an excellent end that makes an excellent introduction

Rating: 8/10 (17 May 2005)

First, I'll say that I don't feel any o this review is a spoiler, as all the things I said, as far as I know, have become common knowledge by now.
I must say, to me, every flaw of Ep 2 and the forgettable experience of Ep 1 are forgiven after this one. I just came back, and man, that must be the most intensive Star Wars experience I ever had.
That movie kicks ass. Pure and simple. The beginning is a bit over the top, with Obi-Wan throwing one-liners at us like he's Han Solo with a lightsaber, but after a while, he realizes he better be serious, and the real movie begins. It's not that bad, after all, as it establishes the bond between Obi-Wan and Anakin, a true friendship, beyond a mere master/apprentice relationship.
The fights are awesome. They almost come close to what the Clone Wars creators made. The Jedi are fast, powerful, skilled, and it shows. And the fall of Anakin is shown from beginning to end, with all the good and bad reasons behind it. For the rest, well, it's pure Star Wars. The good Star Wars, like the Originals. Space battles like you've never seen before, not a fighter against a fighter, but a cruiser against a cruiser, with short-range cannons, like 18th century ships... Races against time, decisions you don't know if they're bad or wrong... Treason, Deception (for them), fun and excitement (for us) and right now I'm starting to feel like the grandfather in Princess Bride trying to explain what it's like to the grandson. (it has sports! sword fights! a princess!) You know what I mean... :)
The ending alone is worth the price. It's incredibly... sad. I won't tell anything, no spoilers don't worry. Let just be said that the fight in the lava and what comes afterwards are on their way to be one of the most memorable scenes of the series, not only because they are, in themselves, full of emotion and sadness, but also for the hope they represent, the light in the dark, as we know what will happen next, in about thirty years (which is for us, twenty-five years ago. :p)
The missing link, the last piece of the puzzle, call it what you want. It all falls into place, and that's part of why it's so damn good, because you finally understand who is Darth Vader. And you do not hate him anymore. You feel compassion.
And I'll leave it at that. That movie made me change my mind about Darth Vader. And for all the things I knew about him before, I didn't know that would be possible.