Best of the six (and best of the Sith)

Rating: 10/10 (19 May 2005)

It really couldn't have been much better. The childishness, and jar-jar annoyances of episode I are gone. The wooden acting and occasionally poor animation from ep II are absent. Lucas has obviously listened to his detractors here, and pulled out all the stops.
What we had here was a tremendous storyline (which we all pretty much knew anyway, right?), vastly improved acting, especially from the Canadian dude, and spectacular imagery, effects and fight scenes. I really have to think hard to think of any criticisms.... I only have one...
**** spoiler alert ****
The pace of Anakin's switch at the critical moment was way too sudden. Lucas is doing well, building up to it, does great with the 'what have I done' comment after Mace takes a dive, but then, way too quickly, with no provocation from Sidious, throws in the towel, and says 'screw it, I can't arse about with this any longer, let's make Ani dark'. He goes from 'what have I done?' (indicating regret, and an affinity with the good side) to 'I'll kill whoever you want me too, master' in literally 10 seconds. Made no sense to me.
**** alert over ****
That aside, as I said at the start, it really couldn't have been much better! I haven't enjoyed a movie this much for ages.