I did not like the first movie and was never much of a fan, but *SPOILERS*

Rating: 9/10 (19 May 2005)

*Here be spoilers! Warned you are.*
Hi there. My first comment on a movie, here on IMDb. And what a movie! :)
OK, as I said in the subject, I was never much of a fan of the series - such as I never watched any of the movies 4, 5 6 completely (somehow it already started when I caught it on TV, or I had to do something important and missed the ending... anyway). BUT after hearing and reading here and there about them, I gave "Episode One" a try and found it awful :( It was confusing, too much candy for the eye and no substance. So I did not watch episode 2.
And so time passed and I saw the trailer for Episode 3. All right, the trailer hinted of theme, conflict, character development, drama and adventure... So it *did* seem like a real movie, and although I do not usually go into "Premieres", I gave it a try.
Wow, was I pleased to have done so! Yep, a very good movie. It can be watched by itself. The more you know about the other movies of the series, the better you will enjoy it (for we know what is going to happen and so on). Magnificent work. This time the visual and sound effects are there to tell the story and not just being candy for the eye. This time I did get caught by the show. I cared for the characters and wanted to know what would happen next! Oh yeah. We get involved in the conflict, we feel their pain, the almost inexorable fate of the empire lying on the shoulders of a man forced to fight and destroy everything he believed to save the woman he loves and his future son... Amazing the way Palpatine manipulates him! And it all is plausible. That drama could have happened, the characters are believable and consistent. I am so glad I went to the movies today! Now I will watch the ol'4, 5 and 6 (maybe 2 is worth checking, too?)
I am a late fan :) eh eh. This movie captivated me.