Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith Review

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A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.… there was Star Wars! I will continue my Star Wars series reviews with the second prequel, Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith! For background knowledge, Star Wars is a film saga of family/sci-fi movies created by the renowned George Lucas. I will be exploring the different aspects of Episode III below.

Plot & Story:

The film begins with a fantastic, awesome battle over the capital of the Republic, Coruscant. This is my favorite opening of any of the films. The music, the stakes, the atmosphere. Everything is perfect. Supreme Chancellor Palpatine has been kidnapped by Count Dooku and Droid General Grievous. Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi reach Grievous’ flagship and duel Count Dooku. Obi-Wan is knocked unconscious and Anakin disarms Dooku and has him at his mercy. The Chancellor urges Anakin to execute Dooku. Anakin is conflicted. It is not the Jedi way, he says, yet he complies, killing Dooku. In short, this is the character of Anakin Skywalker and the essence of Star Wars: the conflict between good and evil, love and duty, within us.

After Anakin safely lands the ship on the surface, he reunites with his wife, Padmé Amidala. She tells him she is pregnant. This is a sweet scene between them. Unfortunately, it doesn’t last. Anakin begins having visions of his wife dying in childbirth, just like he did with his mother. He resolves to never let that happen again. He will save her, no matter what he has to do….

He asks for advice from Yoda, who tells him to let go of attachment. This is not what he wanted to hear. Simultaneously, the Jedi Council asks Anakin to spy on the Chancellor, who has become increasingly under suspicion as he has clung on to power far after his term has expired. The Chancellor detects this, telling Anakin that the Sith and the Jedi are equally moral. Anakin rejects this, exclaiming that the Jedi are selfless. The Chancellor recounts a Sith legend to Anakin. A legend that Darth Plagueis had the power to prevent those he cared about from dying. This is exactly what Anakin wanted to hear.

Darth Sidious instructs the separatist leaders to flee to Mustafar as the walls close in on the Confederacy of Independent Systems. Obi-Wan travels to Utapau to fight Grievous as Yoda travels to Kashyyyk to aid the Wookiees.

Master Windu instructs Anakin to inform the Chancellor that Obi-Wan has killed Grievous. Anakin must discern whether Palpatine intends to return power to the Senate now that the war is coming to a close. Anakin confronts the Chancellor, and all the hints and tension throughout Episodes 1-3 come to a head. Palpatine tells Anakin that only through him can he save his wife from certain death. At last, the Sith lord is revealed, and the extent of his powers become clear. He has manipulated the war and inexplicably knows that Anakin has been dreaming about his wife’s death. It is left to audience interpretation if Palpatine was manipulating Anakin’s thoughts through the Force or simply had the power to know.

Anakin leaves and tells Windu that Palpatine will never give up power and is the Sith lord. He wants to join Windu, but Windu says no. Windu senses great conflict in Anakin. Windu duels Palpatine and wins, and has him at the end of his blade. The Jedi code forbids him from striking him down. Anakin, who followed Windu in secret, exclaims that Sidious must stand trial. Anakin wants to keep him alive to learn the secrets of Darth Plagueis and save his wife. However, Windu refuses. Then, Anakin strikes Windu’s hand and Sidious kills Windu with Force lightning. Anakin collapses, “What have I done?”

Anakin, in a corner, pledges himself to Sidious as long as he can save Padmé.

Order 66 and the march on the Jedi Temple occurs. Roughly 10,000 Jedi are gunned down and slaughtered. Anakin kills many, including children in cold blood. Anakin tells Padmé he is doing it for her, but saves her the details. He travels to Mustafar to kill the Separatist council and end the war.

Padmé follows him. Unknown to her, Obi-Wan is stowed away in her spaceship. Anakin explodes in anger and chokes her with the Force. She is left unconscious as Anakin prepares for a duel. He exclaims, “don’t make me kill you,” showing he still cares about Obi-Wan. However, violence is inevitable. The greatest sword fight in all of cinema ends with: “You were my brother Anakin! I loved you!” A charred Anakin Skywalker goes to metaphorical hell for his sins. Burned and maimed, he is put in the figurative coffin of the Darth Vader suit.

