The best of the rubbish ones

Rating: 6/10 (8 June 2005)

Last in the collection of Star Wars prequels is a good film, but absolutely nothing more.
I detect a lot of the hysteria surrounding Episode 3, particularly on this website, is more down to overwhelming relief that it is nowhere near as awful as the drivel which preceded it. However, it is likewise nowhere near as good as any of the 'last' 3 either.
As we all know, this episode centres on the switch of Anakin Skywalker to the dark side, aided and abetted by the increasingly evil Chancellor Palpatine. Other key Star Wars developments are realised here too, such as Ob Wan's survival, the birth of Leia and Luke, and the ultimate emergence of Darth Vadar.
The movie begins with Anakin and Obi Wan launching an attack on General Grevious' party who've kidnapped Chancellor Palpatine, and their saving of the commander.
From there on in the plot slowly weaves its way to the conclusions we know from a New Hope.
Ewan McGregor is Obi Wan, with Hayden Christensen once again the misguided Anakin. McGregor is his usual understated self, and while he's never anything spectacular, he's more than passable in the role. On the contrary though, Christianson is poor again - OK, maybe poor is harsh, but he's out of his depth as he was in the Clones. Fortunately for him, Natalie Portman's Padme is even more awful than he is, and when there are scenes with just the 2 of them you will do well to stop cringing.
However, Iain McDiarmid's Palpatine takes all the acting honours by far here - a great show from him, and he does well to show an evolution from apparent sinister behaviour to pure absolute evil.
The CGI is inconsistent at best - some scenes look great, but too often it looks flakey. For example, Obi Wan on the 'creature' that gives him a ride looks completely fake - totally unnatural. On the other hand the expansive city panoramas look fairly good.
There is also a generous helping of cheese here, particularly at the end battle. Furthermore, I found that the environment's state leading up to the end battle had miraculously changed based on dramatic license. This won't make much sense now, but watch out for it.
The plot in Episode 3 is OK, the acting is wildly varied, the special effects inconsistent. The most solid aspect is probably the direction, even if, as usual, it's a touch too fast for its own good at times.
This is basically a decent film, but still not up with the best 3. Still, anything's better than the Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones.