This weekend, I saw Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith in the theater for the first time, and several things stuck out on this rewatch. I remember watching the movie for the first time as a kid, and even though it was just a DVD from the library, I was blown away. While it’s no longer my favorite Star Wars film, it’s still special, so I was excited to see how it holds up in the cinema.

My brother came to the film with me, and it was not only his first time seeing it on the big screen, but also the first time he’d watched it in years. We both had a blast, and seeing it with a crowd of Star Wars fans made it even more fun, especially the guy down front who brought his own lightsaber (him igniting it when Anakin was about to kill the younglings actually made the whole theater laugh).

I’ve seen Revenge of the Sith several times before, but viewing it on a giant movie screen really makes it feel like a new experience. It also encouraged me to be more alert and engage with the story, noticing new details and appreciating things I hadn’t thought of before. After taking notes and chatting with my brother to ensure I hadn’t missed anything, these are the 15 biggest realizations I had when watching Revenge of the Sith in theaters.

15

You Can’t Fully Appreciate ROTS’ Sound Design Without The Theater Experience

So many sound effects I never noticed before

Star Wars has the most iconic sound effects in film, but you can’t truly respect how incredible the sound design is until you see the movies in a theater. Sure, you can watch with headphones, and some people have good speaker setups at home, but nothing matches hearing Revenge of the Sith the way it was designed to. Every lightsaber clash, explosion, or blaster bolt hits harder, and I noticed more background effects I’d never heard before.

14

So Many Small Details Stand Out On The Big Screen

I always find new things to appreciate

While movies are generally darker when seen in the cinema, having such a large screen makes it easy to see and appreciate the little details. The movie looks fantastic, I noticed little sparks after certain lightsaber cuts, and my brother said he’d never noticed that you can see Count Dooku’s head rolling after Anakin kills him. The special effects artists deserve so much praise for the effort put into every single frame.

13

Ian McDiarmid Makes Over-The-Top Acting Seem Completely Natural

Not many actors can successfully pull this off

I’ve always loved Ian McDiarmid as Palpatine (as do most Star Wars fans), and something else about his performance stood out to me this time. Even before he changes into Emperor Palpatine, McDiarmid’s delivery is always bold, colorful, and even over the top, but this is not bad. It gives Palpatine so much life and reminds you that he’s performing for all the other characters.

You would think McDiarmid’s approach would stand out and be distracting, especially when most of the other cast members aren’t always giving as much energy. However, McDiarmid makes Palpatine’s delivery feel natural and consistent with the movie’s tone, even when he goes full villain mode. Not many actors can pull that off, but McDiarmid does and makes Palpatine an iconic character.

12

Star Wars Memes Have Enhanced (& Ruined) Revenge Of The Sith

Almost every line of dialogue feels iconic (& hilarious)

What took me off guard while watching Revenge of the Sith was how certain moments distracted me, and I couldn’t understand why. As I thought about it, I realized these moments were the ones most frequently used as templates for Star Wars memes, and this kept popping into my head. It made some parts more fun, and I had a good laugh with the audience, but it occasionally took me out of what are supposed to be serious scenes.

11

Obi-Wan Vs. Grievous Is A More Heart-Pounding Duel On The Big Screen

Every lightsaber flash feels more powerful

I knew I would be on the edge of my seat for the final lightsaber duel, but I was shocked to find my heart beating faster when Obi-Wan fought General Grievous. I’ve always enjoyed this duel, but the big screen really enhances it, emphasizing the lightning-fast blades and the quick cuts between attacks. I felt as scared and on alert as Obi-Wan did, and it was great to feel like I was experiencing this scene for the first time.

10

Obi-Wan Probably Confronted Grievous The Way He Did Because Of Anakin

Jumping into an area surrounded by droids is a very Anakin move

An interesting observation my brother made that I realized makes perfect sense is why Obi-Wan would face Grievous with no backup. Obi-Wan stopping to think before he jumps down has always been clear, but the last thing he did before leaving Coruscant was talk to Anakin about their time together. Obi-Wan may have taught Anakin, but students also influence their teachers, so Obi-Wan was probably thinking that boldly leaping into action was something Anakin would do.

9

Revenge Of The Sith Is Visually Spectacular

Especially in the second half

I know, a Star Wars movie looks amazing… “Other breaking news: Water, Wet!” Still, when it comes to praising the franchise’s visuals, most fans jump straight to newer films like Rogue One or The Last Jedi, or they talk about how groundbreaking the original trilogy was. The prequels are also criticized for not looking as good as the originals, but this doesn’t apply as much to Revenge of the Sith, and seeing it on a big screen proves that.

Yes, the abundance of CGI and green screen backgrounds can hurt the movie at times, but the scope, art design, and imagination on display are spectacular. Once we get to the second half of the movie, just about every frame is a visual masterpiece, at least to me. Revenge of the Sith deserves a lot more credit for its visuals and special effects, especially for a now 20-year-old film.