He asks his master, Palpatine/Sidious, if Padmé is alright. Mysteriously, Sidious claims Anakin killed her with his Force choke. Vader/Anakin breaks down, now a man who sacrificed his soul and lost everything.

Concurrently, Padmé gives birth to twins, Luke and Leia, visually contrasting the “death” of Anakin Skywalker and the birth of his children. Padmé dies, her last words being “There’s still good in him.”

The film ends the Star Wars saga with the following scenes: the funeral of Queen Amidala on Naboo, the start of construction of the Death Star, and the hiding of Luke and Leia on Tatooine and Alderaan.

Music Score:

The music in Episode III was written by the iconic composer John Williams, who composed many great scores in cinema like Jaws, Indiana Jones, and Harry Potter to name a few. My favorite piece from Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith is “Battle of the Heroes.” It plays when Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader (Anakin Skywalker) are dueling on Mustafar. With the trumpet solo in the beginning and the orchestra pumping the tempo, the audience can feel tension between the two characters. Especially when the choir joins, the audience understands that something huge and extremely significant will occur. This work of art allows the audience to feel like they themselves are dueling to the death. That every second counts. The changing of tempos and crescendos, or an increase in volume and intensity, as the piece goes on is exquisite as well.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed watching Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith. Between Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, Episode II – Attack of the Clones, and Episode III – Revenge of the Sith, I love the third episode the most. The character development from Anakin Skywalker to Darth Vader and how he betrays his master is why I love this film so much. There is depth and the music adds so much to the value of the movie. There is more to come, as I’ll be reviewing the other Star Wars episodes every month, so stay posted! I hope you enjoyed this blog and please watch the movie if you haven’t before!

– Sophia B.

Benefits of Blogging

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Anyone can write a blog. Even you (yes, you, the person reading this)! It’s easy and comes with many benefits. As someone who has written a few blog posts, I know the ups and downs of writing one. The benefits are worth the effort and the costs.  

First, blogging can improve your reading and writing skills. When you blog, you learn to write clearly and concisely and express your thoughts. You can blog about anything, and I mean anything! When I first started writing blogs, it was hard, but I got better with practice. I also wasn’t very good at expressing my feelings, but blogging helped a lot. As people say, practice makes perfect!

Adding to that, writing a blog can also help you save time explaining things. For example, you might have written a blog about something popular, such as Taylor Swift, and someone asks you about it. Instead of explaining everything again, you can encourage that person to read your blog.

Further, blog posting can also help people in need. I love helping others, and in one of my other blogs, I wrote about the new food pyramid. This encouraged people to eat more protein and fewer carbs because protein is healthier and supports growth. Writing blogs could also inspire others to help people in need. For example, you could write a blog about homelessness and how others could help.

Lastly, blogging can also benefit your health. Blogging gives you a chance to reflect and express your feelings. A study shows that cancer patients who wrote a blog before their treatment felt better—both mentally and physically—than those who did not.

Overall, blogging is beneficial in many ways. It helps with your writing skills, saves you time, helps people in need, and boosts your mental and physical health. It may seem hard at first, but over time, it becomes second nature!

Foxcraft: The Taken

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Foxcraft: The Taken by Inbali Iserles is the first book of the Foxcraft trilogy. It is about a young fox named Isla, who has begun dabbling in the mysterious arts of Foxcraft- such as being able to turn invisible and shapeshift. Unlike most foxes in the city, Isla lives with her family, which consists of her grandma, parents, and beloved brother, Pirie. When disaster strikes one day and her home and family disappears, Isla must venture into the heart of the city, where she has never set foot. Isla encounters new allies (including a strange, shapeshifting fox), vicious threats, confusing pathways, and humans! I really enjoyed reading this story- Iserles did a great job with the description- it’s breathtaking, as it’s from a foxes point of view, not a human’s, and you can clearly tell! “The air in his wake had a gossamer sheen, like light bent through the wings of bees. The earth was a blur of grass and soil.” (Iserles, pg 3) This helped me imagine the scenes in the story much more clearly, all through Isla’s perspective. Along with this, Isla discovers that she possesses the magical powers of foxes- the namesake of the book, Foxcraft. Her new shapeshifting ally helps her master these powers, which become more and more important as she ventures deeper into the city.

