Darth Vader is one of the most iconic villains in the history of cinema. As the main antagonist of the ground-breaking Star Wars trilogy, he terrified and enthralled a whole generation and has continued to be a cultural icon ever since. He's a man of pretty much irredeemable evil, more machine than human due to the robotic parts that keep him alive. However, with his final act, he achieves the perfect redemption and is able to find a slice of happiness in death. He rescues his son Luke Skywalker from the torture of Darth Sidious and, enduring Sidious' powerful force lightning, he tosses the dark Emperor to his doom. Overwhelmed by the lightning attack, however, he senses that he is dying. With his last ounce of strength, he urges his son to remove his helmet so that he can look on the face of his child with human eyes. Sebastian Shaw gives a performance of real humanity here with very little to do. Vader's place in the final holographic montage of Luke's mentors shows that he has truly attained peace in his heroic death. It's the perfect way to complete one of cinema's most emotional story arcs.
Freelance film journalist and fan of professional wrestling. Usually found in a darkened screening room looking for an aisle seat and telling people to put away their mobile phones. Also known to do a bit of stand-up comedy, so I'm used to the occasional heckle.
