Execution so perfect it overcomes some unbelievable storyline.

Rating: 9/10 (2 June 2005)

In a number of areas this is by far the best of the six films. Action: 10 out of 10. Non-stop, story moving, jaw dropping action. Special effects: 11 out of 10. The light-saber fights are perfectly executed, epic, stand up and clap awesome. The sets/scenes are gorgeous works of art with elegant, well thought out detail. These details that add to the realism are found throughout the movie. The character generations are a step above previous films. Yoda gets a 10, I think Yoda is as well done as Gollum in LOTR if not better. Variety: 10 out of 10. Numerous types of weapons, ships, life forms, robots, and even heroes and villains raise this film to a new level. General Vicious (spelling?): is as impressive and convincing as Darth Vader, except maybe his death after Obi discovers that all you have to do to kill him is shoot under the protective flap covering his vital organs (a serious design flaw for a killing machine).
Acting: 8 out of 10. The acting is much better than Ep2. Ewan and Natalie are almost perfect, though Hayden (Vader) doesn't come near convincing me that he is Darth Vader or ever could be. Its not his fault, its an error in casting. In his defense, and he needs it, Hayden does a much better job with a more difficult role in Ep3 than in Ep2.
SPOILER (if you've had your head in the ground). Haden is supposed to convince you that he is willing to kill a bunch of innocent young-lings (Jedi children) to have a chance of saving his wife if the evil Darth Sideous isn't lying about the one thing Anakin wants most (I guess Anakin never saw Little Mermaid). In addition this potential knowledge is enough motivation to kill all the Jedi and his master/mentor/brother ObiWan. I don't think I could kill my innocent brother to have a chance that I'd be able to prolong my wife's life for an undefined period of time. Lucas should have focused on the power or emphasized the good IL boy system keeping Anakin from progressing or found a better motivation for a Jedi to turn on his fellows. While these concepts were toyed with, Lucas decides the strongest motivation for murder is potentially saving the life of your spouse and Anakin is willing to turn the Galaxy over to Palpatine to save his wife from a foreseen death.
Conclusion: 9 out of 10. I so wanted to give the film a 10 and it deserves a 10 in so many ways, but since the central story of the film is unbelievable (in the Star Wars world) I can't rate this film over a 9. For someone to become Vader, and I've know my share of Vaders (having served in the Navy) they have to have a mean streak, not a passive-aggressive spirit. Anakin is nice until things go too far, thats not the Darth Vader I knew.