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     This is it - the Star Wars movie fans have been waiting for. While the first two prequels merely set the stage for the rest of the saga, and occassionally gave us great action sequences and intriguing plot elements - Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith gives us all of those things the entire time, leaving us on the edge of our seats in anticipation for how it'll all end and put in the final piece of the puzzle to connect with the classic trilogy. Oh, and Jar Jar Binks gets the shaft on screen time.

     And multitudes of Star Wars fans cheer...

     Every Star Wars fan has wanted to see Anakin tranform into Vader. We all wanted to see him and Obi-Wan become enemies. We were eager to see Padme (Natalie Portman) die and the Skywalker twins birthed into existence. The formation of the Empire, the Jedi Knights getting hunted down and slaughtered and the rise of the Emperor were all things fans have been dreaming to see since the first original Star Wars back in 1977. We wanted all this because we know it leads us into the classic Star Wars trilogy (IV, V, and VI) that we know and love.

     However, when I finally got to see this film I didn't want any of it to happen by the time it got over with. I actually cared about the relationship between Anakin and Obi-Wan to the point where it was heart-breaking to watch them fight each other. I actually wanted Padme to live. I longed for the Emperor to get defeated. It really hurt to see Anakin turn to the dark side and the Jedi Knights not survive the war. When this happened to my psyche, despite the fact that for years I wanted the dots to be connected with the classic trilogy, I knew that George Lucas succeeded in telling a great story - a story that makes one go against all sense of logic, rips apart one's emotions and yet still makes the person come out loving the film in the end.

     This film gives us some amazing action sequences and special effects that have definitely topped the last two films. We get a realistic CGI cyborg villain named General Grevious (voiced by Mathew Wood), who is not only beautifully rendered, but also has personality. The Wookies also get there moment here, as we visit their home world of Kashyyk and encounter Chewbacca in his early years with his involvment in the Clone Wars. This planet is just one of many in the film, which are all breathtaking.

     And what would this movie be without amazing lightsaber battles? This is the final film in the saga, so you can be sure that the saber fights will be top notch. Here we get ultimate good against evil with Yoda against Darth Sidious. This is the first time we see the Emperor wield a lightsaber, and he does not disappoint. And of course, the legendary battle between Anakin and Obi-Wan that we've all heard about for years finally ensues, giving us the most amazing saber battle ever in a Star Wars film.

     I was amazed at the choreography in the Anakin/Obi-Wan fight on Mustafar, the lava planet. I could really see that they are two characters with equal skill, as their instincts replicate each other when they fight. It is apparent that the battle becomes increasingly more difficult because of this, which of course makes it that much more thrilling. This is the ultimate battle of the heroes, and should delight any fan who's been thinking about this confrontation since the original Star Wars.

     Lucas even goes as far as being poetic with the storyline in some parts. At one point, we simply see Padme staring off into the distance accross the planet Coruscant at the Jedi Temple, and at the same time Anakin stares from the Temple across to where Padme is at, as they both contemplate the fate of the galaxy and of themselves. It's a moment of no dialogue, but rather pure emotional acting and a haunting musical score in the background. Simply awe-inspiring.

     Another scene worthy of mention is when Lucas intercuts the birth of the Skywalker twins with the birth of Darth Vader. It's a truly moving scene, in that while we've just witnessed tragedy, we've also witnessed "a new hope." Who knew that this type of story-telling could come from the same person who gave us Jar Jar?

     Is Revenge of the Sith perfect? Well, it's as perfect as a Star Wars film can get since none of the films have ever been known for great acting and dialogue. Wooden acting and cheesy dialogue is what makes Star Wars what it is. However, I felt this film had the least amount of those things compared to the previous installments. I believed the characters were real, and the situations they were going through were authentic. Anakin's descent to the darkside was so believable to me, that I almost sided with him rather than the Jedi. The movie encompassed a broad range of emotions, from fun and energetic, to sorrowful and tragic. With thrilling action and special effects, as well as a dark and harrowing story that explains the vagueness of the first two prequels and aligns well with the classic trilogy, it's an engaging film from start to finish. In my humble opinion it truly is the best of the entire six-film saga.

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     Ian McDiarmid's performance as the Chancellor deserves to be mentioned. His performance has got to be the best part of this whole film, and deserves an Oscar in my opinion (one he probably won't even get nominated for). The way he convinces Anakin to go to the darkside is so cunning and realistic, that even I started to think the darkside isn't so bad. We all know it's wrong, but it doesn't appear that way on screen. All those who do evil actually believe they're doing good, and that's exactly what happens to Anakin. He plays the ultimate pawn in Palpatine's game, and what a saddening tale it is.