROTS because those lines stick in your head, whether it’s because you like them or not.

What you say about it being considered “laughably terrible and embarrassing writing and dialogue” could easily be said of the first two, or even all six Star Wars films, when judged in a contemporary sense. It’s just the stylized nature of them. I adore Lucas’s writing in the prequels.

 

I'm bold enough to declare that it has the best acting from the entire saga, not just the trilogy.

I consider TPM and AOTC to be both important and good movies. ROTS considered to be the best doesn't mean the previous two movies were bad, but itt actually a big point for the prequels because rarely the third movie in a trilogy has a great pay off.

 

Revenge is my favorite Star Wars film of all time for several reasons.

1. Never a dull moment. The action never stops in this one. This is coming from someone guilty of dozing off during two attempts to watch Attack of the Clones. Couldn't do it. Revenge grabbed my attention the first time I watched it and holds my attention the same way when I rewatch it.

2. The man behind the mask. We get Vader's backstory. This is naturally going to up the film's popularity. There is a big crowd out there that likes to know why the bad guys do what they do. Personally, I'm all about deep backstories. I love this element to the film.

3. What a tragedy. This may be limited to a select few who share my point of view, but the tragedy involved in Revenge is done in such a way that sympathy comes easy for Anakin and Padmé. The cruel irony of Anakin being unable to protect the ones he loves I think is relatable in most cases.

4. The eyes of the future. This is one element that was not expounded upon as much as it could have been, but the presence of Grievous in the film is intended to be Anakin's future existence before him. I think there are so many ways this could have been built upon over the course of the film (the novel does a little better on this element) and while it's not entirely obvious, the idea is there.

Just my two cents. Like I said, this film is my favorite out of all of them, so I'm going to stand by its good points. Maybe I'm a little biased. Naaaaaah...

 

You'll have to give some specific examples as to how ROTS went too far in the visual effects. I would actually argue that ROTS compared to the previous films, had a very good balance of CGI and practical effects. Yes, there was a lot going on but that was to be expected in the final movie of a trilogy.

 

Normally I'd assume you had to be joking... but on a forum you never know. Actually... most of that backstory was developed in the first two prequels. What are TPM and AOTC if not backstory? It's pretty easy to blame your "dozing off" on a movie. The "action never stops"? Actually, it DOES (fortunately!!). That opera scene? Talks in the Jedi council/senate? Balcony scene? Are those more "action" while everything similar in AOTC is "boring"?? If watching ROTS without the other two movies, without knowing anything about Anakin, works for you, well... good for you. To me and lots of other people the story only works when seen as a whole. But then again, there may be people who enjoy reading books by reading only the last chapter? Not my thing, but hey, you are certainly entitled to your opinion. I have known people who fast-forwarded through most of Alien to only watch the "good" parts. I on the other hand always enjoyed the atmosphere, mood, tension, sets....

 

(Full disclosure, I like the PT, there is no such thing as a bad Star Wars film to date)

Simply put ROTS had the least amount of cringy dialogue. TPM was wooden in that regard, AOTC had awkward scenes between Anakin and Padme. ROTS doesn't really have any of that.

Side note: I went into a Toys R Us after it debute and there were to fathers there each with young kids going over the SW toys and one says to the other, "That was a good movie!" while they helped their kids pick out toys.

 

@Sith Lord 2015
You misunderstand me. I realize the other films are backstories in and of themselves, but Revenge centers around Anakin's embracing of the Dark Side and, from my perspective, gives the full-blown tragic "why" to Vader's character. On the note of constant action, the scenes you have mentioned are fairly short in duration. As for your insinuating that I have no appreciation for the rest of Anakin's backstory, you are completely mistaken in your assumption.

 

No, I did understand you. But that "why" doesn't happen as late as ROTS but begins in TPM. Yes, his actual TURN to the dark side happens in ROTS, but how and why he gets there is established and "explained" in the previous movies. His separation from his mother at an early age, having zero contact with her for 10 years, his premonitions about her death, his revenge on the Tusken, his secret marriage to Padmé, the Jedi doing nothing to help, his disagreements with his master, .... these are all factors responsible for his decision in Sith. They are part of his character development, and one movie would not have been enough to present that believably.

Well yes, I did get that impression. Your enthusiasm for AOTC seems a little less than overwhelming since apparently it bored you enough to put you to sleep.

Sure, same old anti-AOTC "arguments", we've heard it all before over the years. We now all know that "I don't like sand" is terrible acting while "no, it's only because I am so in love with you..." is practically Shakespeare. Thanks for reminding us all of the facts ! I hope no one will ever again say anything positive about AOTC.

 

Because it is.

 

I personally love it the most because it has no dragged parts, it has the richest story meat, its the most technically polished episode (fights, CGI, cinematography), with the best actors works, dialogues, and, finally, its the dramatic conclusion, culmination, and its done almost perfectly.

