All we could expect

Rating: Null/10 (25 May 2005)

All cinema fans owe George Lucas thanks for delivering a something unique in the history of the cinema: six linked films created over 28 years which have thrilled millions and created many iconic characters and magic moments. "Star Wars III" essentially delivers just what the franchise's supporters wanted: answers to all the questions posed by "Star Wars IV-VI", a neat conjunction of the two trilogies, and some fun along the way. As with all five previous "Star Wars" films, I saw it with my son and the audience's wild cheering at the opening seconds created almost a family atmosphere.
From the initial scene of a titanic space battle, we are offered plenty of action, well paced throughout the two hours and ten minutes. It might be thought difficult to make so many light sabre encounters fresh and exciting, but I loved it when General Grievous wielded no less than four sabres and the final conflict between Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker is raised to a new level both by the lava-strewn terrain and by the previous master/teacher relationship. There is some pleasing symmetry as the Ob-Wan/Anakin fight is paralleled by one between Yoda and Palpatine and as the birth of the babies Luke and Leia is counterpoised by the creation of the metallic Darth Vader.
The greatest strength of this 'sixth' episode is that cinematic technology has developed so much over the last three decades that the visual effects this time are at their most stunning. The weaknesses of this 'last' segment are those of the whole franchise and most especially the more recent trilogy: the dialogue is painfully weak and the acting often simply wooden. But we knew what to expect and what we wanted and George delivered for us handsomely.