Another thing I loved about this story is the rhymes and quotes foxes have among themselves, which shows their traits and community. “I am fearless. I am friendless. I am Fox.” Another rhyme that Isla and her brother like to joke with each other is “Mad fox, bad fox, just another dead fox!”. However, this rhyme takes a dark turn when Isla realizes the reality of this quote. One thing I would change about this book is how quickly it climaxes. Already, in the first chapter, Isla flees from her destroyed home. The author doesn’t give much introduction to Isla’s normal life before, thrusting the reader into a high stakes fight for survival. Of course, there are nice parts amid the action when Isla learns more about herself, her skills, and her mysterious ally, but it would be nice if the reader got more of a feel of Isla’s everyday life before everything was upended.

Another thing I like about this story is how the author wrote the origin story about the cubs of Canista: wolves, dogs, and foxes, and how they differentiated. It also provides a fascinating and good explanation of the characteristics and personalities of these canines- you’ll have to read the book to find out! It gave me more background and explanation about how the species act with each other, and the class differences. 

Foxcraft definitely isn’t the deepest or most outstanding book I’ve read, but it surely stands out  in the genre of fantasy with animals as the main character (Think Warriors and Odder). Foxes are some of my favorite animals, and Iserles does a great job characterizing them and their differences, along with how they are commonly persecuted by humans and their own. 

If someone asked me for fantasy book recommendations, I would recommend this, but this isn’t the best book out there, though it is a pretty great read. Overall, Foxcraft: The Taken, is a decent, sweet read probably for younger teens.Would I read again? Yup! I got it from the library bookstore. 🙂

Underrated Shakespeare Plays You Should Be Reading

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When people think of Shakespeare, the same titles tend to dominate the conversation: Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Othello. While these plays absolutely deserve their recognition, Shakespeare’s body of work is far broader and more nuanced than the few tragedies most commonly taught in classrooms. Many of his plays explore equally complex themes, inventive structures, and memorable characters, yet remain overlooked or underappreciated. I have read 18 different plays by William Shakespeare, and here are the hidden gems I have discovered so far. 


Cymbeline 

Cymbeline is often dismissed as confusing or structurally messy, but this complexity is part of what makes it so compelling. Blending elements of tragedy, romance, and comedy, the play explores themes of loyalty, deception, and forgiveness. I found that after reading so many of Shakespeare’s plays, it was refreshing to see one that did not fit clearly into one genre and had an interesting, unique storyline that seemed to be reminiscent of aspects of his other plays.

As You Like It

Although As You Like It is often overshadowed by Twelfth Night, it is one of Shakespeare’s most thoughtful comedies. The Forest of Arden serves as more than a romantic backdrop; it becomes a space where social hierarchies dissolve, and characters explore identity, love, and freedom. Rosalind, disguised as Ganymede, is witty, self-aware, and intellectually commanding, making her one of Shakespeare’s most complex comic heroines. The play’s exploration of gender roles and performance feels surprisingly modern. The way Rosalind’s actions guide the plot does not feel inauthentic or childish like some plays, but instead feels realistic.  

Julius Caesar

Often labeled simply as a political history, Julius Caesar is far more psychologically rich than it is given credit for. The play examines the moral ambiguity of power, ambition, and loyalty, particularly through the internal conflict of Brutus. Rather than presenting clear heroes and villains, Shakespeare forces the audience to question whether noble intentions can justify destructive actions. The famous funeral speeches highlight the power of rhetoric and manipulation, the iconic line “Et u, Brute”, and the characters that have been reimagined in all forms of storytelling make Julius Caesar a must-read for fans of Shakespeare’s work.