8

Anakin’s Greatest Flaw Foreshadows The Empire’s Biggest Weakness

Overattachment leads to suffering and loss

As my brother and I were discussing the movie, he noted how Anakin’s story draws from the principle of non-attachment in Buddhist philosophy, how clinging too hard to something only makes it slip from your grasp. This was a very fitting choice of words, as it’s exactly what Princess Leia says to Grand Moff Tarkin in A New Hope: “The more you тιԍнтen your grip, Tarkin, the more star systems will slip through your fingers.”

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Yoda warned Anakin about trying to change things beyond his control, but he wouldn’t listen, and his quest to become more powerful destroyed what he hoped to protect. The same thing inevitably happened to the Empire, which collapsed after a small Rebellion took advantage of the Imperial Fleet spreading itself too thin. The Empire was too attached to the idea of order at any cost, and while it was strong for a time, this ended up being its downfall.

7

Anakin Had So Many Opportunities To Avoid His Tragic Fate

It makes the ending far more heartbreaking

Another thing my brother and I noticed was how many opportunities Anakin had to avoid the final outcome. Anakin’s story is definitely tragic, his feelings and desires are understandable, but no one ever made him do anything. He is bombarded with choices throughout the film, and while there would have been consequences for doing the right thing, it’s sad to be reminded of just how many times Anakin could have turned back.

6

George Lucas’ Warnings Feel Just As Relevant 20 Years Later

And this represents our failure to listen

Most of this Revenge of the Sith rewatch was incredibly fun, but I won’t lie, a few key moments hit a little too close to home. I’m not going to get overly political because I don’t want to spark debate in the comments, but many of the film’s cautionary messages feel incredibly relevant given current events. The rise of authoritarian leaders, the scapegoating of entire groups, brothers fighting because they see each other’s respective sides as evil, etc.

Several scenes in this movie were inspired by events happening in the early 2000s, but Lucas designed his stories to feel timeless, so it shouldn’t be surprising that the story feels just as relevant after two decades. Even so, Padmé’s concerns about whether democracy still exists in the Republic scare me a little more in today’s political climate. Maybe that’s just me, but I wouldn’t be shocked if more people in the audience felt the same way.

5

Battle Of The Heroes On The Big Screen Is Absolute Perfection

I just wanted it to keep going

Just getting to see Obi-Wan and Anakin’s final lightsaber duel was worth the price of admission. The incredible choreography, the hauntingly breathtaking visuals, the music, the camera work, it’s all so powerful on the big screen. Some people criticize this fight for going on for too long, but I completely disagree, and watching it in a theater made me wish it was even longer. Knowing how much work went into Mustafar makes me appreciate the duel even more.

4

Padmé’s Death Isn’t As Bad As Most Fans Think

Her previous scenes with Anakin show why

Another common Revenge of the Sith criticism is the way Padmé dies, but on this viewing, I realized it doesn’t bother me that much. The medical droid says they couldn’t fully explain why Padmé was dying, but earlier scenes clearly showed that she and Anakin could sense each other’s pain through the Force. Considering Anakin tried to kill Padmé, and that he was in extreme pain on Coruscant, her dying after giving birth doesn’t seem as hard to believe.

3

Revenge Of The Sith Really Is John Williams’ Best Star Wars Score

Memorable, emotional, and complements every scene

All of John Williams’ Star Wars scores are outstanding, but it’s been a while since I thought about which one is truly his best work. While my personal favorite is probably the now iconic music from A New Hope, I now realize just how perfect Revenge of the Sith‘s score is from beginning to end. It has extremely memorable tracks that hit you on a deeper level, and the music perfectly complements every scene.

2

Revenge Of The Sith Is Still Flawed – But A Great Movie Nonetheless

Its outstanding qualities more than make up for its problems

Of course, if we’re being honest, I will admit that my problems with Revenge of the Sith didn’t go away just because I saw it on the big screen. Viewing it in the theater does make it easier to get lost in the story, and I was a little more forgiving of certain problems, but the issues with dialogue, rushed developments, and missed opportunities still stand. However, just because a movie isn’t perfect doesn’t mean it’s not great, and I still love Revenge of the Sith for what it gets right.

1

Revenge Of The Sith Is The Complete Star Wars Package

Everything that makes the franchise special is combined into one movie

Without a doubt, the biggest realization I had watching this film on the big screen is that Revenge of the Sith is the complete Star Wars package. All the elements that make the other Star Wars movies unique individually can be found in Revenge of the Sith: different types of lightsaber duels, light-hearted fun and comedy, the most tragic moments imaginable, a dash of mystery, romance, and more.

It’s really impressive how one film can have so much going on yet still maintain a steady pace, incorporating so many parts into a cohesive whole. Because George Lucas knew this would be his final Star Wars movie, he and the crew really went all out, and I’m grateful for their ambition. Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is a monumental achievement, and I’m glad to have seen it on the big screen for its 20th anniversary.

Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is back in most major theaters for a limited time, so get your tickets now.