Still missing something.

Rating: 7/10 (25 May 2005)

Lucas pours on the special effects and action for one final blowout, but its still not quite enough. The film is entertaining on a visual level, but like the other prequels, it has no heart. There are so many scenes that should have had more impact, but they are killed by flat, cliché-ridden dialog. Why can't these characters talk to each other like human beings? What's wrong with having a little emotion on their faces? You've got this massive betrayal going on, all these innocents killed, and characters react like they're doing a line reading around a conference table. I know that most of these people are good actors, so I can only assume it's George telling them to be more robotic.
For instance, when Anakin betrays Mace, just a second of a reaction shot, just a moment between the two of them that says something, would have been nice. Little things like that are whats missing from the picture.
The only scene that illicited genuine emotion from me was when Anakin entered the chamber where the "younglings" were. (George, call them 'children' for gods sake, 'younglings' makes them sound like baby chickens or something). That gave me chills.
Overall, the whole thing feels empty. I didn't feel any sense of tragedy at Anakin turner into Vader. (and the change isn't all that convincing - he's disgusted with himself one minute and then totally gives in a second later) Didn't buy it.
Even the special effects - as great as they are - just don't seem to fit with the series. All the flipping and flying around - which couldn't be done in the seventies - looks and feels like something completely different than what people went crazy for back in the day.
It's fun, sometimes thrilling, but still not movie magic.