The Winter’s Tale

The Winter’s Tale is frequently overlooked due to its abrupt tonal shift from tragedy to comedy, yet this very contrast makes it unique. The play explores jealousy, loss, and redemption, ultimately emphasizing the healing power of time and forgiveness. Hermione’s endurance and quiet strength, paired with the play’s iconic statue scene, leave a lasting emotional impact. While unconventional, The Winter’s Tale demonstrates Shakespeare’s willingness to experiment with form and emotional structure.

Measure for Measure

Often categorized as a “problem play,” Measure for Measure is underrated precisely because it refuses easy answers. The play grapples with justice, morality, hypocrisy, and abuse of power, particularly through the character of Angelo. Isabella’s moral struggle raises difficult questions about virtue and authority, making the play intellectually demanding and morally complex. Its discomfort is intentional, forcing audiences to confront ethical gray areas rather than offering neat resolutions.

These underrated Shakespeare plays reveal an author willing to take risks, blur genres, and challenge societal norms. They explore power, identity, gender, and morality with as much depth as his most famous works, yet they often receive far less attention. By reading beyond the traditional canon, readers can gain a fuller understanding of Shakespeare’s range and why his work continues to resonate centuries later.

If you are a fan of plays or Shakespeare, please check out my blog where I review plays and classic books!

https://reading4teen.blogspot.com/

Kindness Really Does Matter

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You’ve probably been preached to many times in your life about the importance of kindness. Maybe even to the point where you don’t really think about it– the generic phrases and lectures just go in one ear and out the other. But I can’t stress enough about how kindness can not only change the lives of others, but just the act of being kind can change your own life as well.  

The Power of Kindness

Kindness has remarkable effects on both the giver and the receiver. Studies have shown that just small acts of kindness can decrease stress levels and boost feelings of happiness. This is because kindness requires you to take the spotlight off of yourself and instead think about others. When you do this, you are able to let go of the thoughts that bring you stress and anxiety, and in addition you gain a sense of fulfillment. When you are kind, you are automatically enriching your own life while also helping someone else feel that way too. 

Kindness Habits 

Whether it’s a compliment, an act of service, or even just simply listening to someone carefully, there are so many ways to incorporate kindness into your daily life. One challenge that can be super helpful is to practice kindness daily. You can set a goal to perform at least one act of kindness each day for a month straight. Keep track of these moments in a journal so you follow the goal accordingly, and then see how you progress over that month! I guarantee that your moods and thoughts will change in the most positive way possible. 

It’s important to remember that you can make a big difference by simply being kind. No matter how small they may be, your actions can transform your own life and the lives of others around you. Kindness is an important step towards living an authentic and valuable life.

Top 5 Fantasy Books You Can’t Miss

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If there’s one thing about fantasies is that they’re hard to write. It takes a lot of creativity and good writing to create a book readers will actually enjoy. This genre requires the author to create entirely new worlds which can sometimes be overwhelming for the reader. With that being said, here are five fantasy books that I think live up to their hype.

  • Powerless by Lauren Roberts
  • Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi
  • The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
  • Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo
  • Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber

1. Powerless

Paedyn Grey has always been one of the ordinaries that are hunted and banished. She’s hidden her true identity her whole life by pretending that she’s something that she’s not. There is a perfect mix of tension, magic, and romance in this fast-paced book. I was hooked in from the start and the suspense building was really good.

2. Shatter Me

A dystopian world controlled by the Restablishment where Juliette Ferrars has been locked away from society because of her touch that can kill. Shatter Me is a six book series and is perfect if you enjoy emotional stories, slow-burn romance, and high stakes. The book captures the feelings of isolation and desire and shows a lot of character growth. It’s intense and draws you in until you become invested in it.

3. The Cruel Prince

If you enjoy something a bit darker and more political, then I recommend The Cruel Prince. Jude Duarte is a human girl who is brought into the world of Fae after her parents were killed. This book is mostly about court politics, betrayal, and power struggles with Jude’s main conflict being with the cruel prince.

4. Six of Crows

Six outcasts. One mission: break into a heavily guarded place to rescue a scientist who created a world changing drug. Six of Crows is a fantasy duology featuring a crew of six outcasts that attempt a near-impossible, deadly heist. I feel like each member of the group has their own skills and character development that makes the plot a lot more interesting than just the mission. The characters are carefully built which adds a lot more depth to the book. It’s a really action packed and entertaining book.

