Best Star Wars Movie since Empire

Rating: 10/10 (16 December 2016)

This is the type of movie I was hoping the 1999-2005 prequels would be. The story is tight, the drama is visceral, and the characters have a vividness that was lacking (or replaced caricature) in the other prequels. It is the best Star Wars movie since Empire. The third act alone was worth the price of admission. I wish I could have seen my face during the last five minutes of the film -- I'm sure I was bug- eyed and my jaw was nearly on the floor. Yes, there were a few campy moments -- a VERY few -- but the saccharine tone of the trailers was absent in the final cut. This was the most gritty, tragic, hard-to- watch-but-can't-take-your-eyes-off-it Star Wars of the whole saga.