by It’s difficult to talk about Star Wars in the modern media climate. No matter where a fan goes, there’s always someone online yelling about Star Wars. Disney ruined my childhood, George Lucas is a hack, Ryan Johnson should never make a movie again, it’s all just a bunch of whining at this point. As much as I love Star Wars, it’s hard to be associated with the online fanbase, especially with just how loud everything has gotten. So with the anniversary of Revenge of the Sith returning to theaters, just where is it in its legacy?
The disappointment the prequels created for fans of the original trilogy has been well documented throughout the years. From well adjusted and proper criticism of the film to man-child nerd rage at a literal child actor, it’s safe to say that these films have been a bit divisive. Even though Episode III has had the most favorable reflection when in comparison to its sister films. Which isn’t saying much. With one review comparing it to the least painful bee sting he could receive in 3 consecutive stings. However, as time went on, as fans of the prequels grew and created their own opinion and had their own voice, these films have been looked back on far more favorably. Much to the disdain of grown adults who absolutely despised these films inherently. For the longest time, these were considered the worst films ever made and George Lucas should feel nothing but shame and that there are no fans for this content.
While these complaints are completely ridiculous, like c’mon grow up, even if they are absolutely horrid films, no one that had any involvement with these films deserved even a third of the childish, vitriolic, hatred that they received. That’s not to say that these films are beyond criticism, not at all, even I have my problems with it. But simply because a bunch of adults didn’t get the film that they imagined in their heads since they were children that they decided to send death threats to actors and force Lucas into even considering selling his beloved creation.
So just where does that leave Revenge of the Sith? In a very particular and uncomfortable spot. Initially, Revenge of the Sith made for, all things considered, a full and complete conclusion for the prequel trilogy and leads the way for the original trilogy to pick up the story no problem. For about 3 years, that was that. The prequels were hated and for many it was not what they wanted. If you were normal, as in, not bullying the actors from the film, it’s safe to say were a little disappointed. However, for others, they had a great time and became Star Wars fans, which was inherently the end goal for Lucas. In 2008, a new project was launched in the form of the 3D Animated series, Star Wars the Clone Wars. The point of which was to tell an anthology story between the end of Attack of the Clones til the beginning of the Revenge of the Sith and flesh out this particular era. Over time, this show produced some of the best Star Wars stories to come out of the universe that otherwise would not have happened had the prequels not been told. It is fan revered and essentially holy text for many, to the point it is still being expanded upon in different Star Wars properties.
Revenge of the Sith is not the worst movie of all time, it just isn’t. While being an extremely flawed film, it accomplished what it needed to. It was a fine conclusion for the story Lucas wanted to tell, what the viewers and let’s face it, Lucas didn’t know the legacy it would create is astronomical. Fan favourites today such as Captain Rex, Ahsoka Tano, and even the one off characters that were presented so strongly would not be as well known or cared about today. Even the characters we knew about have been fleshed out to such a strong point that the Obi-Wan I know in my head is not the same Obi-Wan I know from the prequel trilogy or the original, it’s Clone Wars Obi-Wan and everything else surrounded by him. So while a 7/10 film was disappointing to many, I can’t bring myself to even remotely dislike it. It introduced so many new and interesting concepts that I shudder to think what Star Wars would be like today without the prequel trilogy ever existing. The story itself is strong, it just needed a few refinements. Had Lucas chosen to just write the trilogy and gotten someone he trusted to direct, these films would be looked upon far more favorably at their release instead of the young fans growing up and projecting their voice and opinion onto the crowd. Revenge of the Sith is by no means a masterpiece, but it has by every means influenced just about every one of my favorite aspects of the franchise. So while this film is a disgrace to some, I wholeheartedly enjoy it and urge others to revel in its potential and legacy it has led to. To just keep an open mind and take a chance on something different to what you had in your mind.
From all of us here at Happy Hobbyist, Happy Hobbying.
