Not perfect, but much closer to the originals

Rating: 7/10 (27 May 2005)

As a long time fan of Star Wars, (but not a rabid fanatic) I have looked forward to this chapter, more than any other. From the moment Darth Vader set foot on the Rebel ship in Star Wars (I refuse to use the episode title) he captured my imagination. Hints given by Lucas in interviews added fuel, as did other media appearances. Now, I get to see how it all transpired. However, given the dramatic content of the previous two installments, I entered the theater with a healthy dose of skepticism. The final verdict: nearly there, but not perfect.
The problem with the prequels is that it is hard to live up to 28 years (man, I feel old!) of imagination. I've also grown cynical as to how much of the story was really mapped out in advance. Given the contradictions that carry through the entire series, I firmly believe that Lucas had more of a sketchy outline, than a blueprint. I think that is why the prequels don't hold up as well.
With all of that said, did I find the movie entertaining? Yes, absolutely; but, there was still too much incidental padding. The Clone Wars never seems to have the scope it was given by a few mentions in the original films and other media works. It just seems to be a thin metaphor for Palpatine's consolidation of power. Also, the opening sequence smacks too much of eye candy and James Bond storytelling (big opening with little relation to the story). Much of the dialogue is still stilted and laughable, although chills ran down my spine as Natalie Portman said, "So this is how Liberty dies, with thunderous applause." It bears a strong relationship to world events and the Patriot Act.
The much-touted addition of the Wookies amounts to little more than a cameo, as does Christopher Lee's presence (Lee seems to have really bad luck when it comes to part 3 of a saga). Yoda's battle with the Emperor lacks a suitable conclusion; not that I wanted to see him win, but his withdrawal from the battle seemed forced and illogical.
Now, what does work is the work of Ian McDiarmid and Ewan McGregor, and to a certain extent, Natalie Portman. They finally get some meat to their roles and they sink their teeth into it. Palpatine's seduction of Anakin is almost Shakespearean, and shows the true power of the Emperor. McGregor moves beyond caricature to performance, and shows great emotional range. Portman's role is reduced to reaction, but she has enough moments to bring out the magic she had in the Professional. Hayden Christiansen is much improved, but doesn't seem capable of portraying the conflicting emotions well. He still seems unable to play a range of emotions with his expressions; and, although not "whiny", he still seems more of a spoiled brat, than a corrupted soul. He gains some spark during the final battle, particularly after the final stroke, but needed more work on his performance.
Lucas still proves that he is better with concepts than with performances. His best movie, from a performance aspect, is still American Graffiti. There, he had seasoned actors and real life drama, so it was easier for the actors to create a performance. Still, it is a vast improvement over the previous installments.
The bridging sequences at the finale are a nice nod to the fans of the original series. There is a strong connection to the images and emotions of Star Wars. The one element I still wanted to see was Han Solo's past. Maybe that will be pursued in the proposed TV series, or future prose works (previous books have eluded to incidents, but haven't illustrated the key moments, such as Han's expulsion from the Imperial Navy).
Ultimately, the film is a success and does unify the previous films into a more coherent story (although Ep I is mostly padding and introduction). It casts the original series in a new light, not as the story of Luke Skywalker as the liberator of the Galaxy; but, the rise, fall, and redemption of Anakin Skywalker. It still has plot holes you could drive a Star Destroyer through, but it still inspires and entertains.