Lost Chance

Rating: 3/10 (24 May 2005)

This is a film that grants Spy Kids a run for its money.
Stripped of its position in the Star Wars story arc, Episode 3 would be average Hollywood fair. Given the iconic status Star Wars has carved for itself in Western culture, however, this movie is simply disappointing.
Darth Vader is part of the fabric of our modern mythos. He is a legend. For once the director does not have to make us fear the villain, because we already do. This is coming from someone who is not really a fan of the original series. I am not a Star Wars fanatic, but they are part of my culture, and with that comes a certain amount of respect. It is a sentiment that is sadly not shared by the production team.
The villain in this movie is a McDonald's-Happy-Meal version of his original self. He is no longer a cold, calculating being, but a coldly calculated one. His Empire will not control planets, but malls.
Not everything in this movie is terrible. In fact, far from it. The production values on the whole are good. The effects are excellent (if distracting and overused). What is totally lacking is relevance and emotion. It's sad really. I would have liked to see what a better director could do with this material.
3/10