By now anyone that has access to this site has already seen Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones, so it should be safe to talk about. Of course, what I am thinking about doesn't have much to do with the plot, so I won't be spoiling anything.
People have been asking me, "So when does this Anikin guy turn evil, anyway?" Look closely. He's already there. He just doesn't know it yet. Evil people seldom realise they are.
I can recall the day I understood that I was evil.
By that time, I had gone through some major changes. It was only with hindsight that I realised the truth about myself. I hid it pretty well. You see, I wanted to be a healer, which is certainly not evil in and of itself. Healing is a noble profession, and I have immense gratitude for the doctors, nurses, PAs, paramedics and others that give of themselves to relieve the suffering of others. And I was eager to count myself among those who pursue such a noble calling.
But when I looked within my heart, I realised that my motivation and attitude were wrong. I didn't want to help mankind out of love for my fellow man. I wanted power, and the power to heal the sick and injured is great indeed. It's easy to say the right words out in the open when you are pursuing something that does so much good for so many. It's almost as easy to fool yourself. But you can't lie to yourself forever. And, eventually, the attitude of the heart will betray itself through the words of the mouth or the actions of the hands.
That is why I am not in the medical profession now, although I was at one time. When I understood why I had been drawn to it in the first place, I was glad I left.
So what does all this have to do with Star Wars?
There is one pivotal scene that stands out in my mind, where one character is asking if Jedi are allowed to be in love. Anikin replies that he believes that service to the galaxy is unconditional love, and so it's ok.
In spite of all the critics' opinions about the wooden performances in this movie, that one moment is the one I would choose as the most real. Look at his eyes. He's rationalising. Love has little to do with either his pursuit of knighthood or of Amidala. This man wants power. Maybe I can see it better because I have been on his side of it, but others would be well-served to learn the lesson the easy way; Noble pursuits are often a mask for ignoble hearts.