Why many people consider Ep3 the best prequel? Because its the movie-payoff, main stage, previous two movies lead to, and its should be the most spectacle movie. Because the things i mentioned, plus it has the most powerfull, engaging plot, where certain dramatic elements hit the feels.
It felt like Lucas did great work learning his mistakes from previous two movies, and show us the best version of the prequels he possibly could. That why.

For certain reasons i think it is the best SW movie at all, even an underrated one, deserved to be in everyone's top 2 lists. He became the victim of the stigma created by previous two movies and internet-era i guess.

 

I have lots of reasons why I consider it the best of the prequels, but for now I will nerd out about its use of MONTAGE! The Order 66 montage and the montage where Sidious declares the Empire are just GENIUS. Such well done examples of how montage can be used to great effect. Some of Lucas' best editing work of all time.

 

Not to mention the ending montage, which brilliantly tells a galaxy-spanning story of death and despair giving way to new life and burgeoning hope, all sans dialogue and within the span of a minute and without any dialogue. One of Camille Paglia's most pertinent insights into Lucas's powers as a director came when she pointed out his unparalleled control over tone.

 

A few reasons-the action all the battles, exotic alien world's and lightsaber duels.

Second the emotion and just sheer drama of it.

Third the music-I don't think there has ever been a better score.

There are a lot more reasons but ROTS really is the best of the prequels and in my opinion arguably the best Star Wars movie.

 

Exactly, what "is" best is almost always a matter of opinion, when it comes to art at least.

 

Or the "Anakin's sunset/Padme's ruminations" montage, another incredible moment of an incredible movie.

As you say, Lucas has great control over tone (and I'd add pacing and structure) in his movies. He won't do dramatic close-ups, or epic slow-motions, but he manages to create emotion through editing and pacing, while at the same time keeping it simple, straighforward and fast-paced.

I recently watched ROTS again and I was really impressed by how the tone of the movie changes through the film, constantly increasing the drama and the tension, as you get inevitably caught in the story. It begins with a very light, action-packed, cool and non-emotional act, so you're just enyoing the ride as it goes, without getting emotional about it. Then the tone subtly changes and the tension starts to build very slowly, as war clouds and sith wispers alternate. Unlike the other movies of the trilogy, in which there's a very clear 3-act story from beginning to end with a group of characters travelling from planet to planet, here the structure seems less defined, the progression of the story unclear: the first act was strangely light-headed and self-contained, and now there doesn't seem to be a clear mission for the characters (it's the only episode in which we stay in one planet from the beginning to the end with at least some of the main characters)...
Then Sidious reveals himself, Grievous is killed, and Anakin sees the light of sun for the last time, and suddenly the tone changes again. The emotion increases dramatically, with dark monsters appearing, and the movie becomes a huge tragedy, with sweeping montages like you've never seen in SW before, and the situation becomes more and more desperate, the tragic ending more and more certain. By the time you get to the big climax (another montage between the two duels) you realize that there's no way the story will end well, there is no escape. The republic has fallen, the heroes have fallen, and there is no going back. Anakin's body burning, Sidious-as-Death approaching to him, the death of Padme and Vader's birth (yet ANOTHER great montage) is as dark as you can get in a fairy-tale story like this. It's dark but tragic at the same time.
And towards the end, a new hope starts to rise, as you realize that this part of the story is over, but that there is still hope. So, even such a dramatic movie ends with an optimistic tone, as the suns rise. (And for the first time in the Saga, the end credits music isn't a compilation of the most important themes in the movie; instead, it's mostly based in optimistic themes from SW -Leia's theme, Luke's theme, the Rebels, the Throne Room-, to reinforce the optimistic tone of the end of the movie).

 

For me, it's the emotional weight of the film; the tragedy of it all. That moment when Anakin is alone with his thoughts reaching out with his emotions to Padme and her staring out at the Jedi temple knowing everything around her is crumbling - the music, the pacing, the sheer concentration of it...that is one of the golden moments in SW for me and it doesn't let up after there. The Jedi being cut-down; the inability of Mace, Obi-Wan and Yoda to stop the Sith; Padme's despair; it presents a pretty devastating canvas for the story to build on and, thanks to Lucas' love of mirroring, makes the final climax in ROTJ that much more powerful.

 

Happened so many important things in Episode III ;

• Republic has fallen
• Anakin turned to the Dark Side, and transformed into Darth Vader
• Kenobi finally showed his skills as a swordsman. He fights with Anakin in an emotional lightsaber duel.
  
• Yoda goes all out for the first time.
• Mace Windu goes all out for the first time.
• Betrayal of the Clone Troopers.
• Death of Count Dooku.
• Death of Padme.
• Death of Mace Windu.
  
• Palpatine transformed into Darth Sidious.
• Luke and Leia have been borned.
• The true potential of the Dark Side, and we've learned about Sidious's former master.

It's because of how Lucas adapted these turning points in one movie, and almost he didn't leave anything to the previous 2 movies.

