A good film, it is. See it, you should.

Rating: 8/10 (16 May 2002)

There was a very excited full house in Dublin at for the first showing in Ireland. There were a few hard-core fans with light-sabres and other merchandise. I have never witnessed a better atmosphere in a cinema during the 25 years I have been a regular attender.
This is a very good film for both Star Wars fans and newcomers alike. It started with plot development and exposition and built up gradually to a frenetic and exciting climax. The plot is rock solid and fans can easily see things heading towards the start of Episode IV. The motif of the film is quite dark and therefore could be compared to the other "middle film" Empire. There was a some quiet grumblings from the crowd as Jar Jar appeared but thankfully he hardly figured in the movie. "Meesa people going to be written out?".
This must be the most humorous episode film so far. There are many moments worthy of a giggle and these are often quite subtle which is unusual for Star Wars. Watch out for the "bar" scene on Coruscant.
With regard to the actors performances I thought Ewan McGregor moved up a gear for this film and did a great job. Likewise Samuel L Jackson and Christopher Lee. Natalie Portman and Hayden Christensen had to work with some corny dialogue at times but they had good chemistry on screen.
All in all I'm already planning a second viewing of this most satisfying installment. I'm already looking forward to Episode III.