It is a great movie after all.

Rating: 10/10 (1 June 2002)

I must admit that I am a fan of Star Wars. While I don't consider myself a freak about the series (I managed to wait three weeks before catching "Attack of the Clones.") I do consider Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back as the greatest movies ever made.
I read most of the reviews and was going into the movie expecting a lame love story (and it was) and a great action scene at the end (and it was). I was not prepared for the rest of it and I'm really not sure how I would rate this movie outside of the Star Wars universe. I guess as a movie in it's own right, if you knew nothing about Star Wars it wouldn't hold up very well, but it's not meant to be seen that way. It is meant to be seen as the fifth installment of a series of movies with a grand scope. In that case the movie worked.
It never bored me, I was hanging on every word. There was plenty of action throughout and lots of good references to what was going to happen in later (earlier?) movies. I found myself moved several times, but the emotions were when I was considering the sweep of all the movies.
I left very satisfied. While the movie didn't leave me as excited as Star Wars did or as transfixed as Empire did, I was very happy with it as it just seemed to fit the arc of the whole series perfectly.
I think my review comes accross a little more lukewarm than I intend it. I really do think the movie deserves a 10 out of 10 as I'm sure I'll want to see it several more times in my life.