5. Once Upon a Broken Heart

Once Upon a Broken Heart follows Evangeline Fox, a girl that believes in love, who makes a dangerous deal with the unpredictable fate, Jacks, AKA the Prince of Hearts, that ends up with her getting pulled into a magical and chaotic world. This book is romance with a fairytale vibe. There are a lot of twists in the book as well as magic and it’s an enjoyable read.

Spring Cleaning: Tips and Tricks

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Spring is the perfect time for you, no matter your age, to deep-clean your space so you are able to jump into the next season with an organized, refreshed space. In this blog, I’m going to share some of my tips that help me keep my space clean.

TIP 1: Break tasks into smaller chunks. Any thing can be seemingly daunting before it is broken up. By creating smaller tasks for yourself, you can create a mindset for yourself that makes the job seem smaller, even if it’s the same size. For example, if you need to clean your room in one hour, separate your room into sections. This way instead of,” My ENTIRE room? I’ll NEVER finish,” it becomes,” Okay first bed, then clothes…”

TIP 2: Have FUN with it. You might be thinking, Wow, washing my walls. Definitely how I wanted to spend my Friday night, and yeah, on its own that seems boring. But it doesn’t have to be that way. By listening to music, calling a friend, or making a game out of it your chore will be done before you know it. As they say, time flies when you’re having fun.
*Create a playlist full of energetic, upbeat songs that you can sing at the top of your lungs or dance to while vacuuming or washing dishes.

Another option is listening to a long-form video or podcast.

*Call a friend when you are cleaning. Everything’s more fun when you’re taking to someone you enjoy talking to.

*Make game out of cleaning, it helps. Turn organizing into a home-improvement series or laundry into a fast-paced elimination game show.

Also, try turning simple chores into your favorite sport. Soon, throwing away clutter can become a round of of basketball or gain a home run as you hit all the cobwebs off of your bookshelf.

TIP 3: Another important tip you should not miss is thrift shops. Imagine you’re cleaning out your closet and you find your favorite jacket- from 2nd grade. It’s too small, so you decide to just throw it away. However, you can donate it to your local thrift store. Of course, there are guidelines: don’t donate anything heavily stained or torn. For more criteria, ask the thrift store. Along with clothes you can donate furniture, decor, dishes, and more.

TIP 4: This tip is SO important. BREAKS. They are so important and impactful when it comes to cleaning. Just like with studying, without taking any breaks you will face burnout and get too tired. 5-minutes is all you need. Of course, longer breaks up to 30 minutes are also great, but it all depends on the ratio of work:break time. Sorry, but if you spend five minutes cleaning you shouldn’t take a hour nap. My recommendation is 4 minutes of work:1 minute of rest.

Anyway, these are the four tips that help me with cleaning this Spring, and I hope they help you too. Happy Spring Cleaning!

j

Puella Magi Madoka Magica Review

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Puella Magi Madoka Magica (or Madoka Magica), a magical girl series created by the Magica Quartet, follows the journey of middle school girls in Mitakihara, Japan, who battle supernatural entities known as ‘Witches’ in exchange for their wishes to come true. The main protagonist, Madoka Kaname, along with her friends, must handle the burden and grief of fighting in the shadows while acting as bringers of hope in the world, adding a twist to the magical girl subgenre. Its original run began from January 17, 2011, to April 22, 2011, and became one of the most well-known and adored magical girl series with the psychological thriller and dark fantasy genres.

Characters and Pacing

Of course, it’s not only the setting or plot that makes a story phenomenal, but also the characters. While the premise of magical girls saving the world might seem like something only a younger audience would enjoy, the series delves into the psyches, agencies, and insecurities of the girls in such an exceptional manner. I’d like to believe that many people can relate to some of the characters, as the main themes in this series revolve around sacrifice, friendship, hope vs. despair, and discovering identity.