The only important things that happened in Episode I;

• We've seen the original Sith apprentice of the Emperor.
• We've seen the original Jedi Master of Kenobi.
• We've seen how the Jedi council, the Republic and the Senate works before the Empire.
• We've seen how Kenobi's Jedi master recruits Anakin Skywalker.

The only important things that happened in Episode II;

• We've seen the replacement of Darth Maul.
• We've seen the relationship of Padme and Anakin.
• We've seen the creation of the Clone army and the droid army. And the creation of separatist forces.
• We've seen the father of Boba Fett.

Not very comparable events with what happened in the Episode III. It was only natural that Episode III is more popular. It was mainly Lucas's choice.

 

I can't speak for anyone else......but ROTS was the Star Wars film I had been waiting for. Sans the lava surfing and the awkward pause between obi-wan and grievous and Palpatine's flip..I couldnt expect for a film to be any more perfect for me.....ok, a lil more Vader, in the suit..but

 

Even if it had serious problems that I and II also had and misused Padme, it still actually seemed to be trying to be a Star Wars movie and it did occasionally seem to get what made the OT great.

 

The first two prequels are largely setup while ROTS is the payoff. Everything comes to a head here, from Palpatine's machinations to Anakin's personal troubles to his and Padme's doomed secret marriage. Because of all this the movie has a sense of rawness and intensity to it, culminating in the confrontation and saber battle on Mustafar. Personally, I have trouble ranking the three prequels against each other, and where they fall at any given time depends as much on my current mood as anything, but generally I would place it either first or second just behind AOTC.

 

I definitely feel differently about Darth Sidious than the original poster. To me, Ian McDiarmid is the best actor in all of Star Wars and Revenge of the Sith was his tour de force. I'm also a fan of tragedy and this film and Rogue One are the most tragic in the entire saga. I love that Padme's death feels like a suicide, because it nails the impact Anakin's turn had on those who loved him. It's a gut wrenchingly emotional movie. I tear up in at least three places every time I watch it. I really don't see The Phantom Menace as having much going for it emotionally, though I did when I first saw it. I suppose Qui Gon's death is still pretty deep. In Attack of the Clones, there is the emotion of Anakin losing his mother. That, to me, is clearly the best sequence in the first two episodes. Not coincidentally, that scene is the best precursor to Revenge that you see in the first two episodes. There may have been some weak dialogue, but you really can't beat the part about liberty dying to thunderous applause.

 

Star wars week saga viewing party contnuing - just finished watching this film after a very long interval and omg the FEELS are still there during Order 66 and Padme’s death and Vaders birth (my headcanon says that some sithy Force magic caused Padme to die just as Vader was made). The music is still the best of the saga imho, the opera scene is still sufficiently perfectly eerie and of course Palpatine is a delught in his quest for UNLIMITED POOOOOWEERRRRR (whew). Ewan McGregir absoltely nailed it and I can’t imagine how much more anguishing the immolation scene woukd be had I also watched Anakin and Obi Wan’s relationship grow in the Clone Wars series.

I still cried at the sight of Padmes body holding the Japor snippet and the ending with baby Luke and Leia .... awwwwwww

 

I agree with the thoughts of many others on here. ROTS is my favorite movie-of all TIME. Basically I feel that the events of ROTS was the one part that EVERYONE was most eager to see, both hardcore fan and casual Joe moviegoer. I also do agree that it has the best acting, possibly between both the PT and the OT. I've said many times before on these forums and it's relevant here too: I challenge any actor to perform the part of Anakin (especially in the 2nd half) better than Hayden did-and I have NO difficulty feeling the emotional weight involved from any of the characters-even Yoda IMO, for crying out loud!

It starts right off with an exhilarating action sequence-a long awaited space battle (which we haven't really seen much of in the PT up to that point). It's a very important part of the saga, and contains even single moments (i.e. Anakin's decision in the Jedi Council chambers) which are turning points for the entire saga. The scope is galaxy-spanning, the lightsaber duels are full of energy, but also emotion. Also it's a great tale of deception and a great lesson for all of us about the results of our choices, and how they can affect not just one or two, but many. A romantic tragedy, not unlike the old mythological tales, with morals we can ALL relate to.

Not to mention all the cool imagery, action and lots of awesome "Pew! Pewpew, Pew PEW!!!"

 

It was the culmination of nearly thirty years of mythology.

 

As someone who loves all three PT films, I think the reason that ROTS received more acclaim from professional critics, was that it was the third in a trilogy and critics’ expectations were more appropriate going in. A similar effect happened with the Lord of the Rings series, where Return of the King was awarded Oscars for best picture and best director, even though many (and I think most) fans would agree that the first two installments were better. Both franchises were at the cutting edge of integrating animation with live action in a fantasy setting, and it took time for critics to determine what was considered tasteful and what was not.

Obviously the LOTR trilogy is considered the better series (for many legitimate reasons), but I wonder how the reception to TPM would have been different if it had been released in 2001 and The Fellowship of the Ring had been released in 1999. Would there have been more recognition for Lucas as an auteur? I think that overall, the PT might have been appreciated at least a little bit more.