For the 20th anniversary of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, lets look back and learn how Star Wars has changed since Anakin Skywalker’s dark origins.
For many Star Wars fans, Revenge of the Sith is widely considered to be the best of the prequels and, in 2005, was going to be the last film in the saga. Whether you loved the movie or can’t stand any of the prequels, this was a memorable time for fans. Those memories have come back around, with the Revenge of the Sith re-release taking a surprise second-place seat at the box office last weekend. As we all collectively look back at the film and our memories of seeing it for the first time, I wanted to take the time to talk about it and how it holds up to the current state of the Star Wars franchise.
In 2005, I was ten years old and the only Star Wars movie I had seen was Attack of the Clones. I was too young to understand most of what happened in that movie and just enjoyed the last half hour. When I saw the trailer for Revenge of the Sith, I was immediately on board. It looked action packed, intense, and very dark. I was invited to go see the movie on opening weekend with my friend and his family, who were all big fans of the series. I honestly didn’t know that much about the overall story of Star Wars before this night, but the combination of this movie and my friend and his family made me a fan for life.
The thing that truly grabbed me about this movie was the level of intensity and raw emotion. Not only was this my favorite Star Wars experience, it was also the movie that I think began to form my taste in film in general. I began seeking out stories with darker undertones and emotional weight to them instead of just action and comedy. I can’t really describe the feeling I had when the lights came up at the end of that screening, but I can tell you that I can still feel a bit of it whenever I rewatch it.
There are so many conflicts throughout Revenge of the Sith and each one of them brings its own stakes. At the center lies the struggle of Anakin (Hayden Christensen) with his faith to the Jedi and his fear of losing Padmé (Natalie Portman). This is the backbone of the entire story and has several branches including the struggle between Anakin and Obi-Wan (Ewan McGregor), Anakin and the Jedi Council, the Jedi and the Sith, and Anakin’s trust in Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid). There are choices being made and consequences being had so often in this story and each one makes your heart feel a little bit heavier.
Yes, most of us knew that Anakin would end up choosing the dark side and becoming Darth Vader, but none of us could’ve expected the most haunting aspect of the story: Order 66. Seeing the Jedi be taken out systematically and watching society crumble around them created this never-ending sense of dread and grief that you never truly feel in the original trilogy. This makes the final battle between Anakin and Obi Wan that much more heartbreaking to watch. They’re friends, they’re brothers, they’re almost father and son-like, and in this moment they both know what needed to be done.
When Revenge of the Sith came out in May 2005, it was billed as the last episode in the Star Wars saga…and then Star Wars was sold to Disney. This decision caused a wave of new Star Wars projects, including films, TV shows, and video games. The films included a new trilogy set after the original trilogy and two prequels that expanded upon existing characters and stories. The shows and games, meanwhile, were mostly directed at prequel fans and added many new layers to the period between Clones and Sith. After mixed success with those projects, Disney unveiled a new (and higher quality) slate of original series for its Disney+ streaming service. Fans were amazed by The Mandalorian, Andor, a final season to the hit animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and so many other new shows that were a mix of prequels and new stories.
With all the new series, games, films, and books out now, there are so many ways to enjoy Star Wars as a fan. But as we look back to the release of Revenge of the Sith and remember the feelings of wonder and excitement that followed watching it, are we getting that from these new projects? Yes, there are a few diamonds in the rough that have been enough to keep fans happy, but we haven’t had a Star War film that hits as hard as Revenge of the Sith in…well, 20 years. I still watch all the new Star Wars shows and play all the games and I manage to find enjoyment in them all to some degree, but deep down I know that none of them are as formative and thought provoking for me as Revenge of the Sith.
Star Wars: Episode III — Revenge of the Sith is now playing in theaters everywhere. Watch the trailer here.
Images courtesy of Tyler Carlsen and Disney. Read more articles by Tyler Carlsen here.
From a young age, Tyler has been amazed by filmmaking and writing. When he’s not watching movies in theaters, he also enjoys playing video games and binging one of the numerous shows he’s watching at any given moment. Working with The Young Folks was a highlight of his writing career and he is looking forward to this new adventure with In Between Drafts!
