A tremendous end to the second trilogy of Star Wars (contains spoilers)

Rating: 10/10 (9 June 2005)

Whether you enjoyed or disliked Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, this film is clearly the best of the prequels. The story is engaging, the characters demand our attention and concern and the action is unlike anything produced in the previous Star Wars films.
The opening space battle certainly kicks things off in a big way. The first 20 minutes almost stand alone from the rest of the film - they portray happier times for our heroes, despite the seriousness of the situation. Once the battle is over, a crisis slowly develops as the Chancellor seizes the opportunity he's been waiting for ever since he came into contact with young Anakin. "Order 66" is a very powerful scene, aided by Williams' fantastic score, depicting the last moments of various Jedi throughout the galaxy. Anakin's turn to the Dark Side inevitably sets up the lightsaber duel which fans have been waiting for, and it does not disappoint.
The action element alone is surprising - there are a total of 5 lightsaber duels in the film, all of which differ nicely. With Mace vs Palpatine, it is the Jedi Order's only hope to prevent the Sith from exterminating them. With Obi Wan vs General Grievous, it is a more light-hearted affair, as Obi Wan is unaware of the impending doom for his fellow comrades. Obi Wan and Palpatine are the stars of the film - Ian McDiarmid is scheming and sinister, unleashing his master plan to perfection, while Ewan McGregor has settled in to the role of the wise Jedi Master.
Let's consider some criticisms of the film so far. Its been said that General Grievous is a disappointment, but anyone who was expecting him to play a significant role in the film had overly high expectations in my view. This film is about the fall of Anakin and the destruction of the Jedi Order. Like Darth Maul and Count Dooku, Grievous was never more than a minor character. Dooku's role in the film has also been debated - personally I was satisfied with what we were given. The duel itself was far superior to Episode 2, and there was a excellent contrast with Episode 6 as Palpatine urges the young Jedi to viciously kill his Sith opponent.
Then of course, the infamous "Nooooo!" by Darth Vader at the end of the film. I am somewhat perplexed at the outcry over this scene. Was it simply the actual sound of his scream, or was it more to do with the menacing and cold-hearted Darth Vader showing a moment of humanity? When he steps off the gurney, he is not the Darth Vader of Episodes 4 - 6. He is still a man conflicted by what he has done and horrified at what he had to sacrifice. His scream was the last remnant of Anakin before he became complacent in his role as Dark Lord of the Sith. As he folds his arms and watches the Death Star being constructed, it is perhaps the first step towards accepting such a role.
Perhaps the film's greatest achievement is delivering a poignant and entertaining story to which we already know the ending. We know that Yoda will fail in his task of defeating the Emperor. We know that Obi Wan has no hope of bringing Anakin back from the brink, and we know that despite their epic confrontation neither will die. But our experience of the original trilogy only enhances Episode 3 and gives it an added meaning that ultimately links the two trilogies together.
In conclusion, the last ever Star Wars film surpassed my expectations and is currently one of my favourites out of all 6 episodes.