How Anakin is becoming Darth Vader

Rating: 6/10 (16 May 2002)

The yet to come Darth Vader is growing inside Anakin Skywalker SPOILERS This one is more of the same. Of course great effects etc. But they can be seen on any screen in your neighborhood movie theatre. The only thing that is really interesting, after episode 1 we all wondered how nice little Anakin could eventually have become Darth Vader, the father of Luke Skywalker (know your history) is his character development. This Anakin is in his late puberty and acts like all pubers do. He is an impatient "know it all" and thinks he is unrightfully denied the Jedi final exam (yet). Besides all that, his love for (former) queen now senator Amadilla stays unanswered, even more, after one burning kiss he is repeatedly turned down. So he gets frustrated and annoyed. So far not much more then a normal teen phase we all have gone through or will. Then Lucas introduces, out of the blue, the captured and dying mother of Anakin. In a dream it came to him and he's going to rescue her, alas with no success at all. "I miss you so much" he says after her death. Which is quite unlikely since he hasn't seen her for about ten years or so. But Lucas must have been in great need of an explanation why Anakin eventually turned over to the dark side and into Darth Vader, besides Anakins' teen angst. And there it is: Hatred! As we learned from earlier episodes, hate is what draws a Jedi Knight to the dark side. Mothers die and loves are turned down but it didn't turn me to the Dark side. So may be in Episode III it'll all become crystal clear. But I'm afraid George Lucas will have a hell of a job to make that final turn acceptable. And the rest of the story, well the usual stuff, political plots, traitors in high places and massive attacks near the end. Why do I still go to these Star War movies? Well, I can't help myself, as so many of you. See you around in two years!