10 Overlooked Positives Of Star Wars Prequel Trilogy

The awkward acting of Hayden Christensen, as well as the often bad dialogue he was given to work with, has been the subject of ridicule for years. This has resulted in people not realizing that the actual overarching narrative of Anakin Skywalker's transformation into Darth Vader is, objectively, storytelling perfection.

Aanakin is a boy with the pressure of being "the chosen one" thrust upon him at an early age. He was then forced to spend years training under a system of beliefs that practically forbade emotion. He had to leave his mother behind in slavery, watched her die before his very eyes several years later, feels great frustration with himself and with his superiors, and feels great love for Padme Amidala, and he is not allowed to openly express any of this.

As humans, we know how dangerous bottling up one's emotions can be, and Anakin has massive burdens to bear. And it's clear he doesn't want to be doing this to himself, but he is being forced to by the Jedi Order. Anakin's own problems, mixed with his need to feel accepted and live up to his destiny tore him apart from the inside out. Worse yet, his master, Obi-Wan realized what was happening, and tried to get the Order to let Anakin work through his issues, but was denied at every turn because of the Jedi's crippling fear of emotion. Their refusal to listen to ideas that go against their beliefs was their undoing

The Jedi were just as much to blame for Anakin's fall as Palpatine was. And, painfully, despite Obi-Wan being one of the few to stand up for him, Anakin blames him for his turn to the Dark Side as much as anyone else.

It is a truly brilliant and tragic story that does not get the credit it deserves from Star Wars "fans" who blindly denounce the prequels as a whole.

Which side of the fence do you fall on when it comes to the Prequel Trilogy? Share your thoughts down in the comments.