2 out of 5

Rating: Null/10 (18 May 2002)

if i preferred this film over the last installment, it would be merely because of its darker leanings. the transitions between both stories was a bit jarring (watch "empire" to see how much more of a flow it has). and the romance was very forced. i found the action sequences to be too busy and noisy, preferring the essence of suspense over spectacle displayed in the first two star wars films. yoda fighting might've been cool on a visceral level, but was it necessary? in the end, does it take away the mystery that is part of yoda's charm? overall, i find lucas' new direction for his saga to lack the majesty and enchantment of the original series. it's a shame really. but i can't be too upset. afterall, the original three are good movies, not great ones like the mass public would like to think. the first three have lasted this long and have made such an impact on our generation simply because we saw it as children and now they contain a certain nostalgia, something the new movies would never be able to compete with. but compared to the action films of kurosawa (who was a large inspiration for lucas), the star wars films lack the brilliance, insight, and - yes - imagination needed to be a true masterpiece.