Strictly OK

Rating: 6/10 (31 May 2005)

Well, it wasn't as bad as Episode 2. I thought the first hour plus was extremely slow, in spite of the much-talked about opening battle scene. But once things started getting darker it became more interesting, especially the descent of Anakin. However, the reason for him turning to the Dark Side was lame at best, and never fully developed. The dialogue was terrible as usual (Obi-Wan inserting "witty" comments into every sentence is NOT funny), and the light sabre work is getting a little wearying. And don't let me start on the love scenes. Not as Bollywood as Episode II but still quite sickening, frankly. But I feel Anakin was much better played this time, as was Obi Wan and the brilliant Palpatine. But I can only hope Natalie Portman gets better scripts, because her lines were just awful: "You've changed Anakin! I don't know who you are any more!" It WAS heck of an exciting feeling to see Darth Vader, and hear the Darth Vader theme we know so well. Plus the best and most powerful scenes, I feel, were the mass betrayals and the unfolding of Palpatine's plan. So I'd give it a 9 for action, and overall darkness, but a 4 for acting and dialogue, plot and character development. Oh and a 10 for limiting Jar Jar Binks to a five second slot!