I do have to say that the original anime starts off relatively slow, in my opinion, but it’s a necessary build-up for the various plot twists and reveals to come… The narrative itself is not very difficult to keep up with, but it is worth taking note of the role each magical girl plays and the significance of their relationships with one another.

As far as I know, there isn’t a definite end to this series–not because it’s incredibly dense with world-building, but because the circumstances of the magical girls’ fates are complex and seemingly perpetual…

Visuals and Presentation

Madoka Magica: Witches and Magical Girls! — Nerdophiles
A Witch’s Labyrinth
A Rant on Symposium Magarum Piano Arrangements – The Vault Publication

One of the most eye-catching aspects of Madoka Magica has to be its artistic and unique visuals. It feels like entering a whole other world! The otherworldliness aspect ties in perfectly with the existence of magical girls, as they are ultimately estranged from the rest of the world because of their knowledge about miracles and the perils of fighting Witches.

The soundtrack is also amazing; my favorite songs include Pergo Pugnare, Another Episode, and Sis Puella Magica!

It’s important to mention that it includes some graphic imagery, so I’d recommend this to older teens and up.

Final Words

This is such a magnificent series, and I honestly wish that I could talk to more people about it without holding back the juicy spoilers. There’s no need to watch/read the spin-offs to enjoy it, but these two must be watched:

  • Puella Magi Madoka Magica (original 12-episode series)
  • Puella Magi Madoka Magica: Rebellion

That’s it!

A Song for You and I

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A Song for You and I: (A Graphic Novel): O'Neill, K.: 9780593182307: Amazon.com: Books

The graphic novel, A Song for You and I, is written by Kay O´Neill, and follows the adventure of a ranger called Rowan who endures an accident that causes them to follow a new path than what they wanted to accomplish, and overcome obstacles that makes them rethink about their future. This book is beautifully illustrated with well executed and pronounced details that capture the audience´s attention.

I have loved every single book that Kay O´Neill has wrote, the first series I read from them is the Tea Dragon Society which I am obsessed with, it is such a pleasant, wonderful book to read that I would also highly recommend. This graphic novel is one of their recent books that they have released and I was so excited to start reading it, I was not surprised when I first opened it by seeing the beautifully drawn illustration by Kay O´Neill, they are a wonderful artist, and I love their style of drawing. This book I would say is not much of an action, suspenseful read, it is more of a type of comfortable, cozy fantasy book that you are searching for which is a great alternative when you want to relax and just enjoy reading a stunningly drawn book.

I would highly recommend this book for fans of fantasy books, and people who prefer reading pleasant books compared to suspenseful books. Kay O´Neill is a fantastic author that I would recommend for you to also read their other books. A Song for You and I is not currently available to check out at the Mission Viejo Library today, but you can find other books written by Kay O´Neill that are available today!

Cheerleading: A sport or not?

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Although, Cheer is not considered a sport by ESPN there are many reasons that cheer is a sport. Cheer should be considered a sport because it takes a lot of time and commitment, both mental and physical. Being a cheerleader, you take a whole year of your life learning a routine and putting your whole body and soul into that one routine.

There is also a chance you could get hurt being a cheerleader. Over time about 37,000 cheer-related injuries happened.

Most people think that being a cheerleader is just sitting on the sideline cheering for the football players but it’s more than that. There are competitive cheerleading teams like Pop Warner. Pop Warner is a football and cheer association for kids ages five to thirteen.

I was on the Saddleback Valley Pop Warner cheer team and overall it was a great experience. We had practices three days a week at different schools in the Saddleback Valley school district and games from August to September and competitions during the months of October to January/February. We had six competitions and we won all of them, including Pop Warner Nationals and JAMZ Cheer and Dance nationals.

Doing cheer also has a cost involved. If you do competitive cheer you have travel costs to some competitions.

In cheerleading you have to trust your team and trust that you can win or else you won’t win. You also have to push your body by doing conditioning and stretching to be able to stunt, tumble, and do jumps. Overall, as a cheerleader, you have to push your body, and be on the same team to do cheer. Cheer is an amazing sport and I hope that in reading this you are enticed to join cheer.