The prequels complete the story, and I think Revenge of the Sith is easily the best Star Wars film. I’m as obsessed with them as I ever was with the originals. The amount of visual connections they make to the originals enhance both trilogies, and the originals take on so much more thematic meaning and emotional impact as a result of it all. TPM is always where I start my Star Wars rewatches, because it sets the stage for everything that follows. From that story through to the end of RoTS, there’s an increasing sense of dread looming in the distance as I can’t help but feel the inevitable tragedy coming closer and closer. The sadness of that is endlessly captivating, and the little taste of hope right at the very end spurs me to continue on and make it to the happy ending at the other end of the circle. Because of these prequels, the saga becomes almost like a loop I can travel through over and over.

If nothing else, I’m just happy they were allowed to be made in such an uncompromisingly personal way. They don’t follow the conventions of modern storytelling in films at all, and for that they’re precious and timeless (though I think this sentiment does apply to the original trilogy as well).