A superb, if flawed, return to form

Rating: 9/10 (16 May 2002)

Midnight, 16th May. A theatre darkens and we all sit back to enjoy a long-awaited sequel, and praying that the disappointment of Ep.1 would be purged. Oh it was.
I cannot spoil in this section, nor would I, but I can tell you that only bits that seem to drag are the love story scenes. Far too many and too silly. C3-PO and R2-D2 are given some comedy at last, but not the wise stuff of the old films. This is rather silly stuff and you WILL groan.
The battles are incredible, the scale huge (see this on a massive screen!), and at last things are HAPPENING, rather than the political posturing of Episode One.
There are some great one-liner in-jokes and little snatches of musical themes at certain points. (The Imperial March, for example, which sent a shiver down my spine). The "old theme" return in certain segments too, which jolts you right back to 1977. There's a lot to see in this that links to Episode IV. Padme's hairdos showings a distinct leaning towards Leia's "big headphones".
I give this 9 out of 10 because it wasn't perfect. But now that Lucas is on a roll, I have HUGE anticipation for the final film, Episode II, where Darth's saga will at last be complete.
Who would have guessed that this 6-film series was a protracted biography of Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker way back when??
Oh, and finally, Yoda kicks ass. Seriously!