2. There Are A Couple Of Best-Shot-In-The-Series Contenders
I mentioned earlier that Anakin and Padmé's relationship is best conveyed visually, and the latter half of Attack of the Clones proves that point emphatically, producing what are, for me at least, some of the best single shots in the entire Star Wars franchise. The final shot of the couple secretly marrying at the Varykino lake retreat in Naboo's lake country is particularly splendorous (as are most of the scenes at the vicinity), echoing The Empire Strikes back as they look out into an uncertain future, Anakin's mechanical hand mirroring that of Luke's as the scene fades out. Most impressive, however, are the one-two of Anakin's shadow half-depicting him as Vader as he and Padmé are silhouetted onto Tatooine rock (which can be partly seen in the introductory picture to this article and in full
here) and the shot above, my own personal favourite in the whole of Star Wars, which depicts the doomed nature of the lovers' relationship better than any line of dialogue ever could. As they kiss, their carriage carries them forward and the camera follows slowly as they make their way out into the abyss, passing through what might just be an inverted love heart in the process. Bathed in half-light, it is the moment Anakin and Padmé both realise their love and seal their fate, the shot capturing perfectly the ominous, woebegone nature of the whole beautiful, melancholy enterprise. Stunning.
